Got my son a brand new to him Browning A-Bolt II Stainless Stalker in .300 Winchester Magnum because he wanted to have a gun just like dads...to the point where he kept reminding me that he wanted mine when I die...real nice.
Anyway, having worked with four guns identical to his, and always finding (after I finally drank the Kook Aid) that a dose of Reloder 22 of between 74 and 76.5 grains under a 180 grain Nosler Accubond did the trick (m.o.a. or better in all of them consistently) I naturally started there. Not to mention I have 15 pounds of the stuff and I'm never going to burn it all at my stage of life.
So, out we go on the first evening range session and shoot 74.5, 75.0 and 75.5 grain loads with the bullet seated as far as the magazine would allow (not much longer than factory due to the constraints of a removable magazine). Here are the groups from those three powder charges. I was stoked as it looked like RL22 and 180 grain Accubonds were going to be the huckleberry again with a little tweaking of powder charge and seating depth.
So off we go. Decided that 75.0 grains was good middle ground to start refining with and loaded 3 each at various seating depths. Waited for a cool (relatively) morning with calm and headed for the range. Fired the first group of three that was an exact duplicate of the 75.0 grain load from the first night....uuuuuuuuuggh. Fired the next group of three that was seated .020 deeper.....uuuuuuuuuggh. Here is what those two groups were...along with a rough measurement of the combined group size.
One shot from each group through the same hole and then groups that you wouldn't want out of your favorite goose gun.
Pulled the gun off the rest and started racking my brain for all of the wisdom I've gained over the 30+ years of experience handloading and last night it hit me....you got taken for a fool by not looking at the entire picture. So I took the three targets and superimposed the groups on one. Keep in mind, I don't do scope adjustments during load workup. Here is what it looks like:
Out of nine shots this time there are two places where the bullets are touching, but again the overall is a shotgun pattern of rougly 3.7 inches....very close to the other composite...the only difference really being in group shape. This I attribute to a slight tightening in the action screws to an even 35 inch pounds (there were closer to 30 inch pounds on the first groups)
So, needless to say, I have learned that I can't just look at singular groups as an indicator of potential, but that the entire picture needs to be examined.
Now where to go from here as it doesn't appear that there is anything left to pursue with the tried and true in the other four guns. I guess I'll dig out my stash of 1990's vintage IMR 4831 and stick under the Accubonds, and then try the RL22 under a different bullet...the 178 grain Hornady ELDX perhaps.
I've got to get it worked out as he drew a controlled bull elk tag for the month of November...and that isn't far off.
Hope this thread helps someone else from having to travel the same road.
Cheers,
300winnie.
Anyway, having worked with four guns identical to his, and always finding (after I finally drank the Kook Aid) that a dose of Reloder 22 of between 74 and 76.5 grains under a 180 grain Nosler Accubond did the trick (m.o.a. or better in all of them consistently) I naturally started there. Not to mention I have 15 pounds of the stuff and I'm never going to burn it all at my stage of life.
So, out we go on the first evening range session and shoot 74.5, 75.0 and 75.5 grain loads with the bullet seated as far as the magazine would allow (not much longer than factory due to the constraints of a removable magazine). Here are the groups from those three powder charges. I was stoked as it looked like RL22 and 180 grain Accubonds were going to be the huckleberry again with a little tweaking of powder charge and seating depth.
So off we go. Decided that 75.0 grains was good middle ground to start refining with and loaded 3 each at various seating depths. Waited for a cool (relatively) morning with calm and headed for the range. Fired the first group of three that was an exact duplicate of the 75.0 grain load from the first night....uuuuuuuuuggh. Fired the next group of three that was seated .020 deeper.....uuuuuuuuuggh. Here is what those two groups were...along with a rough measurement of the combined group size.
One shot from each group through the same hole and then groups that you wouldn't want out of your favorite goose gun.
Pulled the gun off the rest and started racking my brain for all of the wisdom I've gained over the 30+ years of experience handloading and last night it hit me....you got taken for a fool by not looking at the entire picture. So I took the three targets and superimposed the groups on one. Keep in mind, I don't do scope adjustments during load workup. Here is what it looks like:
Out of nine shots this time there are two places where the bullets are touching, but again the overall is a shotgun pattern of rougly 3.7 inches....very close to the other composite...the only difference really being in group shape. This I attribute to a slight tightening in the action screws to an even 35 inch pounds (there were closer to 30 inch pounds on the first groups)
So, needless to say, I have learned that I can't just look at singular groups as an indicator of potential, but that the entire picture needs to be examined.
Now where to go from here as it doesn't appear that there is anything left to pursue with the tried and true in the other four guns. I guess I'll dig out my stash of 1990's vintage IMR 4831 and stick under the Accubonds, and then try the RL22 under a different bullet...the 178 grain Hornady ELDX perhaps.
I've got to get it worked out as he drew a controlled bull elk tag for the month of November...and that isn't far off.
Hope this thread helps someone else from having to travel the same road.
Cheers,
300winnie.