Primer=accuracy???

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Never gave thought towards recycling primers, that's pretty cool. Lots of re loaders struggle to shoot 1 inch groups at a hundred yards with new primers. Heck we had a member last month that tried a bunch of loads, data spreadsheets, all that jazz , never did get a decent load then blamed me for his problems and left the forum.. Too funny

Please report back on your one hole groups and thanks for posting.
 
Never gave thought towards recycling primers, that's pretty cool. Lots of re loaders struggle to shoot 1 inch groups at a hundred yards with new primers. Heck we had a member last month that tried a bunch of loads, data spreadsheets, all that jazz , never did get a decent load then blamed me for his problems and left the forum.. Too funny

Please report back on your one hole groups and thanks for posting.


Recycling my primers came out of necessity. And all the YT videos I watched were of guys reloading small/large pistol primers so I was on my own for re-using large rifle primers. It's taken a buttload of reman. primers to achieve near 100% firing rate. Re-using primers also takes quite a bit of prepping, some of which may or may not be necessary but I don't care, as long as my stuff goes boom I'm happy.
Accuracy has been hit/miss. I've shot a few 1 hole groups of 5 rounds but not consistently. I did that just a few days ago and I'd post a pic of that group but as I was removing the target from the target stand the wind blew it to Chihuahua Mexico!!! ( I know, I know, I once saw Sasquatch too!!):what:
 
Never gave thought towards recycling primers, that's pretty cool. Lots of re loaders struggle to shoot 1 inch groups at a hundred yards with new primers. Heck we had a member last month that tried a bunch of loads, data spreadsheets, all that jazz , never did get a decent load then blamed me for his problems and left the forum.. Too funny

Please report back on your one hole groups and thanks for posting.
 
These are representative of some of my best groups. The last pic is what is typical...usually. I have worse results and better results from time to time.
I have no frame of reference other than what I've seen on the internet or at the range with other shooters. At the range I've seen some outstanding shooters (usually with big$$$ rifles and gear) but I usually see folks that get shots on target but the shots are all over the place and that makes them happy! C'est la vie I guess.:)

shooting 001.jpg shooting 002.jpg shooting 003.jpg shooting 004.jpg shooting 005.jpg shooting 006.jpg shooting 007.jpg shooting 008.jpg shooting 009.jpg
 
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I think it is possible to develop an accurate load with MOST any primer. But if you keep everything else the same and change primers you may, or may not, see accuracy change. It could be better or worse. I think the main thing is to use the same primers for consistency. If you change primers you may need to tweak other things about the load.
 
I think it is possible to develop an accurate load with MOST any primer. But if you keep everything else the same and change primers you may, or may not, see accuracy change. It could be better or worse. I think the main thing is to use the same primers for consistency. If you change primers you may need to tweak other things about the load.

I think you are right, consistency is key. I don't measure or know how much of my "homemade" priming compound I'm loading in the primer cups, I just fill it and press in as much as the cup will take. Of course there's waaay more to it than as I just described but that's the crux of it.
 
Good shooting @DynoDan1

Changing from the FMJ range fodder you’re shooting to a good target bullet will net you a much more noticeable improvement that worrying about your primers at this stage.

I agree but until I can find some cheap and plentiful, I shoot whatever's on sale for dirt cheap. I target shoot A LOT, 200-300 rounds about every 10 days or so. Been like that for almost 2 1/2 years now.
 
I agree but until I can find some cheap and plentiful, I shoot whatever's on sale for dirt cheap. I target shoot A LOT, 200-300 rounds about every 10 days or so. Been like that for almost 2 1/2 years now.

It shows. You’re on the right path for sure.

Here’s a thread I started on .308 load development. You might find something useful in it.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/308-long-range-load-development-results.822638/

This is another one on different load development methods with lots of data and good discussions

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/rifle-load-development-methods-compared.851637/
 
It shows. You’re on the right path for sure.

Here’s a thread I started on .308 load development. You might find something useful in it.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/308-long-range-load-development-results.822638/

This is another one on different load development methods with lots of data and good discussions

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/rifle-load-development-methods-compared.851637/


AWSOME!!! I'll take any and all advice, guidance and experience I can get. I've had to figure out just about everything on my own since participating in this hobby. Been a love/hate thing. And very very expensive, especially as of this last year or so. Had no idea how much politics affects this hobby.
 
