Sorry Brent. I'm open to suggestions. I'd love to get this thing to shoot the bergers well while seated deep enough to be hunting worthy. I've tried everything you and greyfox have suggested. I may just have to set the jump at like .100" and do a ladder test there. Maybe the test at less jump are no good. Idk.
You are sort of on the right track, but going about it incorrectly in my opinion. Now some people don't like my opinion so I guess that is where you have to decide if you wish to try my suggestions or not. If so, do this:
1. Measure CBTO (case base to ogive) on your berger seated to the lands of your barrel. USE A HORNADY OAL guage. Don't measure bullet tips.
* if the bullet is seated deep enough into the throat of the case to sufficiently hold the bullet you can test from the bullet seated to the lands. If there is not enough bullet in the case neck you are risking bullet tension and alignment issues.
For Example: I have 1 rifle that measures CBTO at 2.590. The other measures 2.490. These 2 rifles have a starting point that is .100 different. The 2.490 rifle will allow seating to the lands as the bullet base is at the bottom of the case neck and shoulder junction. The other rifle with the 2.590 has the bullet seated shallow in the neck and I don't like it so it is not an option for me.
2. Safe powder charge identified.
3. Seating depth test. .010 or .015, .025, .050, .075, .100, .125, .150. or follow bergers recommendations. I like mine a little better but I have done both back to back. USE A HORNADY OAL GUAGE Some people load up 3-4 rounds of each depth and head to the range.
4. Shoot these round robin style or however you want but be consistent and be direct about your approach. Document the shots, write it down, take pictures, be OCD about this. Take your time and think it all through. You are going to be shooting 20-30 rounds and each one counts so you can spend you time working on the accuracy node instead of seating depths.
5. You may need to tweak the powder slightly or even go +- .005 seating to get better results at a good depth. But you should be pretty close.
*** Unless you have done a good solid across the board seating depth test I personally think you are chasing your tail. If you get .5 MOA accuracy you may just have to settle with it and not be expecting bug holes at 200 yards. I have about 200 rounds through my new schneider and it seems to have settled into .5 MOA with Nosler brass that was fire formed. I just bought new lapau as I have had better experience with it and it seems to hold pressure better. You can drive youself crazy with all this stuff if you are not methodical about the approach.
Let me know if this made sense at all.
