Brass Prep for long range accuracy

[Steve Sheasly]

Steve,
Love the post, love the truck, love where you live. You have been blessed in this life. Glad you are gonna give that bull a free ride in your truck from 1000 yds.

Thanks Doug! I have been blessed in many ways and thank God for my life, wife, and Country.

 

[Remmy700]

Thank you! I am not sure how many of the people here have ever attempted a 1000 yard target ---- it is possible to put 10 rounds through the same hole, take the exact set up to a 1000 yard range and miss the target completely. It is hard to do and takes a lot of concentration, trigger pull, scope, DOPE, and you have to hold your mouth just right did I mention trigger pull?
I went back and edited my post I appreciate your kind words a lot. I thought I was doing pretty good. I shoot alone so the affirmation is very welcome.

I hope one day to make it to 1k, just ain't got that level of dedication yet.

 

[Steve Sheasly]

This is also another good example when it's nice to have an expanded mandrel. That is the only thing I do to new brass. Run mandrel thru all the necks and then go play until all my stuff is formed, then the real prep and load work can begin.

Amen!

 

[Steve Sheasly]

I h

I have shot groups in the 0.2's with virgin brass in my 28 nosler.

great! what yardage? Since I live in Oregon I am partial to anything Nosler besides they have great products for shooters.

 

[Steve Sheasly]

Brass is started from one solid slug and must be annealed several times through the process of forming a cartridge

This is correct and I confirmed by talking to Nosler. I knew it had to be annealed because of cold working. Unlike steel alloys, brass cannot be hardened by heating. Brass can only be strain or work hardened. This hardening occurs when the material is worked mechanically, e.g. by cold working. ... If cold worked brass is heated to 450 – 600°C, the hardening can be removed again and this is why we have to anneal again. Fire forming is cold working and so is putting brass in a die. This is also why I neck size then full size -- and repeat. I have worked with many foundries in my engineering career. Which now is over and I can shoot all I want --- unless I run out of money!

 

[Steve Sheasly]

Can anyone say for certain that these guys who full size are using a custom die that is very close to their chamber dimensions?

Also, do they use a neck bushing in the custom sizing did?

we would have to ask them, but the articles I have read say they do and If I spent 5 to 10 grand on a rifle like a buddy of mine did -- you can bet a $500.00 die would come with it. And if I was a world-class shooter (which I am not) I would precision FL size too. The reason I neck size and then FL size is that the brass will probably eventually stick in the chamber do to the brass expanding in the die (chamber) so that you have zero clearance and then a bit of dirt creates a negative clearance once the round is chambered. So I keep my gun clean using Npro 7 and full length resize when I need to.

 

[Steve Sheasly]

We'll I'm in the camp that the more prep and procedure you have the more consistent performance you'll get. I have a full custom that I shoot Norma brass through and it is 1/4 MOA consistently out to 1100 yards. My brass prep for that rifle is much less than most peoples. Sometimes you just get a barn burner.
When I first started reloading, I didn't anneal or clean and had 5 or 6 shots on brass that still shot 1/2 MOA at 100. Of course I wasn't shooting long range back then but had to start somewhere.
I always start with minimal prep and if my gun doesn't shoot well enough, I keep adding steps until it does.

Shooting 3-inch groups consistently at 1100 yards? wow that is quite an accomplishment. Here is an article for the world record holder at 1000 yards. https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/benchrest-shooter-1000-yard-group/

 

[Remmy700]

I love the internet! Bob Lee Swagger convention going on now join in!

 

[MarshMello]

I am in the camp of the "least amount of prep to get acceptable, results with reasonable brass life". Notice that is a completely subjective statement. IMO, the most important aspect of whatever you choose to do is repeatable consistency. I personally don't neck size anymore. I like knowing my round will always chamber (competition and hunting). I ultrasonic, anneal, FL size with bushing, .002 shoulder bump, trim/deburr chamfer in one step (thank you Giraud!), prime, load and shoot. I am satisfied with consistent .5 moa for my needs and the effort/time expended. Really my definition of the best way is what meets your needs with results that are acceptable. Where that point of diminishing returns is totally up to you. 5" group at 1000'? Totally acceptable in my book. That .5 MOA and would be a day that met my expectations.

 

[beaver hunter]

Measure loaded round around the neck. Subtract the amount of neck tension u want so say .002, .003. And that is bushing u will want.

thanks for the help , puts me on the right track !

 

[Timeout]

we would have to ask them, but the articles I have read say they do and If I spent 5 to 10 grand on a rifle like a buddy of mine did -- you can bet a $500.00 die would come with it. And if I was a world-class shooter (which I am not) I would precision FL size too. The reason I neck size and then FL size is that the brass will probably eventually stick in the chamber do to the brass expanding in the die (chamber) so that you have zero clearance and then a bit of dirt creates a negative clearance once the round is chambered. So I keep my gun clean using Npro 7 and full length resize when I need to.

Here is your custom die - for a lot less than $500.00. Best money you will ever spend. https://www.whiddengunworks.com/custom-reloading-dies/

Another great option, but not available in some calibers. Give them a call. Great people to work with. http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/categories/reloading-dies

Then get yourself an arbor press and one of these seating dies. https://www.brownells.com/reloading...hamber-type-bullet-seater-dies-prod36168.aspx

 

[Steve Sheasly]

Here is your custom die - for a lot less than $500.00. Best money you will ever spend. https://www.whiddengunworks.com/custom-reloading-dies/

Another great option, but not available in some calibers. Give them a call. Great people to work with. http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/categories/reloading-dies

Then get yourself an arbor press and one of these seating dies. https://www.brownells.com/reloading...hamber-type-bullet-seater-dies-prod36168.aspx

Thank you!

 

[Orange Dust]

I love the internet! Bob Lee Swagger convention going on now join in!

5" groups at 1000 is an accomplishment to be proud of. I have a .308 that will shoot in the 0's at 100. If it would hold to 1000 I could win world championships with it. 5" @ 1000 is good enough to hunt deer that far if you can duplicate it from field positions. I have spent a small fortune on rifles, reloading equipment, and components, and am a pretty good shot. I know full well that is very difficult to do with a rifle that retains enough energy that far tohunt big game. 700 is tough enough. AND I am talking about consistant groups, not just one that sometimes happens at any distamce. If you cant back it up on different days it is just bragging.

 

[Bradu]

Everyone claims these groups but how repeatable are they? It's one thing to shoot good groups on calm days when you cherry pick the conditions. This is why all these great shots we always read about are rarely repeated at competitions, especially the elr matches.