Should have never started to reload.....

[itgoesboom]

All you reloaders that have been trying to get others to learn to reload, I blame you for my condition.

Prior to starting to reload, just this year, I was very happy with any 3-shot group that went under 1" @ 100 yards, and if I was to get a 5-shot group under 1.25", I would be doing the happy dance. I mean, my rifle is accurate and all, but it is, afterall, just a hunting rifle.

Well, yeah, that's over with now.

Today, went out and finished off my load development. I had settled on 57gr of H4350 behind a 175SMK in Win brass and WLR primers, COL of 3.280" (.30-06). This had shot pretty well during the development, so this week, I loaded up enough to shoot 2 5-shot groups, and 5 3-shot groups. 5 rounds were loaded to a COL of 3.260" to try a different seating depth, to see how that went, but the rest were loaded normal.

Rifle had just been cleaned thoroughly, so I figured I would use the 5-shots as my fouling shots, then record the 3-shot groups to get an average.

Long story short, first three shots from the fouling group, one large ragged hole. Center to center of .388" . Almost didn't fire #4 or #5, since that is close to the best I have done. Fired #4, which opened the group up to .776". Then on to #5....... jerked the trigger a bit, and called a flyer, and sure enough, it landed outside the group, and ruined it rolleyes: ) . Total center to center size for 5 rounds, 1.045".

Like I said before, 2 months ago, that grouping would have been posted on my wall in my office. Today, it was a source of dissapointment.

Rest of the first load did well as well, 3-shot groups measured .381", .514", .914", .753" and 1.013".

Like I said, I used to be happy just getting a good grouping, but now I am chasing little zero's.

There must be some cure for this obsession.

I.G.B.

 

[only1asterisk]

There must be some cure for this obsession.

There is no cure, only treatment. Another rifle or another load.

David

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

The only known therapy (there is no cure) is the thump of the rifle 'gainst your shoulder, and the smell of burnt powder in the air.

 

[Walkalong]

Like I said, I used to be happy just getting a good grouping, but now I am chasing little zero's.

"Ignorance is bliss" they say.

It's too late now, your hooked.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I can help you feel better. First, once you've started reloading and gotten decent at it, your group size shrinks and your expectations for a group sizes rises. Obviously, this gets to the point of obsession and controlling this expectation can be a beast.

Here's how you handle the raised standards without driving yourself crazy.

1. Forget three shot group size standards, way too easy to achieve at times, can be hard to repeat consistently (could have been a fluke) and is a source of craziness.
2. Raise the number of shots you use to evaluate group size to ten shots or two five shot groups averaged together.
3. The raised number of shots makes it much harder to get a "fluke" grouping and gives a much beterr indication of repeatable accuracy, because changing winds, flyers, etc., show up more often and have to be factored in. Factoring in these various elements factors them into your hunting or other real world use of the rifle as well. So you end up having more confidence in the rifle as well.
4. Because you are using a larger group size, your resulting data has more numbers and can be trusted more as not being a fluke.
5. Finally, because it's much tougher to shoot a good group of the 10 shot group size, you will have to let go of worying about the group size (after all, it's near bout impossible to git that teeny group with a big group anyhoo) and refocus on your shooting, which is why you started reloading in the first place.

I hope this helps, (grin)

Dave

 

[The Bushmaster]

Oh everyone is such a great help...Why are you asking the addicts a question like that? Why don't you ask someone that is not an addict like m......No. That won't work either. Oh shoot!!! Dropped another primer. Now I'll have to spend a half an hour trying to find it...Darn...Why did I ever start this hab...hobby anyway...Gotta get these loaded. Going to the range in an hour...

 

[cracked butt]

There must be some cure for this obsession.

There is, its called lead bullet casting. Of course it would be analogous to giving up a caffeine habit by taking up methamphetamine.

 

[Snagglepuss]

Give in to the dark side Luke, let the dark force flow through you.

Sorry no cure, accept it.

 

[LWS32]

Just think of money you save.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Crackedbutt has it right. Take up bullet casting, add the ten shot average for group size and you'll be fine.

Regards,

Dave

 

[scrat]

all i have to say hahahahaha

 

[Master Blaster]

You are most welcome, and BTW congratulations on your new obsession.

One day your wife will ask you what you are cooking in that pot on the stove, and you will answer its my new powder measure, I'm degreasing it,

She will just roll her eyes.

Thats when you know you're really hardcore.

 

[rchernandez]

Cure? A trigger job and maybe a match-grade barrel...

 

[tbtrout]

By convincing yourself this hobby saves money, you will ,like the rest of us, spend more money while justifying the savings over factory ammo. Welcome to the funny farm.

 

[Rottweiler]

Like Snagglepuss said, Welcome to the dark side....

