Shot my first 100 reloads, but I have some problems/questions...

[Tomekeuro85]

I shot my .223 reloads and my .308 reloads today. First, I shot off all my FGMM 168gr ammo just to get the brass. I zeroed it dead center. I switched to my reloads and they were like 4" low and 2" left. I was using 168gr A-max. I went from 33.1gr of Varget to 41.9gr of Varget and the results were all the same, low and left. I can understand the low part (Less than max load), but why did they all go so far left? Secondly, I was confused when my 33.1gr loads didnt drop as low as my 42gr loads. As I went higher in powder, they got less accurate and went lower than the previous charge. The accuracy was all over the place, but mainly because I was flinching a lot. I had my cheekrest pretty high up and every time I shot it felt like someone was hitting me in the cheekbone with a hammer, so it was pretty hard not to be scared of the coming recoil.

My .223's worked what I would call pretty good. I didnt like the accuracy, but then again, I used Varget for 50gr Nosler Ballistic tips, and I hear that H335 is the recommended powder for such light .223's, so that is understandable. At least they stayed on zero compared to factory ammo. My average grouping with the .223 with reloads was about 1MOA, and with PMC 52gr match ammo my average was a little bit less. (all 5 shot groups.)

Overall I'm pretty happy with everything, I just need some more time for tuning the loads. .5 MOA will make me happy. I know those rifles are capable. If I had measured the best three of my 5 shots in the .223, I had several .25" groups. Those last 2 always ruined it.

 

[Mal H]

"I zeroed it dead center."

... with the Fed 168's. What you experienced with your reloads was not bad loads necessarily, but the phenomenon of barrel harmonics. 10 to 1 your barrel was whipping a bit and with those loads it happend to be pointing low-left when the bullet exited the muzzle. Add to that your admitted flinching and you've got the reasons for the off zero shots. In other words, it is more common for different loadings to change the point of impact than not, not only up and down, but also left or right.

You can correct the problem (if it really is a problem) by bedding the barrel or simply choosing a load to stick with and zeroing your scope with it.

 

[Bullet]

I believe Mal H has the right info. Just zero your scope to your loads and get some trigger time.

 

[dakotasin]

Secondly, I was confused when my 33.1gr loads didnt drop as low as my 42gr loads. As I went higher in powder, they got less accurate and went lower than the previous charge.

dwell time. the lighter loads spend more time in the barrel, and exit higher in the recoil cycle. as you work up, you will see this trend change.

you are shooting very light loads here. keep upping the powder charge slowly and you should see accuracy start to come in. i would be surprised if a lot of your loads will even make it to a couple hundred yards before destabilizing (tumbling).

 

[Bullet]

Tomekeuro85
41.9gr of Varget does sound low. When working up loads don’t go below 10% of the listed MAX load.

 

[USSR]

I was using 168gr A-max. I went from 33.1gr of Varget to 41.9gr of Varget and the results were all the same, low and left.

Tomekeuro85,

Don't know why you would start with a load of 33.1gr of Varget. That's over 10 grains below where you want to be. The 41.9gr load that you ended with would be a good load to start with, working up from there and looking for pressure signs. BTW, a chrony is a nice tool to have during load development. Depending upon your rifle, you ought to be able to run those 168 A-max's at 2650-2750fps.

Don

 

[Tomekeuro85]

I used the listed starting load in one of my manuals to find the 33.1 gr load. Either way, my next time out, I'll use 41.9 as my starting load and go up to 44 from there. (44 was the listed max).

 

[dakotasin]

the guide is a guide - not an absolute. you may find your rifle really shows pressure signs at less than book max, and you may not run into them until you are well beyond book max.

my 1000-yard 308 load sends 168 a-max's downrange w/ a charge of varget far stiffer than the book max. i'm not advocating you deliberately go above the max, but i am saying pay attention to pressure signs as you go up. you may not reach book max, or you may go well beyond it, depending on specifics (seat depth, lot #, case weight, trimming, etc etc etc). the book has no way of knowing your lot #'s, or chamber dimensions...

 

[Bullet]

Tomekeuro85

Here is a link to Varget –

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/308win.php

Please post your results after you shoot again. I’ll bet you will have some better groups once you increase the charge weight in your Varget - 308 load.