Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Can you explain ?

Have a Vangaurd 300 Weatherby , have tried the Nosler reloading Data that says max load was the most accurate with 7828 SSC under 180gr E-Tip . I think 84.5 or something I think was max load . Anyway I started in the middle with 82.5 gr and groups were terrible , also loosening primer pockets to the point they were either loose or fall out .
Any ideas as to what might be going on ?
Bought it used , thought maybe it was copper fouled , this past weekend scrubbed the bore with JB bore paste and mopped it out with patches of Butches Bore Shine , then dry patched it . Used a 7.62x51 chamber brush wrapped in 30 cal. patches to mop out the chamber . Then fired two fouling shots off paper . This time I tried 200gr SGK over 77gr 7828SSC first shot went 9 o'clock of bull three inches right , second shot 11 o'clock of bull three inches above first shot , third shot almost touching first shot , fourth shot , two inches low at 6 o'clock of bull , fifth shot almost touching fourth .
Action screws , scope base screws , lock ring screws have all been tourqed .
Let gun cool while shooting other rifles , then tried IMR4350 , forget grains at moment , not at home , don't have access to target , but it was with in .5 gr of Sierras max load for 200gr SGK . Two inches low at 6 o'clock of bull with next four rounds going in for a one inch five shot group . Three of them overlapping .
Any ideas why primer pockets were getting stretched with the E-tips ? And accuracy so poor .
Kenneth

Have you chronoed the loads? I'm guessing the Vanguard doesn't have the 'typical' Weatherby freebore and the loads are way over SAAMI pressure which is why your brass is reacting the way it is. I'd run a chrono ASAP to see where velocity falls.

I guess you didn't read Nosler's instructions for the E-tips.

Middle load with E-tips IS THE MAX LOAD. Sometimes you don't even make it to the middle load with E-tips before pressure signs tell you to stop.

If you get impatient with new guns and new components, one you'd don't have any experience with, and do it often enough, things like this are going to happen.

Excessive pressure.

I'm agreeing with bwinters and Antelopesniper, spend $100 on a chronograph and start with the stating loads not middle loads.

I had a rifle with a tight bore that primers would fall out of fired factory ammo. One shot and surprisingly high velocity was enough to explain the primer falling out. I reloaded for it and Start loads were Max in that rifle.

I'm especially careful with the mono-metal bullets even more so in a rifle I don't have any history with.

People look at primers to judge signs of pressure, when they fall out, it's excessive.

One of the reasons 30-06 factory ammo is so anemic. It has to work in a 1895 Winchester. Weatherby could not produce a rifle that can’t shoot factory ammo. I’m sure the rifle meets factory specs on chamber and free bore. Or the factory made a mistake. Hasbeen

Made me laugh. I generally don't put too much stock in a primer's appearance when I'm wondering about pressure, but I think it's a pretty safe bet your pressure might be high if primers are seen in motion relative to the case itself.

Max pressure in the Bee is much higher then many if not most other rounds. As a result you have less safety margin when loading to "book max" in a bee.

Antelope hit the nail somewhat , have never had to start at the bottom and work up on a load , but I guess this is one cartridge that rule can't be ignored . Thanks , Kennwth

I missed the e-tip part. I'm with AS on this one.

+1 for nosler load book suggestion. They specifically dtate to always start at starting loads using e-tips due to "internal construction differences" not sure how they are different but they say it gor a reason. Maybe you found it.

I have a .30-06 Weatherby Vangaurd 2 stainless that is my favorite rifle. I found out real quick that its favorite powder with a 150 grain bullet was IMR 4350, But if you go over 56 grains pressure signs start. Maximum loads are out of the question. I use 58 grains of H4831 with 180 RN for hogs and that is as stout a load as it wants. Must be a tight bore or something.