BLC3128
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2017
- Messages
- 109
I've recently worked up a load for my 300 Weatherby and need some input on the recent data I have recorded.. I am not expecting benchrest results, but I am always looking to improve my results. So any input is highly appreciated. This rifle is a long range hunting rifle and I like to shoot steel plates out to 1,300-1,400 yards. To provide as much detail as possible-
The gun is a Terramark, that has been fully epoxy bedded ( action, recoil lug, +2" of the barrel) . I torqued the action screws down to factory specs (55in/lbs), Trigger pull is a nice 2.5lbs (its a hunting gun). I have a Ken Farrel 20 MOA base that's bedded, with night force steel rings. Everything seems tight in those regards, but I do have the factory Weatherby freebore.
The brass is 3x fired norma brass. I deprime, tumble, uniform & clean primer pockets, neck size -0.002" (bushing die), body size and bump the shoulder back 0.002", I weigh my brass and all of my brass weight is within 1/2%. I do weigh my bullets and I have a bunch of 215.2gr bullets. When I seat my bullets I use Redding dry lube to lubricate the inside of the neck. I do use a Hornady concentricity tool to make the loaded ammo as concentric as possible. Note* I allow the brass to reach 2.820" before I trim. All of my dies are Redding dies.
I recently worked up a load and settled on a terrific combo. I kept my seating depth at max length 3.724" (I seat bullets off the ogive. The node is around 1.25 gr wide and I settled on 88.4gr of N570 pushing a Berger 215 @ 3026. I use Federal 215 primers. With this combination My ES is 11 and SD is 4.5. I shot a .349" 3-shot group @ 100 yards with this.
My shooting setup is a Bald Eagle adjustable front rest with a heavy front bag and a heavy "rabbit ear" rear bag. I use the free recoil method while shooting.
Over the weekend I began to test seating depths. With that being said I shot 5 shot groups of various seating depths at 300 yards. My best seating depths are as follows.
I let the barrel cool ~3 minutes between shots and use a chamber cooler.
I let the barrel cool ~15 minutes between groups and use a chamber cooler.
Base to Ogive - 2.915"
88.4 gr N570
AVG Velocity 3021
ES 11
SD 4.5
Shot 1 - Low , slight right
Shot 2 - Lower right of inner ring
Shot 3 - Lower left of inner ring
Shot 4 - Left of center
Shot 5 - High, slight right of center
Group - 2.615" (I did not count the cold bore shot. It was a carbon free barrel. I do not remove copper until accuracy falls off).
Base to Ogive - 2.870"
88.4 gr N570
AVG Velocity 3017
ES 22
SD 8.2
Shot 1 - Right high
Shot 2 - Middle high
Shot 3 - Right high
Shot 4 - Middle high
Shot 5 - Flyer
Group - 1.913" (I did not count the flyer. It was my fault I rushed the shot and moved the rear bag).
*Note, prior to this group I did adjust my elevation by 0.5moa up and 0.25 moa left*
I really like how group #2 shot, but I cannot explain the spacing between them. Would increasing or decreasing neck tension improve my groups?
The gun is a Terramark, that has been fully epoxy bedded ( action, recoil lug, +2" of the barrel) . I torqued the action screws down to factory specs (55in/lbs), Trigger pull is a nice 2.5lbs (its a hunting gun). I have a Ken Farrel 20 MOA base that's bedded, with night force steel rings. Everything seems tight in those regards, but I do have the factory Weatherby freebore.
The brass is 3x fired norma brass. I deprime, tumble, uniform & clean primer pockets, neck size -0.002" (bushing die), body size and bump the shoulder back 0.002", I weigh my brass and all of my brass weight is within 1/2%. I do weigh my bullets and I have a bunch of 215.2gr bullets. When I seat my bullets I use Redding dry lube to lubricate the inside of the neck. I do use a Hornady concentricity tool to make the loaded ammo as concentric as possible. Note* I allow the brass to reach 2.820" before I trim. All of my dies are Redding dies.
I recently worked up a load and settled on a terrific combo. I kept my seating depth at max length 3.724" (I seat bullets off the ogive. The node is around 1.25 gr wide and I settled on 88.4gr of N570 pushing a Berger 215 @ 3026. I use Federal 215 primers. With this combination My ES is 11 and SD is 4.5. I shot a .349" 3-shot group @ 100 yards with this.
My shooting setup is a Bald Eagle adjustable front rest with a heavy front bag and a heavy "rabbit ear" rear bag. I use the free recoil method while shooting.
Over the weekend I began to test seating depths. With that being said I shot 5 shot groups of various seating depths at 300 yards. My best seating depths are as follows.
I let the barrel cool ~3 minutes between shots and use a chamber cooler.
I let the barrel cool ~15 minutes between groups and use a chamber cooler.
Base to Ogive - 2.915"
88.4 gr N570
AVG Velocity 3021
ES 11
SD 4.5
Shot 1 - Low , slight right
Shot 2 - Lower right of inner ring
Shot 3 - Lower left of inner ring
Shot 4 - Left of center
Shot 5 - High, slight right of center
Group - 2.615" (I did not count the cold bore shot. It was a carbon free barrel. I do not remove copper until accuracy falls off).
Base to Ogive - 2.870"
88.4 gr N570
AVG Velocity 3017
ES 22
SD 8.2
Shot 1 - Right high
Shot 2 - Middle high
Shot 3 - Right high
Shot 4 - Middle high
Shot 5 - Flyer
Group - 1.913" (I did not count the flyer. It was my fault I rushed the shot and moved the rear bag).
*Note, prior to this group I did adjust my elevation by 0.5moa up and 0.25 moa left*
I really like how group #2 shot, but I cannot explain the spacing between them. Would increasing or decreasing neck tension improve my groups?