Reloaded seating depth test....

[BoomFlop]

I wouldn't call .3" groups a waste of time though and I "built" them myself.

We could all settle for "good enough" in every facet of our lives. Some (myself) people aren't satisfied with that.

I've spent $3,000+ on equipment and components to learn this "craft". Do I need it? Nope.

Thanks for your time
Steve

 

[Mikecr]

Yeah none of us need it. I think we're in it for the challenges.

 

[Tulsa Reiner]

Yeah none of us need it. I think we're in it for the challenges.

And the learning experience!

 

[LVJ76]

Steve

I commend you for wanting to learn and trying to get the best out of your rifle and yourself. If you want to get an even tighter group with your reloads then go for it.

There are many hunters that can't get groups under or shoot under half MOA with either factory ammo or reloads.

Now you may only shoot up to 200 yds but knowing that you can shoot your rifle with that accuracy will give you confidence and trust in your equipment and yourself.

If in the future you want to head out west and hunt at longer ranges or if you find an area where you can shoot farther then you'll already have a set up that will work for that.

Best of luck and stay safe.

 

[BoomFlop]

Thanks Luis.

I enjoy the technical aspect of firearms more than anything. I got into reloading to put research and knowledge into my rifles for pure enjoyment. It certainly wasn't for cost savings (could have purchased a custom rifle and a Nightforce for what I've spent in 7 months lol) or long range (longest kill is 294 yards). However, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist. I like things to function the best that they can and I like quality products (Swarovski SS example).

Im having fun with our 223's and look forward to receiving all my Varget and BR2 primers tomorrow and getting to work on all our other rifles.

Thanks for all your help and conversation!

Steve

 

[S96743]

I read somewhere you can do seating depth testing while fireforming. I didn't quite catch if it was for Sami cartridges and wild cats alike.

I'm curious if there are multiple seating depths that have significant changes in grouping and if rough seating is independent of powder ie r26 vs I 4350. Planning on using r26 after fire forming. Just using another powder that I have lots of for forming brass.

I'm working on a new gun and found 0.030 off was tighter 0.5" compared to the rest from 0.01 to 0.05 (3/4-1-1/4" groups). I was Contemplating burning more powder and bullets over a larger range as berger recommends. I am trying 195 eols and 154 hornadys.

any thoughts?

 

[BoomFlop]

I would say seating depth is dependent on bullet as a course adjustment at low powder charge.

Powder test is fine tuning the group in relation to velocity and barrel harmonics.

However, I am far from an expert.

Stevd

 

[Mikecr]

While seating affects powder results, powder does not affect best seating.
So once you find best course seating you can change powders/charges all you like.
With this, you can test for best seating anytime, and it just makes sense to do it before testing powder.

 

[BoomFlop]

Mikecr

The seating will be based on a particular bullet correct?

Powder doesn't matter though? That is good to know. I'm guessing that is why the Berger seating method just uses minimum seating, which is what I did. Do you always start all your load work up at a manual minimum for seating and powder testing?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Mikecr]

The seating will be based on a particular bullet correct?

It's bullet-barrel combination, and should only be determined through testing (not a manual).

Do you always start all your load work up at a manual minimum for seating and powder testing?

For ANY change I back off in load initially, yes.

 

[jumpmasterkolo]

You won't learn much unless you actually start over.
By this I mean that you have to do seating testing independent of your powder node, so that you're not ALSO seeing a collapse of powder node(messing with seating results). I would drop powder by a full grain for the seating testing.
Might be a good time to do primer swapping as well.

While so far away from a powder node your grouping will be worse. That's great, the worse the better.
With this, you'll more easily see at least improvements -from seating alone.

Then with best primer, best coarse seating, and fully fire-formed to stable cases, increment back up to a new best powder load. If load density isn't good with best powder load, note muzzle velocity, adjust neck tension* and run powder testing again until your best load also fills the case (but not compressed).
Then fine tweak seating in a narrow window for tightest group shaping.

*With partial sized necks, tension is not interference fit. It's sized spring back(~1thou max) grip, against seated bullet bearing. So you adjust this tension through sizing LENGTH. Force X Area
If FL sizing necks then forget any tension adjustment as an option. It's already extreme and varying a great deal due to donut and base-bearing junction binding. You could try bigger/smaller bushings, but the first adjustment of consistent value would be to stop FL sizing necks.

My head just exploded...
I'm confident I DO NOT know what I am doing now. I'm getting ready to start
two new and unzeroed guns (dies are in the mail). I've been buying little bits of powder, projectiles, brass and primers for three months now and so glad I didn't start loading rounds yet.
If I had the money, I'd beg to get a class from you. I'm going to copy and save this post.
THANK YOU!!!
KʘLʘ