earlthegoat2
Member
I bought this rifle brand new last September in anticipation of the upcoming deer season in southern MI. I bought a few boxes each of Federal Power Shok 300 gr and Winchester Deer Season 250 gr.
Well, it shot patterns with both. I mean really bad. 4-5" groups @ 50 yds. 6-8" @ 100. These are supposed to be lights out accurate rifles in this cartridge. So, 1-2" @ 100. My Uncle has the Ruger American (regular rifle version) that does just that.....with Hornady 250 gr FTX.
I cannot find any FTXs right now and I couldnt then either. Hornady bullets are sized .452 so I thought that might make a difference. I was able to procure some Hornady 245 gr Interlocks that are used in one of their other 450 BM factory loads.
I am experienced hand loading factory type ammo following published loads and COALs. (Note: I have not loaded for 450 BM ever and only dabbled with it today.)
I decided to try to get the bullet as close to the rifling as I could also so I could eliminate that variable from the equation as well. I dont really know how to do this so I just seated a bullet very shallow in an unprimed casing. I placed it in the magazine of the rifle and chambered it very easily until I could lock the bolt down. I though it might get stuck in there and had a rod handy but as i eased the bolt back everything came out in one piece with no resistance so im pretty sure the bullet did not ride out of the casing upon extraction.
So the overall length of this round is 2.350 inches. The bullet may be only 1/4" into the case The Lee manual calls for 2.260 for max OAL. The factory Federal measures 2.153 and the Winchester 2.228
Am I dealing with an excessive throat and as such excessive jump to the lands of the rifling? Or maybe I am doing this process completely wrong?
Is this maybe a mixed blessing so I can run heavier bullets pushed out further into the leade with larger powder charges? (This is something I have little experience with just something I have read about)
Well, it shot patterns with both. I mean really bad. 4-5" groups @ 50 yds. 6-8" @ 100. These are supposed to be lights out accurate rifles in this cartridge. So, 1-2" @ 100. My Uncle has the Ruger American (regular rifle version) that does just that.....with Hornady 250 gr FTX.
I cannot find any FTXs right now and I couldnt then either. Hornady bullets are sized .452 so I thought that might make a difference. I was able to procure some Hornady 245 gr Interlocks that are used in one of their other 450 BM factory loads.
I am experienced hand loading factory type ammo following published loads and COALs. (Note: I have not loaded for 450 BM ever and only dabbled with it today.)
I decided to try to get the bullet as close to the rifling as I could also so I could eliminate that variable from the equation as well. I dont really know how to do this so I just seated a bullet very shallow in an unprimed casing. I placed it in the magazine of the rifle and chambered it very easily until I could lock the bolt down. I though it might get stuck in there and had a rod handy but as i eased the bolt back everything came out in one piece with no resistance so im pretty sure the bullet did not ride out of the casing upon extraction.
So the overall length of this round is 2.350 inches. The bullet may be only 1/4" into the case The Lee manual calls for 2.260 for max OAL. The factory Federal measures 2.153 and the Winchester 2.228
Am I dealing with an excessive throat and as such excessive jump to the lands of the rifling? Or maybe I am doing this process completely wrong?
Is this maybe a mixed blessing so I can run heavier bullets pushed out further into the leade with larger powder charges? (This is something I have little experience with just something I have read about)
