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Grouping of "good load" vs "bad load"

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robbie View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote robbie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Grouping of "good load" vs "bad load"
    Posted: October/18/2009 at 00:45

I know that certain guns like certain loads to produce best accuracy.  I believe that most would even say that each particular gun (even between guns of the same make, model, and caliber) can have a different load that it likes.

My question is how much difference does the load make? 
 
Lets say the perfect load will produce groups the size of a quarter, or a 1" pattern.  How bad could a non-favorable load be?  Would it shoot a 1.5" group?  2"?  5"? 
 
Thanks
 
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Dale Clifford View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/18/2009 at 08:13
guns and loads produce cones of fire -- a 3 dimension radial dispersion. a worn NFA barrel can go to 5" in the cone of fire. It depends on the shooters need, a cone of fire of 1" would not work for a target shooter, but be fine for hunting, 2" would not work for hunting (as an example) but works great on NFA Ak-47's
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/18/2009 at 08:17

I've had/seen rifles that are capable of MOA, that with the wrong load open up to the 4"-8" range.  Though most rifles I have will group almost any load to 3".  I've had two extremely finicky rifles, one a Ruger MKII in 7mm and the other a Remington 700 in 300RUM.  The Ruger I never did figure out so I got ride of it. The Ultra Mag (a friends gun) we finally figured out and got a respectable load which groups about 1.5".

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Terry Lamb Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/20/2009 at 14:06
I took a peak at my range log book, as an example of pattern changing with load. In my old 03-A3 30-06, with the 165-gr Hornady SST, 100yds, results were:
       48.5 grs H4895    2.4 inch
       49.0        "            1.8
       50.0        "            1.7
       50.5        "            1.5
       51.0        "            0.8
       51.5        "            1.9      Some pressure indications on cases
       52.0        "            2.8      Pronounced hi pressure indication
 
The loads above and below the 51.0 grains were subsequently confirmed with additional range sessions and repeated similar results. In this rifle, with this bullet, there was clearly a "sweet spot" in its preferred load.
    
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robbie View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote robbie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 23:20
Thanks, Terry - Thats what I was looking for.
Soooooooo   -    If one is shooting 3-4 inch groups (at 100 yds), don't blame the load or waste time looking for a better load.  Guess that leaves scope, mount, or personal error.
Thanks
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trigger29 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 14:59
Originally posted by robbie robbie wrote:

Thanks, Terry - Thats what I was looking for.
Soooooooo   -    If one is shooting 3-4 inch groups (at 100 yds), don't blame the load or waste time looking for a better load.  Guess that leaves scope, mount, or personal error.
Thanks
I wouldn't neccisarily believe that either..... I had a rifle shooting 2.5-3" pretty consistantly. I changed powders, and now it shoots the good loads to less than a 1/2". The bad loads with the same powder go to 1"-1.5". I would consider trying at least changing one thing in the loading, and see what happens. Maybe that gun hates that bullet, or powder. I'm no reloading expert, but have seen this happen.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JF4545 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 15:34
If you were to look in a Reloading Manual and it tells you the most accurate powder for the particular grain of bullet you want to load. What is that really telling you? Does it mean thats what they found for the rifle that THEY tested? Certainly they are not saying that is the most accurate powder/bullet combo on that page for all rifles of that particular caliber, right?
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Dale Clifford View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 15:53
almost all of them are just saying that max. accuracy never comes at the max of pressure (and thus velocity). because so many avenues can give results, there is obviously no deterministic solution, if there were , every one would be doing it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JF4545 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 16:12
I do not understand what you mean Dale.. Lets go to my Barnes book as an example, lets say its says for a 7mm 150gr TTSX BT for the "MOST ACCURATE LOAD" use IMR 4831.. That must mean they tested all those powders on that page (maybe 15 of em) with the TTSX 150gr. bullet.. The IMR 4831 was the most accurate it says....So why would you bother trying the RL 19 or RL 22 or whatever other powder there is on the page?
 
Keep in mind I made all that up, I cannot remember what powders were tested..
 
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Trays 7940 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trays 7940 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 17:38
Originally posted by JF4545 JF4545 wrote:

If you were to look in a Reloading Manual and it tells you the most accurate powder for the particular grain of bullet you want to load. What is that really telling you? Does it mean thats what they found for the rifle that THEY tested? Certainly they are not saying that is the most accurate powder/bullet combo on that page for all rifles of that particular caliber, right?
I have found that the "most accurate" load is not always the most accurate in my rifles.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JF4545 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 19:18
Thanks Trays!
 
Thats all I wanted to know, otherwise I might be searching all over the country looking for that magic powder that is on page whatever which suggests its the Most Accurate. Only then to find out that its not the most accurate for my rifle. Im not sure about anywhere else but I cannot find just any powder I want around the area I live...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tjtjwdad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 19:30

Also;

 
Loads that shoot good at 100 yards don't always shhot good as the distance increases. 
 