 

[tuck2]

I wonder how you would do with a varmint -target type rifle . There are other rounds that are known to be more accurate than the old 06 round. Maybe you could be happier with a new rifle or rifles with target power scopes. You may need to go to a bench rest shooting club . Take a look at www.sinclairintl.com for precision reloading tools. This all should help you with your problem.

 

[Jimbo1]

Oh nice to see I'm not the only one. Have dies for a caliber that I don't have a weapon. So, what do we do? Sell the dies?

Right,,,, I look for a rifle so I can work loads for that caliber also. Wait,, I've got 2 like that... So who has a 243 and a 223 rifle to sell cheap?

 

[itgoesboom]

I wonder how you would do with a varmint -target type rifle . There are other rounds that are known to be more accurate than the old 06 round. Maybe you could be happier with a new rifle or rifles with target power scopes. You may need to go to a bench rest shooting club . Take a look at www.sinclairintl.com for precision reloading tools. This all should help you with your problem.

You are right. That's part of why I got into reloading. Getting a precision rifle is in the plans for later this year, and I wanted to have myself ready to make the most of the accuracy of that type of rifle. I was hoping that if I started with my hunting rifle, and learned how to make the most of it's accuracy, that when I get my precision rifle, I will be able to do the same.

Until that point though, my hunting rifle will have to do, and it seems to be doing quite nicely.

I.G.B.

 

[T-Mac]

Yeah.
Same here (different time frame, but yeah). :banghead:

 

[Socrates]

I thought 168 grain BTHP boat tails were THE .308 caliber bullet???
Has something changed???

www.speer-bullets.com


30 cal. BTHP Match
2040
Part Number Caliber
Weight Grain Weight Gram Construction
2040 30 cal. 168 10.89 Conventional

Use Bullet Coefficient Sectional Density Diameter Inches Diameter mm Box Count
3 0.48 0.253 0.308 7.823 100

Abbreviation Key:
BT - boat tail, FMJ - full metal jacket, FN - flat nose, GD - Gold Dot, HP - hollow point, SP - soft point,
TMJ - encased-core full jacket, RN - round nose, SWC - semi-wadcutter, WC - wadcutter

Usages:
1- Varmint, 2- Big Game, 3- Match, 4- Special Purpose, 5- Large/Dangerous Game
6- Personal Protection, 7- General Purpose, 8- Practice, 9- Target, 10- Handgun Hunting

 

[USSR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tuck2
I wonder how you would do with a varmint -target type rifle . There are other rounds that are known to be more accurate than the old 06 round. Maybe you could be happier with a new rifle or rifles with target power scopes. You may need to go to a bench rest shooting club . Take a look at www.sinclairintl.com for precision reloading tools. This all should help you with your problem.

You are right. That's part of why I got into reloading. Getting a precision rifle is in the plans for later this year, and I wanted to have myself ready to make the most of the accuracy of that type of rifle.

IGB,

Cartridges are neither accurate nor inaccurate; rifles and loads are. The '06 properly loaded will do as well as any comparable cartridge in a quality built rifle.

Don

Krieger-built Winchester in .30-06 with McMillan A2 stock and Leupold 6.5-20x50 mildot scope.

 

[DWARREN123]

Yep, go to 5 shot groups, find and good combo for hunting, plinking and whatever else you do and stick with them.
Get a smaller caliber rifle for plinking/varmint hunting and develope the devil out of loads for it, cheaper, easier on money and fun.

 

[itgoesboom]

IGB,

Cartridges are neither accurate nor inaccurate; rifles and loads are. The '06 properly loaded will do as well as any comparable cartridge in a quality built rifle.

Don,

I have no issues at all with the .30-06. I do want to get a precision rig, that will be in .308, but I will still use my .30-06. In fact, I am thinking that in a couple more years, when I have shot out this barrel, I am going to send it off and have a custom barrel put on, and might change out the stock too. But I am pretty sure I will keep it .30-06.

Hey, it's shooting pretty darn well for a $360 rifle so far.

I thought 168 grain BTHP boat tails were THE .308 caliber bullet???
Has something changed???

Socrates,

The 168 Sierra Match King is still used, but the 175gr Match King has a better B.C., so is better for long range use.

And many who shoot .30-06 or .300win mag use the 190 match king, since it has an even higher B.C..

I.G.B.

 

[alucard0822]

I am a fan of the 175gr MKs, they shoot the best out of my savage 308, I took up reloading to save money, a few new rifles and a few thousand rounds later I don't think it worked, I just shoot more often, more consistently and try more specialized chamberings. I have chased the little cloverleafs for years with decent sucess, but now I am more into loading for my garand in 06, a cloverleaf of 204's at 200 yds is great fun, but being able to put 8 MKs into 4" at the same distance with open sights is the new prize im after.