was it the wind, Me, or my loads?

[deadeyedog270]

Not sure if this belongs here or not if it needs to be moved please do so.

I took my Remington 7400 270win cal. to the range a few weeks ago and sited the scope in at 100 yards useing Factory ammo (Hornaday 130 gr sst interlock bullet) There was light almost no wind this day, after I got the scope diled in I hit 4 rounds in and on the line of the bullseye area.

But Saterday when I took it I used some reloads i done up Hornaday 130gr spire point i used 42.9grains of IMR4064 (Starting grains in book) there was a good steady wind (5-10mph with gust to 15-20) My shots were all over the place not one was near center.:banghead:
I reload with Lee equipment and dies and all my rounds were crimped and full messurement of 3.295


I used a rest for the front of the gun both times no but stock rest.
was this maybe a wind issue, my reloads or do I need to set up with a good shooting vice to hold the gun

 

[juk]

Did you work up loads or just pick the starting load and go with it? When I started loading, my rifle was throwing 2 and 3 inch groups. The group size shrank as I got closer to its preferred load, then opened back up after that.

I doubt the wind would wreak that much havok on your bullets at 100 yards.

Also, Your point of impact WILL be different going from factory loads to handloads.

Make sure that the front rest isn't making the barrel contact the stock...lord knows that can throw shots all over the place.

Give the rifle time to cool. Excessive barrel heat can cause groups to open up.

 

[ny32182]

Second that... the wind probably didn't help, but more at play would be the following:

1) Starting loads have never grouped well for me at all. I typiclly see the best groups somewhere in the upper 1/3 of the data, but each rifle is different of course.

2) If you zero with one load and switch to another, your POI will change. Especially something as drastically different in velocity as a starting load.

First thing I'd do is work the load up and see where it takes you...

 

[deadeyedog270]

I used the starting load it was my first time reloading for the 270 I will try some do some other loads with differnt grains.
I do not think the heat of the barrel was a problem it was about 50 deg F out and a cold wind I would shoot one and sheck my soptting scope then shoot a nother. Not sure in how the rest was making contact did not pay attenion to that.

 

[ny32182]

I'd also drop the crimp; at least for now. Make sure you are getting good neck tension without it. Work up to somewhere in the middle/upper middle of the data and see if you start getting better results.

 

[ScratchnDent]

I'd load up 3 or 5 rounds each with increasing charge weights in .5 grain steps and shoot them for groups, giving the barrel plenty of time to cool between groups.

Say, 3@ 43.4gr
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
etc. all the way up to published maximum.
Start with lowest and work up, always watching for pressure signs such as flattened or cratered primers, sticky bolt lift, etc. If anything doesn't seem right, stop, you've reached your maximum charge.

Along the way, you will likely find a couple or 3 charge weights that shoot distinctly better groups than the rest. You can then further refine the process by loading a few more in smaller steps around those charge weights, say .2 grains.

For example, you find that 45.4 gr shoot a pretty good group, you'd load [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and shoot those again for groups.

Once you find the charge weight that shoots most consistently, you can then experiment with varying the seating depth in small steps, say .005, if you want to go that far.

 

[eagle24]

For me, the most important variable has always been the bullet. Then the powder/powder charge. In my rifles, I have found that OAL for a given bullet was important to accuracy also. Lightly kissing the barrel lands usually seems best. If I ever got horrible accuracy in a center fire rifle, it usually turned out to be a bullet the rifle just wouldn't shoot well. Your rifle may not like that bullet.