Just a thought...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 20:17
the load matters to a certain extent. some custom rifles will shoot everything you feed them pretty well. problem is that it will only shoot a load or two exceptionally well. imo the better the quality of the barrel the better it will shoot whatever you feed it. now, you must recognize that you have to match the twist up with the proper weights to make it work.
   the load i use in my 6.5rem mag is the nosler books fastest load for the 130gr accubond, and it is certainly not the most accurate load they cited, the same went for the load i used with 120gr tsx's, the fastest load in the book was the one. you move to my .264 and it hated pretty much everything i fed it. then i bought some h-1000 and things started to change, and now i use a middle of the road weight charge for it. my .300win mag really liked a bunch of imr 4831, where my .300wsm was more of a middle of the road. my dads 30-06 likes 58gr of imr 4831, my 30-06 wouldnt shoot that load into a 6" plate @100, but i load up 50.5 gr of imr 4064 and i have a beautiful 1" group every time. in other words you simply cannot predict what will work and what wont, you just gotta try it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 20:23
I've never wanted to test too many powders and haven't had to. Basically, I start out by looking for the powders that produce the highest velocities for the bullet weight/type and cartridge that I'm using and just load test with those. Like Dale says most loads do not obtain the best accuracy at the highest pressures so I know choosing these powders I have room to back off.

Re: loads that shoot good at 100 yards but not out at longer distances. I haven't experienced this. But maybe that's because all my loads are with high BC boat tails. If a load shoots well at 300 yards it shoots well at 100 yards. Same applies in reverse. I also zero at 100 yards because there's less variation from wind and you can see the target better. If you plan to shoot at long distances, once you have that zero in you can check to your real world results out as far as you can shoot against a ballistics program like JBM.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 21:22
most loading information in published sources are based upon guys who "might" shoot a 1000 rds thru their guns in the course of the ownership of the gun. This amounts to a relatively small amount of powder. So the powder companies go to a great deal of trouble making sure that canister powders are can to can as uniform as they companies can make them. I've gotten exceptionally accuracy from military surplus powders, bought in bulk, 50 lbs at a time in some cases , and adjust everything according to that lot of powder and primers. Variations in lots even in canister powders purchased one at a time over a long period of time can show quite a spread. Personally I have no idea why reloading books put in most accurate load-- I don't have any idea what it means.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 21:24
Originally posted by Dale Clifford Dale Clifford wrote:

most loading information in published sources are based upon guys who "might" shoot a 1000 rds thru their guns in the course of the ownership of the gun. This amounts to a relatively small amount of powder. So the powder companies go to a great deal of trouble making sure that canister powders are can to can as uniform as they companies can make them. I've gotten exceptionally accuracy from military surplus powders, bought in bulk, 50 lbs at a time in some cases , and adjust everything according to that lot of powder and primers. Variations in lots even in canister powders purchased one at a time over a long period of time can show quite a spread. Personally I have no idea why reloading books put in most accurate load-- I don't have any idea what it means.


all very good points and all are very true.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JF4545 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2009 at 22:45
Yes, Very good information GuysExcellentIm glad I asked those questions. I used to think it was always me, my shooting. Which Im sure is true to a point, but just as often its the load and if the rifle likes it or not it seems...My sons Mod 70 Winchester 7mm Mag. is not picky but all my rifles seem to be pretty fussy...
Ive learned so much from this forum, its great....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2009 at 09:36
after shooting and reloading for a while -- you will gain an intuition, why and how to adjust for the variations you are seeing. Sometimes one can put together a load and a gun and this bad feeling develops-- are you willing to put the cost of load development or just walk away. Having done this with literally hundreds of guns, I would say that 95% of most problems is the stock.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JF4545 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2009 at 10:40
Dale,
Do you mean the way the rifle fits into the stock? or the overall design of the stock and how it fits you? Can you be more specific please?
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Longhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2009 at 16:19
Originally posted by robbie robbie wrote:

My question is how much difference does the load make? 

Lets say the perfect load will produce groups the size of a quarter, or a 1" pattern.  How bad could a non-favorable load be?  Would it shoot a 1.5" group?  2"?  5"? 
 
 
The answer is that the load can make a LOT of difference.  For example, my first big game rifle was a Remington 742 in .30-06.  Shooting Remington factory loads (150 grain) it shot 4 to 4 1/2 inch groups.
 
I bought a little Lee Loader, and went to work.  After one or two tries, I had a load that punched out consistent 1 1/2 inch groups using the brass from the factory loads!
 
Happily, factory loads have become more accurate since then.
 
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