Help with set up

[degreen]

I have gathered a lot of information concerning long range rifle set up. I am shooting a magnum so I don't want to shoot my barrel out trying to get my ballistics soft ware to fit my load. So far this is what I have learned. Please tell me if I am missing anything.

1. Find best load by loading in .5 grain increments. Then work up and down in .1 increments from best group to find best load.

2. Shoot .1 increments over crony to get velocities.

3. Enter all variables in ballistics ap.

4. Set at least 3 targets out with a minimum of 300 yards distance a part.

5. Input each range in AP shooting a minimum of 3 rounds per target.

6. Measure actual drop on each target.

7. Adjust velocity and BC to fit actual bullet drop.

 

[dok7mm]

Sounds like you've got a good handle on it.

 

[dmj]

Maybe this is not relevant to what you are trying to accomplish. But you might consider seating depth.

 

[ShtrRdy]

What cartridge are you shooting?

0.5 gr increments are okay for cartridges that use over 50 gr of powder

After firing the different charge weights choose one that gives the best groups and load a few at -0.2 gr and a few a +0.2 gr and fire those.

Decide on which charge weight gives you the best groups and load up 14 rounds. Fire 5 rounds across a chrono and shoot three 3-shot groups. If this step looks reasonable use the average velocity in your ballistics program.

When I go out to verify drops I like to walk ot out in 100 yd steps.

 

[degreen]

Maybe this is not relevant to what you are trying to accomplish. But you might consider seating depth.

Sorry, seating depth is in there with powder charge. Just forgot to add it.

 

[degreen]

What cartridge are you shooting

I am setting up a 30-338 win mag. Want to us 210 Berger hvld's

 

[BEEMAN]

Load development may go easier with the 215 Berger. Hybrid design. That and has a very good reputation for on game performance. I'd try the 215 first.

 

[degreen]

Load development may go easier with the 215 Berger. Hybrid design. That and has a very good reputation for on game performance. I'd try the 215 first.

I don't have enough room in my mag box for the 215's. Even if I open it up as much as I can I don't know if they would seat out far enough to get close to the lands. They were my first choice though.

 

[BEEMAN]

We have ran them in a few factory guns. 30-40 thou off shot really good. My load just barely fits in a Wyatt BDL extended box. I mean barely! If you know someone who has a few make a deal and shoot some. They are impressive.

 

[degreen]

We have ran them in a few factory guns. 30-40 thou off shot really good. My load just barely fits in a Wyatt BDL extended box. I mean barely! If you know someone who has a few make a deal and shoot some. They are impressive.

I have a couple dozen of them. My problem is I am using a Springfield action. I don't know if I can get enough room in the mag. I want to seat them out as far as possible. I talked with my smith about throating my barrel for the longer bullets. To seat the 210's where I want them I would need at least a 3.5" mag box. If memory serves me I have 3.57" to the trigger assembly. The 215's look to be about 1/8" longer than the 210's, but I don't know if most of that is in the boat tail or in the nose. I also do not know the nose to ogive difference between the two of them. Maybe so close that I would only loose a little case capacity do to the longer boat tail of the 215's.

 

[Kimber7man]

Maybe this is not relevant to what you are trying to accomplish. But you might consider seating depth.

I learned from two guys who preach seating depth first. It works.

 

[Barrelnut]

I use the 210s in my 300 RUM. There were more accurate than the 215 for my rifle. Berger used to state that the 215 required a 9 twist. They just changed that this year I believe. I work up loads at almost sea level. I think this maybe why the 210 shot better.
Once you have a good load and bullet stick with it. Don't waste your barrel trying new things. That WILL wear the barrel out.

 

[elkaholic]

The 215's do have a longer nose and need more mag room to be seated properly. My 215's shot bugholes in a 10 twist at 2500' elev.

 

[degreen]

I use the 210s in my 300 RUM. There were more accurate than the 215 for my rifle. Berger used to state that the 215 required a 9 twist. They just changed that this year I believe. I work up loads at almost sea level. I think this maybe why the 210 shot better.
Once you have a good load and bullet stick with it. Don't waste your barrel trying new things. That WILL wear the barrel out.

I am a firm believer in "stick with what works" I don't understand why some set up multiple loads for different applications.