Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Changing OAL changing group size?

I am trying to find a load for my 6.5-284 and have found a load with RL-22 that gives me 3 holes touching at 100, but its only running 2747. I can bump up the powder enough to give me 2840fps, but the group opens up to just over 3/4 inch. Do the experts think I could play with seating depth and shrink that bigger group down closer to the first one?

I have a 24" barrel so im definitely gonna be slower than the competition guys.

TIA

It’s quite likely, but there’s only one way to find out...

Accuracy trumps velocity ever time.100fps isn't going to buy much in way of ballistics. However, some rifles like a bit more jump than the typical. 020 off the lands.

Depends on how many time you shot the 3 hole group that doesn't count for much vs 5 hole groups and how much time you have on your hands.

Personally I would go to the range and shoot at least 4-5 , 5 shot groups then make your decision if you want to tweak seating depth, but don't play around with 3 shot groups and one of.

How far do you plan to shoot?

Put the velocities through a ballistics program and look at the difference at your maximum hunting distance. It likely won’t be much.

We may be missing the reason for the post.

Have a rifle shooting just over 3/4" and you want to fix it?

I would't say "fix" but nothing better than getting the most our of my rifle that I can get....IMO.



Guess I was simply asking if the harcore reloaders have much luck trying to finetune group size by adjusting seating depth. I dont have access to a shooting range near my house so Im reloading and then driving 30 min to the range. Not able to "play" with loads as much as some are so just trying to save myself some steps. Thats all.

I dont plan to hunt past 400 really, but would like to be able to "play" 6-7-800 if I wanted to.

I'd play with it, but mainly just to see what I could see...not for the extra 93 fps. For me it's quite often just a quest of curiosity.

In a word, yes.

I tend to start the journey by selecting a powder that gives me the velocity I want at 96-99% fill. I like a full case but I don’t want a compressed load.

Then I use the Berger seating depth test method:

https://bergerbullets.com/getting-the-best-precision-and-accuracy-from-vld-bullets-in-your-rifle/

I’ve always found success with this process. I posted an extreme example on this forum a few years ago, .30-06, 185 VLD Hunting, Hunter powder at max recommended charge.

I always start with the shortest loads, since I can shorten long loads if I find precision quickly. My first group looked like a shotgun pattern, maybe 4 1/2” spread. The next group cut the spread in half, and the third group had all the shots touching. The difference between group one and two was 0.038”, and the difference between group two and three was 0.042.” So from 4 1/2” to touching was 0.08.”

Velocity without pressure is first, then precision. Remember to stay safe.

I’m lucky that I can velocity/pressure test off my back deck.




P

Thanks Pharm......have never really seen it approached that way. I can get the velocity I want out of RL22 easily if the higher end towards max would group right. My largest group at or slightly above max was only about 1.5 inches with no pressure signs. and that would give me around 2950 if I remember correctly.

If you are shooting a VLD style bullet, OAL seems to be more important than with a standard cup and core bullet.

But yes, OAL can make a significant difference.

Many times the magazine box defines maximum COAL, unless you want to single shots. I don't see much sense in chasing that COAL if the round won't fit in the hunting rifle

Sometimes, not "many times". I can load to the lands on 95% of all my rifles without stretching the OAL to mag box length. Maybe you are buying the wrong rifles?

I have 2 model 70’s that have a ton of free bore and my mag box determines my OAL. My 375 H&H has .200 thousandths jump, bullet is touching the lands at 3.800, my mag box 3.600. My 300 weatherby is the same way. My model 70 300 wsm I touch the lands before I run out of mag box.

You have half a day, ill give you a list of all my rifles that if i load to mag length, id be jamming the fu cking bullet into the lands.

Wo calm down buddy, go grab a Olympia beer and relax

Bullet profile matters.

Maybe I am reading you wrong, but which are you saying?

I’m about half and half but a quick measure before I start with a chosen bullet fixes that.