robdaniels
Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2010
- Messages
- 7
I have been loading for my new to me Remington 700 .30-06 with Hornady SST 165gr, 57grs of IMR 4350 set to a COL of 3.250.
My shots at the range just aren’t good enough. They spread out more randomly than I would like; 3 to 4 inch groups at 100 yards.
So, I got one of Hornadys' COL gauges, set the dummy shell with the SST bullet and touched the lands 10 times. Averaged that and it came to 3.387.
Now minus .010 the OAL would be 3.377. I know the reloading manuals call for a Max COL of 3.340. But my understanding is to set the COL to YOUR rifle.
I made up a round (no charge or primer) and set the depth of the SST bullet to 3.377. It fits the magazine and cycles in and out of the chamber with no stress. The bullet is seating .420 into the throat of the shell and I understand that it should always go a least the depth of the dia. of the bullet. In this case .308.
With the round cycling ok I think I could increase the charge to around max. Somewhere in the neighborhood +/- 59 grs and still not experience over pressure.
Am I nuts or does this sound like it will be alright?
Thanks for any feedback.
My shots at the range just aren’t good enough. They spread out more randomly than I would like; 3 to 4 inch groups at 100 yards.
So, I got one of Hornadys' COL gauges, set the dummy shell with the SST bullet and touched the lands 10 times. Averaged that and it came to 3.387.
Now minus .010 the OAL would be 3.377. I know the reloading manuals call for a Max COL of 3.340. But my understanding is to set the COL to YOUR rifle.
I made up a round (no charge or primer) and set the depth of the SST bullet to 3.377. It fits the magazine and cycles in and out of the chamber with no stress. The bullet is seating .420 into the throat of the shell and I understand that it should always go a least the depth of the dia. of the bullet. In this case .308.
With the round cycling ok I think I could increase the charge to around max. Somewhere in the neighborhood +/- 59 grs and still not experience over pressure.
Am I nuts or does this sound like it will be alright?
Thanks for any feedback.