Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Seeking accuracy...what route?

You have a new gun. You're going to load for it. You pick the projectile you wish to shoot based on your hunting needs. You know about what velocity you want or need. You pick your brass, powder, primers, etc. You shoot your first groups and its not up to snuff accuracy-wise...2.6" groups at a 100 yds. Its not exhibiting signs of vertical or horizontal stringing to indicate bbl pressure...just a "neat" group that is too large to suit you. You want to "tighten" it up. Whats your first move in seeking accuracy with respect to handloading. (this hypothetical assumes the gun and scope are not the problem)

Im asking do you adjust seating depth, powder charge, powder type, brass, primers, what? Which direction do you head first in seeking to "tighten" things up or "dial it in"?

I start kissing lands,outta the gate......................

When I resize the now "fitted" brass, I make sure to size it just enough for smooth chambering with minimum clearance. This applies whether or not other considerations allow me to get my bullet of choice near the lands. If pressure signs allow, I'd probably bump the load up a half grain or so.

+1 even though it might go against published safe practices. All of my hunting loads are into or just kissing the lands.

Big Stick is right on in his suggestion of seating the bullet way out. Some rifles just don't allow that. (Such as short action Browning's---magazine runs out before ever reaching the lands). I had a Ruger M77MKII that was VERY picky about what it liked in cartridge length.

My suggestion is go out and buy 3 or 4 boxes of quality ammo (different brands/bullets/weights) and see what the rifle 'likes'. I depend on anything federal with factory bullets, nosler, or sierra. If none of those shoot well, you may have problems. I know that's a little pricey but really helps with later load development and confidence. Even if you roll your own it's nice to know which factory loads shoot well in your rifle, especially if you travel. Just my .02.

Ditto to shooting some known factory loads with different bullets like Sierra, Speer and Hornady in them. Also, its a good idea to know how those common Remington, Federal, Winny and Hornady loads shoot, in case you get to the hunting grounds and your ammo doesn't.