Hammer Hunter Seating Depth

[koonazz]

Uhhh, BBean, these are 2 different standards.
I shot competively for several years. A half moa rifle is not competitive today, nor has been for quite a while.
Now, for hunting - whether varmints, game or people, 1 moa or so is just fine. I still hold out for 1/2 moa in case I go prairie dog hunting again. I love Looong targets

OP said "mid range" hunting. So that begs the question, what does HE consider mid range.

 

[koonazz]

Really GL, thanks for reminding me how old I am

Don't feel bad Bean, if my eyes keep slippin I'll be lucky to shoot MOD in a few years.

 

[GLTaylor]

OP said "mid range" hunting. So that begs the question, what does HE consider mid range.

In the competitive world, Mid-range means 600 yds.

 

[GLTaylor]

Scheesch. I'm a pup of 71 yrs young!

 

[koonazz]

In the competitive world, Mid-range means 600 yds.

Yes but he did'nt say competitive, he said hunting. And btw, ya look like a kid in a candy store holdin that striper!

 

[ButterBean]

In the competitive world, Mid-range means 600 yds.

I'll agree to that so Moa @ 600 = 6", now while I know that won't set any records but from my deer stand I personally will take that all day long

 

[Huntnful]

I've tested 3 different loads with 177, 169 & 143 7mm hammers. my gun is throated long, so I just seated them with 3 drive bands inside the neck (at least). I don't even know where they are, because I use the Jam method. But .100 deeper than jam at least. They all shot 1/2 MOA never tinkered with seating depth to try for 1/4 because I can't shoot that haha.

 

[ButterBean]

I've tested 3 different loads with 177, 169 & 143 7mm hammers. my gun is throated long, so I just seated them with 3 drive bands inside the neck (at least). I don't even know where they are, because I use the Jam method. But .100 deeper than jam at least. They all shot 1/2 MOA never tinkered with seating depth to try for 1/4 because I can't shoot that haha.

I'm the same, I've always been a 3/4 moa shooter at my best, it's gotten me this far

 

[GLTaylor]

Yep

I'll agree to that so Moa @ 600 = 6", now while I know that won't set any records but from my deer stand I personally will take that all day long

Yep on the deer stand. My stand is my chair on my back deck with a rug pad on the bannister and a bag under the butt of the rifle. I can only see 400 yds across my fields.
Tough, huh
Regarding the striper. Caught a bigger one about 20 mins later! Had a 15 5 and a 29 2. Kissed and released both to make me some babies!

 

[koonazz]

Yep
Yep on the deer stand. My stand is my chair on my back deck with a rug pad on the bannister and a bag under the butt of the rifle. I can only see 400 yds across my fields.
Tough, huh
Regarding the striper. Caught a bigger one about 20 mins later! Had a 15 5 and a 29 2. Kissed and released both to make me some babies!

Awesome and the fish! Cheater! on the deerstand. Just kiddin. I'm jealous!

 

[yorke-1]

I understand that, if you bought a rifle that was guaranteed to shoot sub Moa I'd be upset as well but to say you need a .75 Moa rifle is probably ok to hunt with is gibberish IMO

Accuracy requirements just depend on the hunting style of the user. Given the nature of this site, a high percentage of shooters on here are going to have above average requirements for their equipment. If this site were dedicated to lever actions or muzzleloaders then 2 MOA would be a good benchmark.

Shooting sub .75 MOA inside of 600 yards isn't really a high bar, even with most factory guns these days. Lots of factory guns will do that with factory ammunition. It's not even that difficult for an average shooter to hold that level of precision with a little practice.

 

[ButterBean]

Accuracy requirements just depend on the hunting style of the user. Given the nature of this site, a high percentage of shooters on here are going to have above average requirements for their equipment. If this site were dedicated to lever actions or muzzleloaders then 2 MOA would be a good benchmark.

Shooting sub .75 MOA inside of 600 yards isn't really a high bar, even with most factory guns these days. Lots of factory guns will do that with factory ammunition. It's not even that difficult for an average shooter to hold that level of precision with a little practice.

Really, …….You just keep adding to your legendary status

 

[Rick Richard]

You are probably correct. If I had a rifle not shooting these far better than acceptable I would most definitely look at seating depth. I don't think anyone here is saying that seating depth tuning is'nt legitimate, what we're saying is we have'nt "had to". Seeing is believing and MY experience with hammers has been that they are the least finicky bullets I've ever seen as far as seating depth is concerned.

Agree they are not finicky to develop a load for as long as you have the correct barrel twist for the projectile. I approach load development with the goal in mind to develop the best group that a barrel can achieve. So, anything above .5 at 100 yds is not acceptable for my criteria.

I have played with a few HH and most have shot @ .5 on the initial load development and after seating depth tweaking groups ended up in the .2 to .3 range.

So, I like squeezing as much out of something as I can…which is my fun factor.

 

[Huntnful]

Agree they are not finicky to develop a load for as long as you have the correct barrel twist for the projectile. I approach load development with the goal in mind to develop the best group that a barrel can achieve. So, anything above .5 at 100 yds is not acceptable for my criteria.

I have played with a few HH and most have shot @ .5 on the initial load development and after seating depth tweaking groups ended up in the .2 to .3 range.

So, I like squeezing as much out of something as I can…which is my fun factor.

What is your starting seating depth that may achieve .5 group. And what is your seating depth process following that to achieve the .2 or .3 groups? And do you maintain the same powder charge as well and just adjust seating depth during this process?