TrapperReady
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2003
- Messages
- 2,732
Well, I finally got to the range today to test the first set of rounds I made up. They were .223, using Hornady HPBT 68gr bullets, Winchester brass, Varget powder and Federal 205(M) primers.
All testing was done at 100 yards with iron sights. The rifle was a Colt lower with a White Oak Precision upper (20" barrel w/ 1:7" twist). There was negligible wind at the range.
I'd loaded 5 rounds at each of 4 powder levels (recipe obtained from the Hornady manual). My procedure was to carefully measure the first round for each level and then fire it. I then inspected it and measured again to see if there were any signs of overpressure. If that first round was OK, then I loaded 4 into a mag and slow-fired them (checking each case immediately after firing). Once all the rounds for each level were fired, I'd check the spotting scope and see how they had grouped.
For the starting level, my group was fairly large... bigger than I'm accustomed to with factory ammo. I kept that target up and fired the next 5. When I checked the scope, that group was easily identifiable, as it was clustered in the upper portion of the previous group, but somewhat smaller... about what I'd get with factory ammo.
I then changed targets and moved to the next 5. These were safe with no signs of excessive pressure. When I checked the scope, I had a small cloverleaf of three shots touching, with another two touching about 1/2" higher. It was easily the best five-shot group I've ever gotten with iron sights at that range... and very close to the best I've gotten with a scope. With a large smile on my face, I almost quit right there.
However, since I had 5 more rounds (which were at the maximum recommended loading), I figured I'd see what happened. The first round I fired showed a flattened primer, and a slight increase in case diameter (less than .0005). I called it quits, cased everything up and came home.
Tonight, I'm going to load 150 of the one recipe. Tomorrow, I've got two highpower matches to test them in. I'll check back after that and let you know how this worked.
In any event, I'm real happy with the whole process. I'm using a Dillon 550B, and it's been extremely easy to work with, once I got the initial setup fine-tuned. I can see where tuning loads for accuracy could become addictive! Thanks again to any and all who've responded to my prior posts -- your help has been invaluable.
All testing was done at 100 yards with iron sights. The rifle was a Colt lower with a White Oak Precision upper (20" barrel w/ 1:7" twist). There was negligible wind at the range.
I'd loaded 5 rounds at each of 4 powder levels (recipe obtained from the Hornady manual). My procedure was to carefully measure the first round for each level and then fire it. I then inspected it and measured again to see if there were any signs of overpressure. If that first round was OK, then I loaded 4 into a mag and slow-fired them (checking each case immediately after firing). Once all the rounds for each level were fired, I'd check the spotting scope and see how they had grouped.
For the starting level, my group was fairly large... bigger than I'm accustomed to with factory ammo. I kept that target up and fired the next 5. When I checked the scope, that group was easily identifiable, as it was clustered in the upper portion of the previous group, but somewhat smaller... about what I'd get with factory ammo.
I then changed targets and moved to the next 5. These were safe with no signs of excessive pressure. When I checked the scope, I had a small cloverleaf of three shots touching, with another two touching about 1/2" higher. It was easily the best five-shot group I've ever gotten with iron sights at that range... and very close to the best I've gotten with a scope. With a large smile on my face, I almost quit right there.
However, since I had 5 more rounds (which were at the maximum recommended loading), I figured I'd see what happened. The first round I fired showed a flattened primer, and a slight increase in case diameter (less than .0005). I called it quits, cased everything up and came home.
Tonight, I'm going to load 150 of the one recipe. Tomorrow, I've got two highpower matches to test them in. I'll check back after that and let you know how this worked.
In any event, I'm real happy with the whole process. I'm using a Dillon 550B, and it's been extremely easy to work with, once I got the initial setup fine-tuned. I can see where tuning loads for accuracy could become addictive! Thanks again to any and all who've responded to my prior posts -- your help has been invaluable.
One thing no one tells you when you start reloading is that you can make groups worse sometimes. You can also make them a lot better,as you found! Congratulations
