Mc Fraser
Well-Known Member
Hi Everyone,
I thought I might share my rabbit hole project with the community and get some useful advice in return. Len asked me (and everyone else for that matter) to introduce myself and what better way than to share my story.
Me: Avid hunter with 5 years experience, first hunting season blew the leg of a doe, chase it for 2 days without luck, couldn't sleep for weeks, went into reloading and custom made guns to achieve best ethical shoots possible. Still owns a Tikka T3 .270 that shoots sub-moa at 200yds.
Target: build a hunting rifle capable of shooting 3in or less grouping at 1000yds.
Equipment: My very first rifle bought 5 years ago Winchester M70 300 WM Extreme Winter SS, glass bedded, adjusted trigger and re-barreled to Krieger #5 bull sporter, 0.700in muzzle OD, 28/29in length, stainless steel, 5R rifling, 30 cal 1:10 twist with muzzle brake, all work done by Henry Rempel. Don't ask me why I did this, remember it is my rabbit hole project
Reloading equipment: Lee cast iron press, Lee collet neck sizing die, Forrester bench rest micrometer seater die, Winchester brass fireformed, Federal Match 215M, Berger 210gr VLD Hunting bullet, a good selection of gunpowders.
After speaking with a couple of reputable and experienced bench rest shooters and readers I BELIEVE I have everything line up to start my load development.
Reloading technique: Use Berger's advice to play with bullet seating depth to find accuracy node.
http://bergerbullets.com/vld-making-shoot/
A note before we begin, I'm not writing this article to determine who is wright and who is wrong, I'm asking simple questions as to why? what is your advice? can you share you experience? etc
Going back and forth with my friends and Berger regarding load development I can't seem to understand a few things:
1. Berger suggests starting with the minimum powder charge.
"any time you are doing bullet seating depth testing you should do it using the minimum powder charge listed for the bullet/powder/cartridge combination you are testing to prevent/reduce any chances of causing pressure issues while testing. It has been my experience that bullet seating depth accuracy nodes do not change with velocity. They are both parts of the same equation. You find the bullet seating depth accuracy node first. That sets up the USABLE cartridge case capacity that you have to find your highest velocity accuracy node. So one sets up the other. But both need to be found for accuracy."
I understand that we live in a world where we have warning signs on shampoo bottles: do not eat and one must cover his behind, but I have some questions about Berger's method; if I understand correctly the accuracy node is independent on MV and once it is determined one can increase the powder until technically starts to see pressure signs. I like this idea because in theory in less than 100 bullets one can find his magic recipe.
Questions: my assumption is that load development is done at 100 yds, if one finds the accuracy node and powder weight what are the changes that the rifle will keep accuracy at 500yds or 1000yds? What if at 500 yds I'm not even on paper? What about hang fire and minimum powder charge?
2. My friends are suggesting that seating the bullet above COAL i increase the case capacity and pressure signs should not occur at maximum powder charge -1% or 1 grain, and such I should start with that. This is great, but is this common knowledge among experienced shooters and books are just following the lawyer's advice?
Do I start 1 grain under max and work my way up until I see pressure signs or find a sweet spot with COAL? Once I find the sweet spot do I play with bullet seating?
I guess at the end of the day all that I ask is what is the most reliable method for beginners to start a load dev without burning the barrel in their quest for perfection?
Thank you in advance and I appreciate any comment or advice, don't be shy I won't be offended or hold you accountable.
It will be a few months until I will start this project, currently is winter here and I prefer to play at the gun range in temperatures that are above freezing.
I thought I might share my rabbit hole project with the community and get some useful advice in return. Len asked me (and everyone else for that matter) to introduce myself and what better way than to share my story.
Me: Avid hunter with 5 years experience, first hunting season blew the leg of a doe, chase it for 2 days without luck, couldn't sleep for weeks, went into reloading and custom made guns to achieve best ethical shoots possible. Still owns a Tikka T3 .270 that shoots sub-moa at 200yds.
Target: build a hunting rifle capable of shooting 3in or less grouping at 1000yds.
Equipment: My very first rifle bought 5 years ago Winchester M70 300 WM Extreme Winter SS, glass bedded, adjusted trigger and re-barreled to Krieger #5 bull sporter, 0.700in muzzle OD, 28/29in length, stainless steel, 5R rifling, 30 cal 1:10 twist with muzzle brake, all work done by Henry Rempel. Don't ask me why I did this, remember it is my rabbit hole project
Reloading equipment: Lee cast iron press, Lee collet neck sizing die, Forrester bench rest micrometer seater die, Winchester brass fireformed, Federal Match 215M, Berger 210gr VLD Hunting bullet, a good selection of gunpowders.
After speaking with a couple of reputable and experienced bench rest shooters and readers I BELIEVE I have everything line up to start my load development.
Reloading technique: Use Berger's advice to play with bullet seating depth to find accuracy node.
http://bergerbullets.com/vld-making-shoot/
A note before we begin, I'm not writing this article to determine who is wright and who is wrong, I'm asking simple questions as to why? what is your advice? can you share you experience? etc
Going back and forth with my friends and Berger regarding load development I can't seem to understand a few things:
1. Berger suggests starting with the minimum powder charge.
"any time you are doing bullet seating depth testing you should do it using the minimum powder charge listed for the bullet/powder/cartridge combination you are testing to prevent/reduce any chances of causing pressure issues while testing. It has been my experience that bullet seating depth accuracy nodes do not change with velocity. They are both parts of the same equation. You find the bullet seating depth accuracy node first. That sets up the USABLE cartridge case capacity that you have to find your highest velocity accuracy node. So one sets up the other. But both need to be found for accuracy."
I understand that we live in a world where we have warning signs on shampoo bottles: do not eat and one must cover his behind, but I have some questions about Berger's method; if I understand correctly the accuracy node is independent on MV and once it is determined one can increase the powder until technically starts to see pressure signs. I like this idea because in theory in less than 100 bullets one can find his magic recipe.
Questions: my assumption is that load development is done at 100 yds, if one finds the accuracy node and powder weight what are the changes that the rifle will keep accuracy at 500yds or 1000yds? What if at 500 yds I'm not even on paper? What about hang fire and minimum powder charge?
2. My friends are suggesting that seating the bullet above COAL i increase the case capacity and pressure signs should not occur at maximum powder charge -1% or 1 grain, and such I should start with that. This is great, but is this common knowledge among experienced shooters and books are just following the lawyer's advice?
Do I start 1 grain under max and work my way up until I see pressure signs or find a sweet spot with COAL? Once I find the sweet spot do I play with bullet seating?
I guess at the end of the day all that I ask is what is the most reliable method for beginners to start a load dev without burning the barrel in their quest for perfection?
Thank you in advance and I appreciate any comment or advice, don't be shy I won't be offended or hold you accountable.
It will be a few months until I will start this project, currently is winter here and I prefer to play at the gun range in temperatures that are above freezing.