Sludge
Well-Known Member
Ok folks, Im new to the board. I have been starting to work on doing something beyond the average deer hunting ranges. I have a few spots on the farm here that I can approach the 1000yd mark. Yup, I know that there isnt anything out there for your shooting skills like sweat equity, but I would like to shorten the learning curve some on the reloading side if possible. So, let me first tell ya a little about what I am currently doing to my loads. Im kinda just figuring this stuff out alone, so excuse me if im screwing myself up. I take constructive critisism well... so speak up
Ok, the primary caliber I am working with at the moment is the .300 Win Mag. I have a used Sendaro that I purchased and I mounted a Nikon Tactical 6.5x14x50 on some leupold rings and shimmed it for the long stuff. I am using a RCBS Rock Chucker and I am trying the RCBS and Redding dies. I think I like the Redding dies better right now... Anyway, I purchased myself a case trimmer, neck turner, and a dial indicator to check the runout with. I have taken once fired brass and neck and length turned them. I have weighed the brass into groups that are within about .2 grains. I also weighed the bullets that I am experimenting with into groups by .1 grain increments. Im using some mica on my case neck brush to aid in sizing and when seating the bullets.
I am cleaning the primer pockets and using Federal Match primers and am testing both HPBT and Ballistic Tips in the 168, 180, and 210gr ranges. Initial tests seem to show that the gun is liking the heaver/longer bullets. I think this may be due to matching the bullet closer to the twist rate of the Sendaro which has a 10" twist. According to the Greenhill formula the 210 Bergers should be almost perfect. Time will tell... BTW, most work so far has been done with Reloader 22 and 25.
I am seating the bullets in small increments and rotating the casing a little with each increment. This has seemed to help reduce the runout. My max runouts seem to be around 3 thousandths. Most are in the 1 to 2 thousandth range. The Redding dies did much better seating with less runout than did the RCBS, however neither are competition dies. Maybe I should invest in some of those.
As far as bullet seating depth, I am seating as best that I can tell) about 20 thousandths back off the rifling. I was a little scared to push the bullet too close to the rifling. Maybe im just a wussie
Oh, for my powder handling I played with using my RCBS electronic powder dispenser and scale, but I just havent felt it was accurate enough. So, I let it throw me a close charge that is a tenth or so shy of the goal and then use the beam scale to trickle it up to as perfect a load as my patients can stand.
I think the rotating the bullet while seating has worked well for me... I think the mica has also helped some. Maybe Im full of **** ... maybe im being too dang careful... I dont know. This is all new ground for me.
Suggestions? Comments?
Ok, the primary caliber I am working with at the moment is the .300 Win Mag. I have a used Sendaro that I purchased and I mounted a Nikon Tactical 6.5x14x50 on some leupold rings and shimmed it for the long stuff. I am using a RCBS Rock Chucker and I am trying the RCBS and Redding dies. I think I like the Redding dies better right now... Anyway, I purchased myself a case trimmer, neck turner, and a dial indicator to check the runout with. I have taken once fired brass and neck and length turned them. I have weighed the brass into groups that are within about .2 grains. I also weighed the bullets that I am experimenting with into groups by .1 grain increments. Im using some mica on my case neck brush to aid in sizing and when seating the bullets.
I am cleaning the primer pockets and using Federal Match primers and am testing both HPBT and Ballistic Tips in the 168, 180, and 210gr ranges. Initial tests seem to show that the gun is liking the heaver/longer bullets. I think this may be due to matching the bullet closer to the twist rate of the Sendaro which has a 10" twist. According to the Greenhill formula the 210 Bergers should be almost perfect. Time will tell... BTW, most work so far has been done with Reloader 22 and 25.
I am seating the bullets in small increments and rotating the casing a little with each increment. This has seemed to help reduce the runout. My max runouts seem to be around 3 thousandths. Most are in the 1 to 2 thousandth range. The Redding dies did much better seating with less runout than did the RCBS, however neither are competition dies. Maybe I should invest in some of those.
As far as bullet seating depth, I am seating as best that I can tell) about 20 thousandths back off the rifling. I was a little scared to push the bullet too close to the rifling. Maybe im just a wussie
Oh, for my powder handling I played with using my RCBS electronic powder dispenser and scale, but I just havent felt it was accurate enough. So, I let it throw me a close charge that is a tenth or so shy of the goal and then use the beam scale to trickle it up to as perfect a load as my patients can stand.
I think the rotating the bullet while seating has worked well for me... I think the mica has also helped some. Maybe Im full of **** ... maybe im being too dang careful... I dont know. This is all new ground for me.
Suggestions? Comments?
