What single thing do you feel gives you the most Accuracy from reloads?
- Thread starter A_Gamehog
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Saltydog235
New member
Powder charge consistancy, type of powder then choice of bullet and seating depth.
mapsjanhere
New member
optimized custom powder charge for the gun in question
In the game of process control, one pays attention to all the variables or at least all of the ones you can identify.
Every variable you have identified has an impact on the final result. It is very hard to identify the magnitude of each of the variables you have identified.
What is implied, but not said, is the consistancy with which you incorporate your attempts to control these variables.
What is required is accurate data to support your theories.
I try to use brass, bullets, primers and powder from the same lots to achieve consistancy.
I keep records of components and how the results stack up.
I get into a routine.
New brass gets sized and trimmed.
Necks get chamfered.
Bullets come from a single manufacturer.
Powder comes from a single manufacturer.
Bullets are seated at the same depth.
Loads are weighed every fifth cartridge.
Box labels are accurate.
Records are kept of results.
Those results tell me if I should be working to identify other variables.
Shot brass stays with the same rifle.
Brass is spot checked for length after every firing. If any approach max length, they are all trimmed.
The quest for accuracy is never ending. All you can do is try to minimize the effect of every identifiable variable.
The only way you can tell if your efforts are doing any good is to keep very good records.
It is fun and it is time consuming, but also very satisfying to see the groups get smaller.
Have fun and PM me if you have any questions.
I will try to help.
Geetarman
Every variable you have identified has an impact on the final result. It is very hard to identify the magnitude of each of the variables you have identified.
What is implied, but not said, is the consistancy with which you incorporate your attempts to control these variables.
What is required is accurate data to support your theories.
I try to use brass, bullets, primers and powder from the same lots to achieve consistancy.
I keep records of components and how the results stack up.
I get into a routine.
New brass gets sized and trimmed.
Necks get chamfered.
Bullets come from a single manufacturer.
Powder comes from a single manufacturer.
Bullets are seated at the same depth.
Loads are weighed every fifth cartridge.
Box labels are accurate.
Records are kept of results.
Those results tell me if I should be working to identify other variables.
Shot brass stays with the same rifle.
Brass is spot checked for length after every firing. If any approach max length, they are all trimmed.
The quest for accuracy is never ending. All you can do is try to minimize the effect of every identifiable variable.
The only way you can tell if your efforts are doing any good is to keep very good records.
It is fun and it is time consuming, but also very satisfying to see the groups get smaller.
Have fun and PM me if you have any questions.
I will try to help.
Geetarman
4runnerman
New member
powder charge,primers and case length.
Saltydog235
New member
Geetar you're talking about variables that effect the minute changes in accuracy. He's asking about the biggest factor if I read it right. I try to do the same things you do to an extent but the one thing that I know is that if I don't have the same amount of bang-bang dust in each cartridge, the results will be different.
First ... you... and your shooting skills... not quite what you mean, but....
Second, Quality Bullets. Don't expect cheap FMJ's to shoot like "match" bullets.
Third, the right powder for your cartridge... ( try "everyones" favorite first )
Fourth, Consistency... powder charge , primer , good consist weight brass.
Fifth, the fastest load is probably not going to be the most accurate.
The Dec. ? '08 Issue of "Handloader Magazine" had a great .308 Winc. test on component effects on accuracy. Massive test... I'll try to find it and let you know the info.
Second, Quality Bullets. Don't expect cheap FMJ's to shoot like "match" bullets.
Third, the right powder for your cartridge... ( try "everyones" favorite first )
Fourth, Consistency... powder charge , primer , good consist weight brass.
Fifth, the fastest load is probably not going to be the most accurate.
The Dec. ? '08 Issue of "Handloader Magazine" had a great .308 Winc. test on component effects on accuracy. Massive test... I'll try to find it and let you know the info.
Clifford L. Hughes
New member
Clifford L. Hughes
Gamehog:
The most important thing in making accurate reloads is record keeping and experimentation. Experiment with the known methods until you find a combination that likes your rifle.
Semper Fi.
Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
Gamehog:
The most important thing in making accurate reloads is record keeping and experimentation. Experiment with the known methods until you find a combination that likes your rifle.
Semper Fi.
Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
Trying to identify one thing that makes a load accurate is like trying to determine which single item is necessary for sustained life. Man cannot live very long without food, water, air, etc. Which blade of grass in your lawn makes it look the best?
