Berger VS Hornaday

[Jeff Haugland]

Upon thd purchase {December}of a New Seekins Havic Element 300 wm topped with a new VX6HD 4x24x52 Leupold im not happy with any of my hand loads. 3 different powders h1000 h4350 h4831sc 2 different bergers190 & 155 gr. With an extremely long throat on the seekins the bergers didnt want any jump. I ordered a box of hornady 178 gr eldx. I even ordered a box of old school flat base 180 grain Hornadays to have if i cant build a grouping with Boattails plus a factory box of Hornadys 178 gr eldx just to try to find the guanteeed factory MOA group of the rifle. My question is are the hornadys as sensitive to jump? I'm looking for a starting point. I've yet to shoot a inch group from factory coal to lands> 3.570. I also used a second set of RCBS Dies for a change up to no avail. It was shot by a 2nd party, along with all contacts rechecked properly torqued in inch pounds.In cleaning the gun it appears to have been lapped at the factory, there is some fouling with hardly any copper residue. Yes it was sold as brand new from Euro Optics. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks, Jeff ~

 

[slv hunter]

Try a bullet that likes some jump like a Hammer Hunter

 

[nksmfamjp]

Call them and ask what they suggest before you blow a bunch of money. They know what they test with. Don't feed it reloads until you establish it can shoot.

 

[Jeff Haugland]

Call them and ask what they suggest before you blow a bunch of money. They know what they test with. Don't feed it reloads until you establish it can shoot.

Trying, No returned phone calls of emails so far~

 

[southpa]

I guess I'm confused? Seekins offers their rifles in custom long throats? Are you suggesting that the bergers didn't like jump because you tried it or are you saying you can't reach the lands so you have to jump them?


Maybe you have one of the lemon seekins rifles that I've heard have been circulating. If it won't shoot what they guarante I'd 100% be taking @nksmfamjp advice. Be

 

[Jeff Haugland]

I guess I'm confused? Seekins offers their rifles in custom long throats? Are you suggesting that the bergers didn't like jump because you tried it or are you saying you can't reach the lands so you have to jump them?


Maybe you have one of the lemon seekins rifles that I've heard have been circulating. If it won't shoot what they guarante I'd 100% be taking @nksmfamjp advice. Be

Sorry, I had to stuff em in the lands to get under a 2 inch group. That was as good as it got~

 

[Tiny Tim]

Agree with nksmfamjp, contact the manufacturer first and give them your info so if it continues to be an issue, the process of return may be expedited.

 

[Mickp7]

Seekins customer service is great. As suggested, let them know what's going on and I am sure they will figure it out. Most likely it'll come back to you with a new barrel. Save your components in the meantime... no sense in chasing your tail.

 

[LDHunter]

In this new world where many factory non-custom sub $1,000 cost rifles are often shooting sub moa right out of the box with off the shelf factory ammo, this is completely inexcusable.

By the way I have 4 of them myself that easily shoot well under MOA with only a bedding and trigger job and factory loaded ammo.

Just sayin'.....

 

[FEENIX]

Upon thd purchase {December}of a New Seekins Havic Element 300 wm topped with a new VX6HD 4x24x52 Leupold im not happy with any of my hand loads. 3 different powders h1000 h4350 h4831sc 2 different bergers190 & 155 gr. With an extremely long throat on the seekins the bergers didnt want any jump. I ordered a box of hornady 178 gr eldx. I even ordered a box of old school flat base 180 grain Hornadays to have if i cant build a grouping with Boattails plus a factory box of Hornadys 178 gr eldx just to try to find the guanteeed factory MOA group of the rifle. My question is are the hornadys as sensitive to jump? I'm looking for a starting point. I've yet to shoot a inch group from factory coal to lands> 3.570. I also used a second set of RCBS Dies for a change up to no avail. It was shot by a 2nd party, along with all contacts rechecked properly torqued in inch pounds.In cleaning the gun it appears to have been lapped at the factory, there is some fouling with hardly any copper residue. Yes it was sold as brand new from Euro Optics. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks, Jeff ~

Jeff,

I am sorry you are having issues with your rifle. As others noted, you might have two issues here: the rifle's barrel and reloading the right load combination that your rifle likes. Unfortunately, the first issue must be resolved first. Be patient and persistent when contacting the manufacturer.

Your powder choices are excellent. As with anything else, YMMV. I have three .300 WMs, and each one is loaded differently. All of them perform better with 180g and heavier bullets. I cannot speak for the 155 Berger, but the 190 VLD is pretty good - I harvested a bull elk at 931Y with it and H4831 SC. I do not have hands-on experience with the 178 ELD-X but plenty with the 178 A-Max, and I have harvested numerous antelope and deer harvests up to 600Y throughout the years. A 215 Berger and H1000 have been a golden and longitudinal load for many LRH hunters. If you have not seen it, search on .300 WM 215 Berger, esp. by Jeff (BROZ) here and LRO.

Good luck! I hope you'll get it resolved soon.

Ed

 

[VLD Pilot]

Upon thd purchase {December}of a New Seekins Havic Element 300 wm topped with a new VX6HD 4x24x52 Leupold im not happy with any of my hand loads. 3 different powders h1000 h4350 h4831sc 2 different bergers190 & 155 gr. With an extremely long throat on the seekins the bergers didnt want any jump. I ordered a box of hornady 178 gr eldx. I even ordered a box of old school flat base 180 grain Hornadays to have if i cant build a grouping with Boattails plus a factory box of Hornadys 178 gr eldx just to try to find the guanteeed factory MOA group of the rifle. My question is are the hornadys as sensitive to jump? I'm looking for a starting point. I've yet to shoot a inch group from factory coal to lands> 3.570. I also used a second set of RCBS Dies for a change up to no avail. It was shot by a 2nd party, along with all contacts rechecked properly torqued in inch pounds.In cleaning the gun it appears to have been lapped at the factory, there is some fouling with hardly any copper residue. Yes it was sold as brand new from Euro Optics. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks, Jeff ~

Answer...No Hornady is not sensitive to jump. In fact, they love long jumps. All my rifles prefer Hornady over Berger if they are over .030 off the lands. I have a few that shoot them .150 off the lands. .5 groups or better is common with Hornady bullets jumping crazy distances. Berger, not at all. All my rifles are either in the lands or .015-.020 max to get great accuracy.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Berger VLD bullets specifically are know to be more seating depth sensitivity. Move to a hybrid bullet like the 215 Hybrid that Feenix mentioned.

 

[Gary in MD]

I know that you have a new scope BUT before you wear out the barrel trying every bullet and powder under the sun....Try a different scope.

 

[lancetkenyon]

This week is SHOT show in Vegas.
Not sure if that is effecting your lack of contact back from Seekins.

A little more info on your loads might be helpful.
Brass?
Primers?
Neck tension?
Powder charge weight w. H1000?
Velocities?

I would look at other bullets. If you want lighter/faster:

Berger 175 OTM
Berger 185 Juggernaut

To me, the .300WM begs for heavies in the 200+ range.

Berger 200.20x Hyb
Berger 205 Elite Hunter
Berger 208 LR Hyb
Berger 210 HVLD
Berger 215 Hyb
Berger 220 LR Hyb
Berger 230 OTM

If a .300WM won't shoot H1000 w. 215s, there is something wrong.

Other powders you could try with heavies:
Retumbo
N565
N570

Have you tried a scope swap? I have seen three bad high end Leupolds right out of the box.