Recent content by Duhawk

For me it was long range shooting is more of a science when having to consider ballistics, wind drift, velocity and drop, spin drift etc. Watching flags or grass to determine wind speed, 1/4 or 1/2 wind.....a lot going on and a lot of practice. I love it because you really have to focus...tune...

I'm right-handed & left eye dominant...I've shot right-handed bolt guns for years and managed just fine shooting left-handed with them regardless of operating the bolt with my right hand.....Bow, I draw with my right and sight with my right eye....handguns, left eye. When focused on a target...

I agree with the comment "buy once, cry once". Good set of calipers (don't have to spend big $$$), powder scale, dies (I like dies with bushings for neck tension), case trimmer and associated tools for case prep and an OAL Gage for starters.....don't know if I forgot something or not....but...

10 shot group W/ Valkyrie @ 100yds during load testing....Aero upper/lower/bcg...Cmmg 24" barrel...timney trigger and Vortex scope. I've had better using Hornady 73grn, but this'll do for now. Downside is the barrel is a 7 twist, and I can't seem to stabilize the heavies....or at least found a...

My experience is build....I bought a complete upper (won't say where), lower from a local smith. Shot some factory loads, and was really disappointed. I'm experienced enough in reloading so I tried several different bullet weights, powders etc, and not much of an improvement. Bought a new higher...

I've got a 6.5-06AI and love it. It's the most accurate rifle I own (although my 7rm is real close). When you get into handloading, there's a lot of things to dwell on. Accuracy nodes or OBT is just one....that little bit of extra fps may get you to where you want without sacrificing velocity...

BS?? Lol ok....The pic is me measuring a 5 shot group using a $30+ pair of calipers from a load developed with a cheap beam scale. Only reason it wasn't bullet on bullet had more to do with me than the load itself. Btw....this is from my 6.5-06AI .264...my 7RM shots a .68, not quite there yet.

This.....anyone who's run a ladder test @ 400+yds knows that several loads can vary +/- .5 and still maintain the same vertical….that's the sweet spot, OBT, node or whatever you want to call it. Where it gets crazy is when you have 3 at basically the same vertical with .3 grain difference...

Ballistics really is a true science when you look at it. Tuning your round to the harmonics of your barrel using OBT as a starting point....using your FPS and G7 BC to calculate your bullet drop. Using OWC (if you choose) for load development. Every science has its disciplines, and most of what...

I use an older OHAUS 5 0 5 beam scale....I also have a cheaper Lyman electronic that I use from time to time just to check myself. I use a trickler to feed my beam scale once I throw from my powder measurer, just like you'd do with an electronic. Once you get a beam scale set, I'm not sure you...

Well. If you're a machinist you can't get enough numbers...but in handloading you'll live in the thousandths range for the most part....015 off the lands etc. Digital by far are the easiest to use and read... Do what I did in the beginning. Go to say Midways website (and others) and search...

A lot of good stuff here....you've already spec'd most of the important stuff yourself. Good press, powder measure....noted good dies (I also vote bushing, you'll need that down the road when you start turning necks). As others have mentioned, good calipers and I also vote for Hornady...

As was said, welcome to the rabbit hole. With a 7rm you'll want to pay attention to shoulder bump, otherwise you may end up with split cases. A good set of full length dies will save you $$ in brass. A chrony to measure your work is a must (at least for me)...I'm setting here reading Brian...

Matrix makes a 146grn in 6.5 that I've had good luck with using RL-26. Retumbo works as well. I have an 8 twist (6.5-06AI) so they do shoot well w/o a faster twist. 5 shot group at 100....going to 350 next and hope to hold it together.

I've had a 7RM since the late 80's....just had it re-barreled (shot out) with if I recall, a 26" Douglas barrel 1/8" twist? During break in it was shooting .68 groups at 100...1" at 350 (I attribute some of that to old eyes) at roughly 3002fps. Bottom line is I know my rifle. It likes Retumbo...