243 loads: what to do now

[Sunray]

40 gr. of Varget is over max, but if the rifle doesn't like the load fiddling with the OAL won't help.
Off the lands isn't a magic thing either. Some rifle just don't like it and some just don't care. I'd be changing powders.

 

[dvdcrr]

thanks for the response: to be clear my Nosler guide lists 40 gr. varget as maximum but not over maximum.

I have not had any detectable signs of a problem and am well off the lands. But accuracy is below par. 4-5" groups at 220 meters.

 

[dvdcrr]

Quote

So what does that mean ? What kind of group are you shooting at 100 yds
center to center ? 2-2.5" Maybe your ammo doesn't like your rifle and scope. How do you have your rifle set up ? Glass bed synthetic stock, Tech Spec trigger, Leupold VX2 3X9, Warne rings. Do you have other rifles that you can shoot to your satisfaction ? Yes Is everything about your ammo the same ? I believe so but I will double check. Things to think about. OYE
Thank you

 

[redneck2]

Seat the bullet long in the case after smoking it.
Then lightly chamber it. If you feel resistance, remove it, look at bullet for rifling marks. If present, seat bullet .005 deeper, re smoke and repeat.
When no more rifling marks present, measure oal as this is .000 to .005 to the lands. From there reduce oal in .005 increments until you find the sweet spot.
Remember this changes with every different bullet shape

Wow. That's a TON of unnecessary time and work.

Take an empty case and drill out the primer hole large enough to fit a little pocket screw driver. Cut a couple of slits longways in the neck. Kinda pinch the neck, then insert a bullet. Chamber the round, then gently push the bullet forward until it contacts the rifling. Gently push it out with a cleaning rod. Measure OAL.

Now you can set your seating die. Adjust it down until that case/bullet gives the identical OAL and that's seated to the lands.

You might want to go to Varmint Al's website and look at his tutorial on barrel harmonics. It will either give you a good education or scare the stuffing out of you. But, it is quite eye opening. The thing about checking AOL is there also.

Don't know that this is the best way, but what I change (in order)

Charge weight (typically 2/10ths in a rifle)
Seating depth
Primer brand or powder

If that doesn't work, start with another bullet. I typically start at .010 off

YMMV

 

[homatok]

My Nosler manual #6 give max of 41gr Varget for an 80gr solid base, for 3465, with 88% load density. Purple ballistic tip.

 

[OYE]

I'm making the assumption that this gun is new to you. While you are working this out, I would suggest not using mixed brass (and you may not be).

If you are not able to tighten up the groups with seating depth or adjusting the powder charge as has been suggested by others, you might consider trying
some flat base bullets. And while you are doing your testing with the bullets you have ( if you haven't already done this) see how it groups after you have fired 10-12 shots. Trying a different powder, if you already have some. Many used to have good results with IMR 4350 in that caliber. Just take your time and work through it. Any one of the above mentioned could easily account for a 2-2 1/2 group. I'm sure you will eventually get sub inch on this and probably sub 1/2 inch center to center. OYE

 

[dvdcrr]

Thank you!

 

[RainDodger]

Like others have said, work in increments. I was talking to a very experienced bench rest guy the other day and he said that over the years he's found the best luck around .050" off the lands. So.. you might not be too far off the mark. I haven't read this whole thread I'll admit... but you say you have "one box"... is that just 20 loads? If it's not many, just pull them and start over.

 

[Chief 101]

I didn't read all the replies to this thread so this could be covered already. You can't just change the seating depth on a high powered round that is loaded to its maximum with out running into possible problems. If they don't shoot well take them apart and start over. Heavy doses of Varget in a 243 W is common with reloaders and if it doesn't shoot in your gun try something else...don't worry about "nodes", that is something that benchrest shooters talk about in forums. Its possible your rifle doesn't shoot as well as you want it to, has that been tested also?

 

[dvdcrr]

Update loads retried

Ok, after reading this thread I reset the OAL on the handloads to 2.665". Got the opportunity to shoot a five shot group today. The results are below. The accuracy was improved, and I am happier now.

 

[gamestalker]

Redneck2's mehtod is effective, just make sure that the brass you use for this method will fall out of the chamber by gravity alone when the barrel is tipped vertical. If the brass doesn't fit freely in the chamber, then the bullet will get pushed deeper into the case mouth when you push it out with a cleaning rod, thus giving you a false zero to the lands. Other wise, this method is fine, very effective.

I've tried smoking the bullet, but that method can be faulty, as the lands don't always leave a discernible mark of first contact with the lands. It is possible, and also likely to be jamming into the lands, rather than first contact, or zero.

GS