Initial break in is done....now what

ruby76 said:

Thanks Rich, for sure will be on the lookout for better brass, just have a bunch of FC for now. I'm hoping my last group will be repeatable, it was a ragged one hole 3 shot group. These pics are my last two groups, the better one being the 71 grain load at the new seating depth. I'll load some more the same for this trip then do some tinkering next week. After I shot that group I ran to my local outdoor store that is closing down and cleared them out of their 215 Hybrids.

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The Bergers shoot pretty well with the right seating depth, and those are good groups! Usually the hybrids are not as finicky as the vld's though......Rich

I think your federal brass will be fine. It seems to be a little softer but I think it provides a more consistent neck tension. Just make sure you weight match them an trim to the same length after every shot. Primer pockets will loosen with hot loads. I ream all my case necks but that is just me and not always necessary. When you fire a few rounds a ring of carbon will begin to build up in your chamber where the bullet exits the case and if you don't trim your cases to length a longer case will be forced over that carbon ring and affect accuracy. Can be hard to remove during cleaning.
Just a few comments from my experience:
I always start 0.020" off if possible. 0.010, 0.015 or 0.20 off will commonly get you close to the most accurate seating depth. There is always an outlier out there. Some barrels seem to shoot under 1/2 MOA wherever you seat the bullet.
After initial break-in I like to coat bullets with HBN. Basically eliminates copper fouling in a tight new barrel. Some barrels will resist copper fouling so no need to coat. If that is your barrel that is great.
Start working up the powder charge and when you see the bullet pattern spread out your are getting close. Maybe another 0.5gr or so will get you there. If you get pressure signs back down obviously. I like to use slower burning powders with the heavier bullets because they are more forgiving at hotter loads and produce good velocity. H-1000 is a good choice. I shoot 200gr Hybrids over Retumbo in a tikka 300 WM seated 1/4" off lands, due to magazine restriction, and it is still a tack driver. Good luck with the 700. Normally that magazine is long enough to get you close the the lands

Not to change subject but noticed nobody said anything about crimp? Doesn't it come into play and if so what order?
I admit i'm still learning on rifle reloading, especially for long range, but something about a crimp just makes me feel better. Does nobody use them for long range?

I only crimp for semi autos.

Thanks GordO,
I understand its not really needed for bolt guns, so your controlling neck tension through resizing die, I assume less is better, I've read 10 pounds is all that's really needed. Is neck tension a variable to play with during load development?
or is everyone liking so light of tension, they can actually pull or move bullet by hand?

Slick001 said:

Thanks GordO,
I understand its not really needed for bolt guns, so your controlling neck tension through resizing die, I assume less is better, I've read 10 pounds is all that's really needed. Is neck tension a variable to play with during load development?
or is everyone liking so light of tension, they can actually pull or move bullet by hand?

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.002" fit is what you want.....Rich

elkaholic said:

.002" fit is what you want.....Rich

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Thanks,
putting that tip in my Notebook!!!

Edited my previous post, second set of loads was 71 and 72 grains, checked my loading notes. Anyways, I loaded more at 72 with the new seating depth then went up in .5 grain increments up to 74.5. Just one round each of those and I'll closely watch for pressure signs.

elkaholic said:

.002" fit is what you want.....Rich

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I'll second this.
Where people also run into trouble is their necks needing to be annealed. It can cause very inconsistent tension. You could have a .002" press fit but it may take 5x the force to seat the bullet on a neck that is work hardened

Gord0 said:

I'll second this.
Where people also run into trouble is their necks needing to be annealed. It can cause very inconsistent tension. You could have a .002" press fit but it may take 5x the force to seat the bullet on a neck that is work hardened

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correct!

Finished shooting up to 74.5 grains and still no pressure signs, will load higher next time. With higher charges it hit higher vertically as expected.