I agree but until I can find some cheap and plentiful, I shoot whatever's on sale for dirt cheap. I target shoot A LOT, 200-300 rounds about every 10 days or so. Been like that for almost 2 1/2 years now.
AWSOME!!! I'll take any and all advice, guidance and experience I can get. I've had to figure out just about everything on my own since participating in this hobby. Been a love/hate thing. And very very expensive, especially as of this last year or so. Had no idea how much politics affects this hobby.
I would always recommend the 6mm Norma or variants to anyone looking to shoot small groups from 100 to 1000 yards.

We have tons of support waiting for you even @Nature Boy shoots one when he's not rocking the 308
 

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I would always recommend the 6mm Norma or variants to anyone looking to shoot small groups from 100 to 1000 yards.

We have tons of support waiting for you.

I appreciate the suggestion(s). Among the many reasons I chose the .308 caliber is cost. The .308 is among the cheapest of the "large" calibers if not the cheapest. Another is the use of it as a military round, specifically as a sniper round. Shots of 1000 yards+ are not unheard of using the .308, which by the way is a goal of mine. And as virtually everyone knows, the .308 has a long and proud history.
And this is a biggy for me, $$$!!! I'm retired and living on a modest steady income. Acquiring another rifle of another caliber requires $$$ I'd rather not spend. Until I believe I've gotten as good as I'm ever gonna get with my .308's, I'll continue with what I've got.
Buuuut, I'd really like to get something that shoots the .223/.556 that's not in an AR platform. I say that because AR's are a completely different animal to learn about and I'm a sloooow learner!!!:rofl:
 
Great round' shares the same bolt face as the 308 already a high pressure cartridge, long neck helps seat long slippery bullets, 30 degree shoulder helps promote brass life, almost as accurate as a 6 br but as you say just another caliber is just another expense.
 
Great round' shares the same bolt face as the 308 already a high pressure cartridge, long neck helps seat long slippery bullets, 30 degree shoulder helps promote brass life, almost as accurate as a 6 br but as you say just another caliber is just another expense.

Yeah, I've heard it said that "there's no such thing as too many guns, just not enough ammo".
Been following a Brinks Armored truck for years waiting for the door to pop open and dump bags of cash on my hood. I'll let ya know if and when that happens!!!;)
 
Well my wife would disagree, in fact she once said there was a limit' well of course I had to ask the fellas about that and of course they replied nope. no limit that they knew of so i mentioned to the wife what they said... Apparently there IS limit on me..
 
Ha! I read somewhere 10 reasons why guns are better than women. I only recall one of them.
"You can buy a silencer for a gun":rofl:
You can probably guess why I live alone!!!:thumbup:
 
I have bought the best of the best, complete cartridges and just the bullets for comparison and have found little difference between the best and my reloads. A tad better...maybe?

Better bullets and new primers SHOULD shoot better, but this makes it sound like you are at some other limit. Maybe as good as your barrel will do, maybe as close as you can hold.

You could try something besides hunkering down on a bench trying to squeeze a little smaller group out of cheap components. Maybe some "field positions" with sling or lightweight bipod.
 
I really can't shoot from the prone position, I have a plate and screws in my neck that limit my mobility.
I have used bipods and they seem to work okay but putting my rifle in a shooting gadget like a Caldwell Ledsled has provided me the best results.
Shooting from my old Army issue sleeping bag works well too.
 
It shows. You’re on the right path for sure.

Here’s a thread I started on .308 load development. You might find something useful in it.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/308-long-range-load-development-results.822638/

This is another one on different load development methods with lots of data and good discussions

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/rifle-load-development-methods-compared.851637/

I read through both of those links. @Nature Boy. Do you do that level of work up for your hunting loads?
 
Hmm... I'm filling my truck up as I type!!!:rofl:
I've actually done what you did with the lanolin. It worked very well but around here lanolin must be liquid gold. $15+ for an 11.5oz bottle!!
The Hornady Unique lube has proven to be an excellent case lube. My cases don't come anywhere near getting stuck and this tub I got will last for decades..well maybe a year more likely!:).
Hmm, I think I have about 300 large rifle I am not using as well...only one state away...
 
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