6.5 SAUM help please

[Deviant]

I always start out with a ladder test to find my node. I don't even attempt to do any testing until I have at least 80 rounds down the tube. 60 for break in and 20 after that without cleaning to foul the barrel slightly before testing. Clean barrels do not shoot as well. I would chrony every round and watch your velocities as they will tell you a lot and help you find your nodes during the ladder test. Once the ladder is complete use the berger method to find your seating depth and again chrony all shots so if you have a flier you can check the velocity. If your fps is off then you know its a reloading issue and not the gun.

Thanks, Al

 

[JD250]

Use the chrono. It will tell you more than you think especially when you get that flyer and will let you know when that barrel speeds up. As far as .130 off the lands? My SAUM shot some amazing groups at around that seating depth, which is why I recommended the Berger method. Also, I have found once fired brass shot through the rifle has performed better than virgin brass.

I will definitely give it a shot I have nothing to loose at this point I have 400 rounds of New hornady brass. Would you suggest shooting through all the new brass or shoot some of the once fired? What are you trimming your brass to? Would you suggest taking my best shooting load and play with the seating depth or load several different loads up with different seating depths?

 

[jrock]

Another thought, do you have another can of H1000 to try? I had a bad can of it recently and had to toss it. Chrono would tell you if something is going on in that department. Second the seating depth. The typical range for my guns is 0.010 to 0.020". More than that, it opens up so you could be on an edge for seating depth.

 

[JD250]

I think I'll go home today and load up a 10 round ladder test an shoot that then play with the seating depth starting with .010 off and work out from there. As for the ladder test I'm looking for the area where my FPS kind of hits a lull and doesn't change much from increases in powder then take the middle charge and work with that all through the chronograph correct?

 

[Deviant]

I think I'll go home today and load up a 10 round ladder test an shoot that then play with the seating depth starting with .010 off and work out from there. As for the ladder test I'm looking for the area where my FPS kind of hits a lull and doesn't change much from increases in powder then take the middle charge and work with that all through the chronograph correct?

The main thing you want to look for is your vertical spread. find your 3 shots that have the least vertical deviation. Most of the time this will also coincide with a node of unchanging velocities.

 

[JD250]

The main thing you want to look for is your vertical spread. find your 3 shots that have the least vertical deviation. Most of the time this will also coincide with a node of unchanging velocities.

I see so do you load .2 grains per round or more or .1?

 

[JD250]

And should this be shot at 100 yards and what about cooling between shots?
Thanks guys

 

[jrock]

My rough ladder testing I use 0.3 grains. I then shoot groups with 0.2 increments. Just did my 6.5 Saum a couple weeks ago this way.

 

[JD250]

My rough ladder testing I use 0.3 grains. I then shoot groups with 0.2 increments. Just did my 6.5 Saum a couple weeks ago this way.

So once you find the node you load .2 up and down from there. Do you then take the best load and mess with seating depth if you feel the gun could do better?

 

[Rick Richard]

I will definitely give it a shot I have nothing to loose at this point I have 400 rounds of New hornady brass. Would you suggest shooting through all the new brass or shoot some of the once fired? What are you trimming your brass to? Would you suggest taking my best shooting load and play with the seating depth or load several different loads up with different seating depths?

Shoot a few and reload playing with seating depth. With Hornady brass, don't expect to get more than a couple of reloads. I had to trash mine after 2 firings and that is with loads From 58.5 to 60.5 with H1000. By the way, mine shot consistently the best with 60.5 H1000 and .020 off the lands. I do have a Bartlein barrel contoured in 3B though.

 

[Deviant]

So once you find the node you load .2 up and down from there. Do you then take the best load and mess with seating depth if you feel the gun could do better?

http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html
I use .2 - .4 grains depending on case capacity. When I find the node I pick the middle charge so I have some room for error in both directions. I shoot my ladders at 600 yards. The article in the link above explains it in detail. I also like to load two ladder tests and shoot the second one in reverse order and compare the two for corroboration.

 

[JD250]

Thanks a lot guys I'll go home today and lose up some more and give it a try and report back with my findings I really appreciate the help.

 

[jrock]

http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html
I use .2 - .4 grains depending on case capacity. When I find the node I pick the middle charge so I have some room for error in both directions. I shoot my ladders at 600 yards. The article in the link above explains it in detail. I also like to load two ladder tests and shoot the second one in reverse order and compare the two for corroboration.

I do the same thing. I pick the high end of the node as I'm usually doing load workup in warmer temps than when I'm hunting in the fall. In theory that is. Depends more on powder sensitive than anything else. I also shoot multiple ladders. I do three sets in reverse order each time. It's pretty easy to see the best vertical strings that way. I do seating depth tests at 100 yards after I find the right powder charge. I've only done it once as the 0.010" to 0.020" have worked great for every gun I've shoot Bergers through.

 

[jrock]

BTW, my barrel is a #4 X-Caliber. I use 7mm SAUM Norma brass necked down.