I had a 7mm WSM built 6 years ago with a 23" 9 twist Kreiger barrel. I could not find brass so I bought 160 rounds of HSM ammo and shot it to get brass and break it in. I am just now after 6 years starting to develop a load for it using 143 Hammer Hunters. I found a good velocity node at 3215 fps using 67.3 - 67.7 grains of 4831sc. I am .020 off the lands but my groups are around 1.5 MOA. Does seating depth have much effect on these? I was planning to do the Berger seating depth test next but maybe I need to switch powders? I know these are great bullets from what I have read here so I am just looking for advice from some of you who have loaded for these as this is my first time. The gun shoots around 1 MOA with HSM factory 168 berger loads.
Hammer Bullets Accuracy Question on Seating Depth.
- Thread starter Deviant
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Yes I used Boretech copper remover and took it down to bare metal and then used losso bore paste in the first 6 and 12 inches exactly as Len recommends in his cleaning and break in article. I cant remember off the top of my head what the COAL is at the moment. the necks are all turned and I am using FL bushing dies bumping .002 followed by a Sinclair expander mandrel.
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
It is not often that we need to adjust seating depth to find solid sub moa. Try seating deeper .002" or a 1/4 turn on your seater at a time to tighten the group.
Did you see nice consistent predictable increases in vel with each increase in charge weight? H4831 has generally been a nice powder for us in the wsm. When we do load development if we are not seeing pretty close to moa on a 200y ladder with nice predictable vel increases we'll just switch powders. Have learned not to try and make the rifle like what I want.
You are this far into it so try adjusting seating depth.
Did you see nice consistent predictable increases in vel with each increase in charge weight? H4831 has generally been a nice powder for us in the wsm. When we do load development if we are not seeing pretty close to moa on a 200y ladder with nice predictable vel increases we'll just switch powders. Have learned not to try and make the rifle like what I want.
You are this far into it so try adjusting seating depth.
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
Just changed my typo on seating depth.
You are this far into it so try adjusting seating depth.[/QUI
I shot 6 foul shots and then performed a ladder at 200 yards and here is what I got.
4831sc
66.1 - 3167 fps
66.4 - 3179
66.7 - 3194
67.0 - 3207
67.3 - 3217
67.6 - 3214
67.9 - 3226
68.2 - 3262
68.5 - 3258
I stopped at 68.5 due to some slight bolt lift and a minor ejector mark.
I shot 6 foul shots and then performed a ladder at 200 yards and here is what I got.
4831sc
66.1 - 3167 fps
66.4 - 3179
66.7 - 3194
67.0 - 3207
67.3 - 3217
67.6 - 3214
67.9 - 3226
68.2 - 3262
68.5 - 3258
I stopped at 68.5 due to some slight bolt lift and a minor ejector mark.
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
Looks good. Try adjusting the seating. If 2 don't shoot tight there is no point in shooting a 3rd. Can't make the group better.
I'm pretty sure it will come in.Sounds good thanks for the help. If that doesn't do it i will try MarkA's rec with reloader 26 and if that doesn't work I will assume that this gun is a ***.Looks good. Try adjusting the seating. If 2 don't shoot tight there is no point in shooting a 3rd. Can't make the group better.
Thanks guys,
Al
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
Sounds like it has shot well before. Not a ***. Lol
SilverbulletMAG
Well-Known Member
Is a heavier bullet worth a shot? My M70 7WSM doesn't like anything under 150 grains going that fast. M70 is 9.5 twist vs your faster 9 twist also. May just need to slow it down a bit and go heavier if all else fails...?
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
Have you tried a Hammer? If yes which one?
