Initial break in is done....now what

[ruby76]

Shooting a Remington 700 mil spec 26" 300 wm. 1 shot clean for 9 rounds, then 2 shots/clean, then 3 shots/clean times three. So, 20 rounds down the tube. I do realize that with only 20 rounds, its not fully broken in. My question is what steps should I do next.

Now, I have 215 Berger hybrids, 200 ELDX, H1000 and H4350 to work with. I'm thinking go with the 215/H1000 combo right off the bat, but my question is which type of testing first? Do I first seat the bullet close to the lands and figure out max load till I reach pressure signs and go on from there. Or, is it worthwhile to try and do a ladder test (300 yards first) at the same time as figuring out max pressure. Was going to start at 74 grains of H1000, with 1 grain increments till I see pressure signs. I can fine tune the bullet seating and powder charge after the initial testing is done but a little unsure on the right steps to take first, second, etc

 

[elkaholic]

With all my wildcat cartridges I first find out what max is so I can have an educated start on running a ladder. I usually run loads from about 4 grains below max, up to max, in .5 gr. increments. You can almost always find an accurate load with good velocity in this range. I like to fire 2 shots with each load. I normally start about .005" off the lands. After I have chosen a load based on the ladder findings, I will fine tune "at distance" with changes in seating depth.
When not using a ladder, I do the max load and then choose a load 2 grains under and shoot for group. I then play with seating depth to determine the most accurate one, and then play with powder charge. I know this is backwards from a lot of folks but I find seating depth to be a constant with a given bullet and it is easier for me that way........Rich

 

[Gord0]

I would start with a minimum charge weight and do the Berger seating depth test. After you find a depth that groups well then run it up to max doing a ladder. My reason for doing that is your pressures will change with the same load based on seating depth. After you found your nodes in the ladder work on smaller increments in the node. Then you can fine tune seating depth if you want.

 

[Mikecr]

Gord0 is right.
Pulling a seating depth out of your butt, with no intent to ever do full seating testing, is a bad way to start. Then that 'fine tuning' of seating described, by then, is merely group shaping. Any more by then would collapse what you also have in powder tune(2 changes at once).

Best to do full seating testing at a mid load, during fire forming. Then move on to powder with stable brass and rough best seating. A final tweak of seating after all this can shape the grouping you have.
Believe me, full seating testing is way way more than group shaping.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

What came 1st the chicken or the egg?

Steve

 

[elkaholic]

What came 1st the chicken or the egg?

Steve

Mike

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Well then... I guess I'm the odd man out. 99% of my rifles are repeaters. The seating depth is almost always locked in before I even choose a powder. COAL is as long as it can be while still reliably feeding from the magazine; done deal. Perhaps somewhere along the line I have forgotten to over complicate my process


t

 

[J E Custom]

Lots of different ideas. And my way is different like most everyone else.

I start with mag length ammo to find the lowest SDs and ESs and also the max load. I do all of my load testing over a chronograph to establish the best powder, bullet shape and weight and primer for my rifle.

After this has been done I then mess with neck tension and seating depth
using the data that I have already established working up the best load.
Armed with this information, I start trying to get optimum accuracy by adjusting physical parameters like seating depth and neck tension.

I also clean between each group so they will be tested under the same conditions. (Shoot one group and clean). One other thing, I only make one change at a time so I can read the results with clear proof of the effect of the "One" change.

Just the way I go about working up loads. For me this method saved me many firings to reach the goal of accuracy without trial and error.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Greyfox]

I have a 300WM MilSpec and have worked with a few others. I would start with 74gr of H1000, Fed 215 primer, and seat the Berger 215 @ .020" off the lands. The Hybrid design of this bullet seems to be much less sensitive, if at all to seating depth; at least with this rifle. Mine and two others produced 2750 FPS, ES<10FPS with 76 gr of H1000 and .25-.35MOA. Retumbo produces an additional 100FPS with the same accuracy and ES. Barrels were the 24" version. Brass was Norma. If this load doesn't work out you can resort to the ladder tests, etc, etc.

 

[ruby76]

Thanks for the input guys, been doing some initial testing in a flurry before my moose trip this weeked. I started out trying to find my OL touching the lands. Other than calipers I do not yet have the proper tools for the job, especially to find the CBTO. Did the 'ol black marker test first, found what I though was the max OL and made sure I had room in my magazine. They barely fit so moved on.

I then did a moderate load of 72 grains of H1000 and did the berger seating test (.010, .050, .090, .130 off). I reduced the OL by these amounts, I know, not ideal by any means. I'm using FC brass and Federal 215 primers. I only did one 3 shot group per, hoping to get lucky. Shot all the groups and they were all garbage, I'm using a bipod and rear bag at 100 yards. But, one of the rounds in the .010 group caused a stiff bolt lift and another had a faint ejector mark. Back to the drawing board I re-did the max OL test and figured the first time around I messed up and ended up seating all the rounds way too far off the lands. Yes, by this time my head is spinning around.

Couple days later I loaded two sets of 3, at the 'new" OL (which is .015 closer to the lands than my previous closest of .010 off)with 71 and 72 grains Shot the first 3 with 71 grains, no ejector marks and the group was very good. Moved on to the 72 grain loads and shot the best group I've ever shot. Lucky maybe but I'm thinking the seating depth is much better now, just need to slowly work up the charge. One question I do have is on the FC (Federal) brass, is the capacity lower or is it quite soft? Quite surprised to see some light ejector marks at what I thought was a mild load and not jammed into the lands.

 

[elkaholic]

Sounds like you are making good progress. The Federal brass is not the best! If you can get some Lapua, it will pay dividends in the long run......Rich

 

[ruby76]

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 72 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.

 

[Gord0]

The issue I had with federal brass was that the necks were in need of annealing before I ever tried to size it. Granted this was 10yrs ago and was once fired factory rounds. I've been using Sig brass lately which has been extremely consistent.
Sounds like you're getting close. Do you have a chronograph? That would be very helpful with the load development.

 

[ruby76]

I don't have a chronograph but know someone that does, I do want to know how fast, or slow this load is at. I'm quite new at long range, been loading quite a while but just for closer range hunting and haven't needed to get into the more technical aspects of prescision loading. With my 280 ackley i found a good load with 140 barnes and stuck with it.