As has already been indicated, there are many things that contribute to great accuracy of any load. Each component plays it's part in it and if you throw any one of them out your accuracy would suffer greatly.
The single thing I would identify for accuracy building would be "paying close attention to what you are doing". Carelessness can really ruin your day.
As has already been indicated, there are many things that contribute to great accuracy of any load. Each component plays it's part in it and if you throw any one of them out your accuracy would suffer greatly.
The single thing I would identify for accuracy building would be "paying close attention to what you are doing". Carelessness can really ruin your day.
Doodlebugger45
New member
You have to start with a good bullet. Both Hornady and Sierra have given me very good results without spending too much money.
Then I have to find the optimum charge weight for whatever powder I decide to use. And then stick close to that optimum powder weight. But some combos of powder/bullet have a very narrow "sweet spot" while some of them have a much wider sweet spot. I like the wide sweet spot much better of course. If that sweet spot is only 0.2 gr wide, then you have to be very meticulous about duplicating it. The other day I was testing some loads and found a very wide sweet spot using H4831 in my 270 WSM. I can go up or down by 0.6 gr from the optimum weight without significant changes in the group. That is very nice later on to know that you don't have to trickle it in down to the last 0.1 gr.
I personally haven't noticed any difference with primers, but I haven't experimented with them a whole lot, using mostly CCI and Winchester.
I have played around with the seating depth relative to the lands. It does change the accuracy a little bit, but if you have found a good optimum charge weight with a broad sweet spot, the seating depth is not as important.
Then I have to find the optimum charge weight for whatever powder I decide to use. And then stick close to that optimum powder weight. But some combos of powder/bullet have a very narrow "sweet spot" while some of them have a much wider sweet spot. I like the wide sweet spot much better of course. If that sweet spot is only 0.2 gr wide, then you have to be very meticulous about duplicating it. The other day I was testing some loads and found a very wide sweet spot using H4831 in my 270 WSM. I can go up or down by 0.6 gr from the optimum weight without significant changes in the group. That is very nice later on to know that you don't have to trickle it in down to the last 0.1 gr.
I personally haven't noticed any difference with primers, but I haven't experimented with them a whole lot, using mostly CCI and Winchester.
I have played around with the seating depth relative to the lands. It does change the accuracy a little bit, but if you have found a good optimum charge weight with a broad sweet spot, the seating depth is not as important.
mapsjanhere
New member
Records are very important, so we can tell reloaderswidow right from the start that 100 gr Unique is too much for a 45-70.
Some good replies so far,
Me personally, I like consistent brass, I trim it each time. I no longer waste time neck turning with factory chambers, but do standardize primers pockets once. Some of the last batch of Nosler brass for my 223's is every bit as good as the Lapua.
I lack in record keeping as evidenced from some of these posts. I keep the targets with the recipes written on them but not lot numbers and such.
Thanks for the new info.
Me personally, I like consistent brass, I trim it each time. I no longer waste time neck turning with factory chambers, but do standardize primers pockets once. Some of the last batch of Nosler brass for my 223's is every bit as good as the Lapua.
I lack in record keeping as evidenced from some of these posts. I keep the targets with the recipes written on them but not lot numbers and such.
Thanks for the new info.
FrankenMauser
New member
I can't give you a single largest factor. It depends on the cartridge, and load in question.
In general, I would have to bring it down to a simple concept:
Consistency in all processes and components.
In general, I would have to bring it down to a simple concept:
Consistency in all processes and components.
Obviously we can all agree that it's everything that matters the most. Kind of like the weakest link in a chain, ya know? But the original post did specify that we try to pinpoint one thing that has the most effect on accuracy.
In my opinion, I would have to say that it's the quality of the bullet and how consistently you seat that bullet. I think that is where the most accuracy is to be gained or lost.
Everything is a factor and I would be willing to bet for a lot of shooters that technique when testing those loads is a huge factor, but if we have to narrow our pick down to one component or process, I would say it's about the projectile... the quality of it, the seating depth, the case mouth tension and the concentricity of it when seated.
But honestly? That's just what I think. I don't have any proof.
In my opinion, I would have to say that it's the quality of the bullet and how consistently you seat that bullet. I think that is where the most accuracy is to be gained or lost.
Everything is a factor and I would be willing to bet for a lot of shooters that technique when testing those loads is a huge factor, but if we have to narrow our pick down to one component or process, I would say it's about the projectile... the quality of it, the seating depth, the case mouth tension and the concentricity of it when seated.
But honestly? That's just what I think. I don't have any proof.