More important for accuracy

[Grey Goast]

1. what type of game are you hunting. 2. At what range on average will you be shooting this game. 3. choose the best bc bullet and grain weight to take the game at the distance you will be shooting. 4. have a barrel with the best twist rate for this bullet note: there may be several that fit your needs then choose the one your barrel likes the best. 5 find the powder that gives you the best results with this combo. Then practice, practice practice .

 

[blvette75]

Bullet match to the gun.

Been my experience as well.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Answering a few questions: Brux 10 twist 30 cal, 300 Sherman; deer for now(elk later); 165 - 190gr bullets…..3 mono, 1 c&c

190 CX
178 ELDX
165 CEB Maximus
174 Hammer Hunter

 

[Brijake]

Your rifle may like one bullet and not another so I would say yes the bullet must match the gun View attachment 579409

That's an incredible difference

 

[Mike Matteson]

Now I generally figure out that bullets I am planing to use. A small spread in bullet weights. If all copper bullet I get a faster twist rate barrel. At one time I didn't pay much attention to twist rates. I would get what was being used at that time for that chamber. With that advent of all copper bullets, and changing designs have really changed the game.
I look at what velocity those bullets are being push at. Animals I going to shoot and distance or ranges I am to be using that load for. I am no heavy bullet shooter either. The largest caliber I use is 338WM. Using 200gr Nosler @ 3200fps. Grouping and cold bore shots are my most important items to me. In all the years I have been hunting, I never seen where I had a warm barrel shot. So the rifle has to put on the money the first shot. I'll look for a load that does the trick.
I work at my load being as concentricity as I possible can to start with. Then it's adjustment after that to what does work. All components are subject to change.

 

[338 dude]

That's an incredible difference

Those loads are exactly the same other than the projectile.

 

[skipglo]

Gun!

 

[YZ-80]

I always start with the basic bullet match to the gun based on the twist rate. I used to develop 2 loads with a light for caliber bullet and one heavy for caliber. This was for purposes of varminting and then something for big game. I've since abandoned this in favor of 1 mid-range weight bullet that will handle both types of critters. Oddly enough, I've had really good success with old school bullets like Sierra Gameking, Partitions, etc. they just seem to work.

 

[Horse1]

Those loads are exactly the same other than the projectile.

When you say:

"exactly the same"

Do you mean they're the same COAL or that the ogive is the same distance from the lands?

Neither answer is right or wrong, just curiosity on my part.

 

[338 dude]

When you say:

"exactly the same"

Do you mean they're the same COAL or that the ogive is the same distance from the lands?

Neither answer is right or wrong, just curiosity on my part.

Both were loaded to the same cartridge base to ogive measurement same powder same case same primer different projectile. Was chasing my tail with the eldm's during load development. Tried many different powder charges many different cartridge base to ogive lengths with no luck switched the projectile and you see the result.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I am generally not one to force a rifle to like what I want. Easier said than done when components are not readily available. Just about the time that we think we have the universal load figured out the next rifle doesn't like it. I am a ladder up one shot one charge guy to find pressure. Then back off according to how hard you hit pressure. Less than .5gr adjustments in charge weight for normal size cartridges is inconsequential in my opinion. If a rifle shoots poorly at the upper end with the components I have chosen I usually switch to a diff powder. I may try a diff primer before totally abandoning this powder. If accuracy is not bad but not good then I may start tinkering seating depth.

My answer is the rifle will tell you what powder, primer combo it likes with the chosen bullet. Some rifles just don't like particular bullets.

 

[dogz]

IMO, take it for what it's worth a person needs a good barrel, a good plumber followed by the right over all length...then the rest is easy peasy

 

[Mike Matteson]

I am generally not one to force a rifle to like what I want. Easier said than done when components are not readily available. Just about the time that we think we have the universal load figured out the next rifle doesn't like it. I am a ladder up one shot one charge guy to find pressure. Then back off according to how hard you hit pressure. Less than .5gr adjustments in charge weight for normal size cartridges is inconsequential in my opinion. If a rifle shoots poorly at the upper end with the components I have chosen I usually switch to a diff powder. I may try a diff primer before totally abandoning this powder. If accuracy is not bad but not good then I may start tinkering seating depth.

My answer is the rifle will tell you what powder, primer combo it likes with the chosen bullet. Some rifles just don't like particular bullets.

I have a number of different primers on hand, and powders too. Presently I use Peterson case or Lapua cases. Powders I limit my choices to H powders, do to weather I can be hunting in from -20- to 110+ temp change. What I have seen in double based powder change a lot with temp change. So as much as 1.75 fps per degree. In years gone by I had some great grouping with double based powder, but had problem with temp change. There only 3 cartridges that I still use double based powders in. They were put together in very to hot weather. So I don't worry about them, and generally don't use them in cold weather except in my 338WM. It's only 24" barrel and I am having a 28" barrel 338WM being put to gather.
When I make up load for a rifle I am looking for velocity and accuracies. Most of my hunting rifles are in the 3200 to 3300 fps velocity. that way I don't have think about how my bullet going to fly through the air. It's rate of drop. I use the kiss formal, that way I don't have think about which rifle I am using, and I use the same type of scope on those rifles. I size and determine my range by looking through the scope. Adjust my hold and let it go down range. I do adjust my distances from ogive to lands. I also run up my powder loads to determine what is safe. A lot of my loads are 5+grs over manual call out.
Bottom line is it all has to go come together, including cold bore shots. How the bullets does if another story, Shooting animals will tell the final story.

 

[HRM Johnny]

Currently testing 10+ bullets in 6AI for varmint and deer hunting. Typically the same 2 powders except last 2 heavys slightly slower powder. The 8 twist does prefer the 85+ gr bullets so far and made varmint grenades fly apart. Testing 87 Berger hunter today. I play with them in GRT and QL first and there is always a load from there that stands out. Wednesday I should be testing the 108 elite hunter.
Leaving hammer bullets and going back to Barnes TSX so will be testing those also in the near future.

Leaving hammer bullets and going back to Barnes TSX

I am just curious. Why are you leaving Hammer boards and going back to the Barnes?