Shot my first reloads today.

[scythefwd]

3 groups of .308

Group I
winchester nickle plated brass
43 gr H4895
Sierra Game kings, 165 gr
right about .6 inches at 50y

Group II
Same as group one with nosler partitions
Same results, but a hair to the right

Group III
Same as above but using mixed brass and only 42 grains
Shot 3 inches lower and grouped horribly...

 

[P-32]

Congrats! I bet you were a little puckered ubtill the frist one went off.

 

[BADUNAME37]

The first reloads are always kind of special.
After that, I got to the point where I didn't even want to buy any manufactured ammo, when I could load it all at a fraction of the cost and be more accurate -- as the loads are tailored to my gun!

 

[scythefwd]

p-32, nope. I knew for a fact the load was safe. I weighed each one to be exact and it was still a few tenths below max load. My oal was slightly longer than the max listed (I'm using a break action so no need to worry bout OAL as long as it chambers AND there is at least a diameter of the bullet in the neck). I puckered when I let someone else touch one off (funny... it was a full grain lighter than the ones I was shooting, group III).

FDF - As long as I have useable brass, I won't be buying... for exactly those reasons. The factory stuff was comparable to group III in group size, group I and II were half that size, and just about 1/3 the cost.

 

[Funshooter45]

Excellent!

I understand what you were doing, just making sure that the rounds you made would work.

In the future though, you need to get a little more systematic regarding your test loads. Only change one variable at a time. Same brass, same bullet, same powder, just change the powder weight. When you have one that works, then change the seating depth. Then experiment with different brands of brass. Etc. That is the joy of handloading. Your own private physics and chemistry lab in action. Make it fun, like you have so far, but make the experiments guide you to a systematic result.

 

[scythefwd]

Fun - That is exactly what I did. I have two sets of groups going.
1 set is being done with nosler partitions, the other with game kings. That is why groups 1 and 2 are the exact same except for the bullet. I have 6 groups loaded up right now. I only took 3 to the range with me as my main goal was sighting the BP rifle I had with me. I have kept track of the 3 groups I took, and I'll compare them to the other 3 groups when I next go. Then I'll take the 2 best shooting groups for each bullet type and load up 5 groups each between the two and find my best charge for the rifle for each bullet type.

EDIT for more clarity on my method.
Goups 1, 3, and 5 are tipped with Sierra Game Kings
Groups 2, 4, and 6 are tipped with Nosler partitions.

I am keeping records of the two sets and comparing groups 1, 3, and 5 against each other and same for 2, 4, and 6. I noticed that the gun didn't shoot better with the partitions or the game kings... which isn't normal from what I hear. It still may show a preference when I get to the best load of each, but both were easily hunting accurate. .6 -.7 inch groups from each at 50y.

 

[Cherokee]

Way to go, enjoy the ride.....

 

[scythefwd]

was kinda fun. Knew someone at the range, which is very surprising. The range is 1+ hours from where I live. One of the employees of a local farm was there, shooting for the first time. She asked why reload, and I just handed her the box with the pricetag still on it. 42.99 for the box, I told her I refilled it for about $15 with better stuff (it was originally nosler BT, and it is full of partition tipped stuff now).

 

[Hondo 60]

Congrats on the reloads!

You've found that 42 gr is definitely not the way to go.
But you didn't say how big the group was.
You might want to try upping the charge to 43.5 gr & see what happens.

Good Luck finding that sweet spot in your rifle.

 

[scythefwd]

hondo - I'm planning on running a ladder from about 42.5 - 43.5, every .2 gr.

The group was about 3 inches at 50y. I'm also waiting to go test my 41 gr groups... 42 may have been a fluke for the game kings... it may work great in the partitions.

 

[Funshooter45]

Is there any way to extend the range to 100 yds at least? Sometimes funny things happen at 0-80 yds with rifle bullets. At least with 100 yds, I'm fairly confident that the results will be applicable to 200 or 300 yds later on.

 

[scythefwd]

fun - there is to 100y... I just was working at 50 for everything else. A 3 inch group aint gouing to cut in half though at 100y.

 

[Hondo 60]

I'm planning on running a ladder from about 42.5 - 43.5, every .2 gr.

Sounds like you know exactly how to work up a load.

This is definitely the fun part of reloading & shooting.