I recently free floated and glass bedded an old JC Higgins model 50 30-06 (a first for me on both counts). I am hopeful to be able to shoot it soon which leads me to a question that popped into my mind. Should I expect loads that shot reasonably well from the old configuration (particularly related to the previous contact between the forend and the barrel) to now potentially be quite different? In other words, can I expect to begin load development again or have those of you who have successfully bedded and floated rifles found most loads to just tighten up? Curious about your experiences.....
New bedding and load development question
- Thread starter hillman23
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Varminterror
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Load development takes 24-30 rounds for me most of the time. Don’t be scared.
The harmonics of the barrel didn’t change, but the degree of dampening likely has. What were previously good loads likely still will be, but it all depends how you chose to do your load work up when it was in a pressure-sensitive state.
The harmonics of the barrel didn’t change, but the degree of dampening likely has. What were previously good loads likely still will be, but it all depends how you chose to do your load work up when it was in a pressure-sensitive state.
Legionnaire
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@Varminterror, I'd be interested to hear your breakdown of those 30 rounds. I assume it is a combination of pressure test / OCW / and seating depth?
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Varminterror
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Not to derail, so let’s do follow up questions, if there are any, in PM instead of monopolizing @hillman23’s post.
I’m a shooter, so I handload to facilitate shooting - and after dabbling in various benchrest games, I realize I’m not the guy who wants to perpetually chase the ultimate raw or aggregate score. So living in that paradigm, using Lean/Six Sigma principles of focusing on the value-add steps of the process - or the simple mantras of “don’t over-think it” or “KISS,” I have come to this conclusion:
Load development should not be so burdensome that a shooter feels burdened to do it, or redo it.
That’s really it. There’s info out there from Precision Rifle Blog and Litz’s WEZ (Monte Carlo) Model showing the relationship between impact probability and raw group size. If I can get my loads under 3/4moa, I’m satisfied for all of my purposes. Smaller is nice, and I love seeing 0.2-0.5” groups on every POA with my PRS rifle, but it’s precision I just don’t have to fight very hard to get, because I don’t need to.
So I pick a proven bullet for the application, load it at a known and proven jump length over a known and proven powder in 8-10 increments of 0.2-0.3grn (yes, big magnums need more and larger steps) - and I shoot that 3 times through combined Satterlee and OCW tests, weighting HEAVILY my decision on the Satterlee result. I would prefer a Satterlee+Audette combination, but it’s 40min to my 600+ ranges, and I have a 100yrd indoor 8min from my door - close and indoors is simpler than farther and weather-complicated.
So given that process, I can settle on a load which shoots ~3/4moa or less, with satisfactorily low ES and SD, within 30 rounds. Often, my entire array of targets is under 3/4moa, even with sub-optimal charge weights.
This way, redoing load development isn’t a major burden. If I want to change stocks, or muzzle brakes (or suppressors), or if I want to try a new powder or bullet, or if I change lots or brands of brass, redeveloping the load is simple - for example, if I were the OP, and I wanted to free float my rifle, I would have my old test results in hand, float it, and redo the test in an afternoon - and be 100% certain whether anything changed or not.
Legionnaire
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Thanks, VT. And my apologies, @hillman23, for the minor thread deviation. Hopefully helpful to you, too.
243winxb
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Bullet impact on target may change , using the same sight setting.
I load about 20 rounds of ammo. Fire 2 groups of 5 rounds for a base line before working on rifle.
After bed & float test fire again, same ammo & conditions, test. Use a very large target to know where every shot goes.
Pencil thin barrels may benifit from a pressure point in the stocks forearm. Up pressure of about 9 pounds.
A good bed and float job is mostly to retain point of bullet inpact from year to year. Wood seens to move over time, unless the wood is sealed very well.
Old military rifles that have been sportized, action dropped into a replacement stock benifit most from a proper bedding job.
Had one that shot 8" groups @100 yards. After bedding 1 1/2" groups.
I've done many bedding jobs over the years, both on my rifles and those of "customers". I've seen rifles open groups after floating, but not usually after a combination bedding/floating. However, the best part of floating the barrel may not be the tightness of groups, but more consistent point-of-impact throughout various seasons and shooting positions/rests, as well as sling pressures. If a rifle shot .3 MOA before bedding/floating then shoots .6 MOA afterward and it's used for hunting/varmint hunting, I'd say it was successful and would probably try different handloads to tighten groups further, unless the rifle were to be used mostly for deer hunting inside of 300 yards or so. Whether we like it or not, the rifle will make better shots overall, considering: weather/humidity/rests/holds/sling pressure. What can be negative: POI with various loads/factory round types, bullet weights. The severity of negative grouping/variation in POI with various loads is an individual rifle situation, but I've seen fewer problems with bedded and floated rifles than with original bedding in factory wooden stocks.
Remember: If a rifle groups 2 MOA, but consistent POI, it will be a much more successful hunting rifle than one that shoots .5 MOA, but varies in POI due to seasonal warpage, varied rests/holds, and sling pressure. This doesn't apply to target shooting, where we have the ability/necessity to shoot precise grouping, but have the ability to adjust bullet impact due to various rifle and weather changes before shooting "record" shots.
Remember: If a rifle groups 2 MOA, but consistent POI, it will be a much more successful hunting rifle than one that shoots .5 MOA, but varies in POI due to seasonal warpage, varied rests/holds, and sling pressure. This doesn't apply to target shooting, where we have the ability/necessity to shoot precise grouping, but have the ability to adjust bullet impact due to various rifle and weather changes before shooting "record" shots.
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