barnfrog
Member
Without starting a debate about whether to start with charge weight or seating depth, I'm looking for some friendly advice.
I loaded up some Sierra 60 grain hollow points over 42.0 grains of Varget and seated them at 0.020", 0.030", 0.040" and 0.050" off the lands of my Winchester XPR .243. One thing I noticed when working up the seating depths is the bullets aren't very far into the necks. The ones with 0.020" of jump are only 0.161 in. Case lengths are 2.040", so they haven't been trimmed back excessively. I realize the "seat at least as deep as the bullet diameter rule" is not hard and fast, but thought I would note it anyway.
100 yard results are shown below.
Not as good as I was hoping, but not abysmal. So, as is typical of folks like me who don't have a ton of experience, I'm curious what others might do here. Assuming a five-shot group confirms 0.050" relicates that performance, there are three primary options I am considering trying next:
1. Load an OCW test seating the bullets 0.050" off the lands to see what effect charge weight has on things.
2. Load a few more rounds at 42.0 grains and keep increasing seating depth in 0.010" increments.
3. Try another seating depth test with another powder. This was my first loading with Varget, whereas IMR4350 has shot quite well with other bullets in this gun, although none lighter than 75 grains.
I'm sure I'll get responses supporting each option, and probably some suggesting one or two others. I guess I could try all three routes just for fun.
Would love to hear anyone's thoughts (except the ones saying I should have started with charge weight instead of seating depth ).
I loaded up some Sierra 60 grain hollow points over 42.0 grains of Varget and seated them at 0.020", 0.030", 0.040" and 0.050" off the lands of my Winchester XPR .243. One thing I noticed when working up the seating depths is the bullets aren't very far into the necks. The ones with 0.020" of jump are only 0.161 in. Case lengths are 2.040", so they haven't been trimmed back excessively. I realize the "seat at least as deep as the bullet diameter rule" is not hard and fast, but thought I would note it anyway.
100 yard results are shown below.
Not as good as I was hoping, but not abysmal. So, as is typical of folks like me who don't have a ton of experience, I'm curious what others might do here. Assuming a five-shot group confirms 0.050" relicates that performance, there are three primary options I am considering trying next:
1. Load an OCW test seating the bullets 0.050" off the lands to see what effect charge weight has on things.
2. Load a few more rounds at 42.0 grains and keep increasing seating depth in 0.010" increments.
3. Try another seating depth test with another powder. This was my first loading with Varget, whereas IMR4350 has shot quite well with other bullets in this gun, although none lighter than 75 grains.
I'm sure I'll get responses supporting each option, and probably some suggesting one or two others. I guess I could try all three routes just for fun.
Would love to hear anyone's thoughts (except the ones saying I should have started with charge weight instead of seating depth ).