brass/bullet help

[Jim Watson]

I would (DO!) sort rifle brass by headstamp even for casual shooting.
My F class .308s are same lot Lapua loaded out of the box, my F class .223s are Winchester weight sorted into one grain groups.

I would not (Do not!) weigh name brand bullets or loaded rounds.

 

[Axis II]

SMK= Sierra Match King ( its a type of bullet ). if loading for different rifles you do need to FL size 90% of the time. So you should continue to do so.

If you want accuracy as you described all you must do if pick a few powders and do some ladder testing to find a load that suites your needs.

You should have no problem finding one within your requirements without sorting brass or any of the other "accurizing" load steps you read about.

most of the brass sorting weighing bullets and brass stuff is reserved for longe range shooting and will not be worth while or even noticed most of the time at 200 yards.

I would take your 55 grain vmax bullet and load mixed brass at a COAL of 2.200 with minimum starting load per hornandy and load at least 12. shoot 4- 3 shot groups. get an average group size then work up in .2 grain increments, repeating the group process until you have a max load or stop when you find your groups are what you want at a velocity you would want for hunting. I would guess that the load will become more accurate at mid to upper range of the load data. so if you are shooting at mid range already with H335 you could start the ladder testing there.

If that does not get you an accurate enough load switch powder and start the same process with that powders starting load. never go over max load

I do not own savage guns but I have heard they are pretty accurate out of the box and a heavy barrel one should be. Shouldn't take much time to get it where you want it. How do the plinkers you loaded shoot? have you even grouped them? they might do what you need?[/QUOTE]
Bigbore

I loaded 55gr SP with min load h335 and they didn't shoot too well but a buddy who's been around the rifle block a time or too said factory 55gr SP didn't shoot well for him either so I'm guessing it maybe my gun just doesn't like SP ammo. at 100yards they were low and maybe baseball groups. I cant remember the load but I did the first set at say 23gr then 23.5, 24gr and they still didn't work right so instead of wasting time and material I stopped. I'm limited to range time when a friend goes or I go to several div of wildlife ranges but they are a bit far so maybe shoot my rifle 4-5 times a year at the range but when I go I shoot a few hundred rounds if I go all day.

 

[BigBore45]

I would still try the vmax as I stated earlier. h335 has been pretty good for me as far as accuracy is concerned. I have no experience with 55 gr. soft points I load 50 grain hollow points or 62-65 grain soft points. but I did help a friend make a good load with 55 grain vmax bullets, they shot well with ramshot tac powder. did not try h335 but I would expect similar results.

 

[dartor]

I apologize guys for not giving all the info.

The gun-- savage axis 223 heavy barrel 1-9 twist if I remember right.


If your gun has the factory trigger installed and it has not been worked on I suggest that you purchase a Timney adjustable trigger for it. I have an Axis and I couldn't believe what a difference the Timney trigger made.

 

[Axis II]

I have the accu trigger and love it. thanks for the reply. im going with one for another rifle though.

 

[jmorris]

More often than not I don't sort or weigh FL sized .223 cases and can get sub MOA 10 shot groups with ball powders like 748, TAC and others out of a few of my AR's.

Just saying if you were going to go through the trouble and using a bolt gun it would be easy to keep the brass sorted as you eject them and neck sizing them more often than not will allow them to last a bit longer, thus keeping you from having to sort and weigh as often. You might not have to do that and it might not help you get smaller groups but it also won't hurt. Worst case is that you wasted time, the method above just helps you waste less time, if it makes no difference.

As to what degree of accuracy you stop trying to achieve better accuracy? Might as well ask what shoe is the best, everyone will have a different answer.

 

[Archie]

UNLESS your rifle is prepared as a match type rifle, I suggest you sort brass by headstamp, sort bullets by box of origin, use the same primers to the greatest extent possible and powder charges as you can find appropriate powder.

When your lust for greater accuracy grow, you'll start exploring ideas like pillar bedding, 'truing' actions, special triggers and so forth. Not to mention sort brass and such by weight.

Shoot some of your own reloads first and have fun with it. Figure out the process and note the safety consideration, then let the OCD grow on you.