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Do components matter?

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Category: Firearms, Bows, and Ammunition
Forum Name: Reloading & Ballistics
Forum Description: Anything to do with ammunition
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=23186
Printed Date: March/29/2024 at 01:46
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Topic: Do components matter?
Posted By: 8shots
Subject: Do components matter?
Date Posted: April/20/2010 at 09:11
I have been forced to buy PMP primers, a local brand of dubious quality, due to shortages of other primers in the country.
Something strange started to happen at the target end of the range. I thought maybe the bullets, also PMP, may be the problem.
 
So I headed off to the gunshop and bought Nosler Custom Competition 155 gr.
These bullets look identical to the PMP Palma Match 155 gr I am shooting.
 
The salesman told me he had a secret stasch of CCI 200 primers, so I bought a brick.
 
First up I shot my "normal" load of PMP primer and bullet. On the second shot I stopped as the grouping was allready stuffed.
 
Next up I put 5 rounds of Nosler with CCI primer down range. 1 bad round the other 4 so so.
 
Then I shot my PMP bullet with a CCI primer. The group held out.
 
OK, so I thought CCI primer with PMP bullets did the trick.. Nosler will need a bit of tuning.
 
 
 
 
Next up was to see if lengthening the Nosler OCL would improve matters. Well, a dramatic worsening of the grouping took place.
 
So I will need to re-tune the Nosler load.
 
Lesson.....the smallest change in componets, load, OCL etc has a dramatic effect!!
(And what seems like 4 shots on top and middel target are 5 shots each.)
 
 



Replies:
Posted By: SVT_Tactical
Date Posted: April/20/2010 at 09:13
That bottom group is good to go IMO  On the first target sheet.

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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln


Posted By: SVT_Tactical
Date Posted: April/20/2010 at 09:14
Hey you know you got your date on that top target wrote wrong? LOLBucky

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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln


Posted By: 8shots
Date Posted: April/20/2010 at 09:18
Originally posted by SVT_Tactical SVT_Tactical wrote:

Hey you know you got your date on that top target wrote wrong? LOLBucky
 
20 April 2010 = 20/4/10??? No??Whacko


Posted By: SVT_Tactical
Date Posted: April/20/2010 at 09:24
lol  I was pickin' on how yall write the date.  its right, just written wrong for us Crazy Americans lol joking with ya.. 
 
Good shooting still reguardless


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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln


Posted By: ForneyRider
Date Posted: April/23/2010 at 14:57
2.74in for a 155gr Palma bullet in a 308 is pretty short. I load 2.8in for 150gr Nosler BT's. You may end up even longer than that.

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When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.


Posted By: 8shots
Date Posted: April/26/2010 at 06:22
Originally posted by ForneyRider ForneyRider wrote:

2.74in for a 155gr Palma bullet in a 308 is pretty short. I load 2.8in for 150gr Nosler BT's. You may end up even longer than that.
 
I agree with you, but on load development that is what she liked.
 
As a matter of interest this week-end I played with OAL again and found a good grouping for the Noslers at closer to 2.8.
 
I have not measured OAL yet. I took a 10 rounds and loaded them at max OAL. At the range I adjusted the OAL in thou increments untill she grouped.
 
I have left the die at that setting and will check OAL at next reloading session, but I know it is a lot longer then my normal load.


Posted By: 300S&W
Date Posted: April/26/2010 at 07:03
  Hey Wouter do you use a comparator to measure cartridge OAL?
  http://www.sinclairintl.com/product/5581/Bullet-Comparators - http://www.sinclairintl.com/product/5581/Bullet-Comparators


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"I ain't got time to bleed!"


Posted By: 8shots
Date Posted: April/26/2010 at 08:15
Originally posted by 300S&W 300S&W wrote:

  Hey Wouter do you use a comparator to measure cartridge OAL?
  http://www.sinclairintl.com/product/5581/Bullet-Comparators - http://www.sinclairintl.com/product/5581/Bullet-Comparators
 
Yes, I do use one.
 
Off course what matters more for me is the reading on the seating die I use. I record that as the seating position for reloading each time I set up the seating die.


Posted By: Dale Clifford
Date Posted: April/26/2010 at 09:01
When a  grouping of shots shows 2 or 3 bullets in almost the same hole and/or the other 2 or 3 is the same hole but 1/2 to 3/4 inch from each other it usually means that on ignition the bullets are contacting the lands at different points. Can be caused by a worn out barrel or extreme jump from seating. (Seen a lot in military type guns that must be loaded to magazine overall length rather than ideal oal). As I recall Palma bullets (at least Sierra) and I think Nosler are Secant ogive rather than tangent, which would increase the observation. Have you tried something like a 190 SMK?


Posted By: 8shots
Date Posted: April/26/2010 at 09:22
Dale,
Interesting observation. This barrel has approx 1500 rounds through it. I will be taking the rifle to a gunsmith with a boresighter later this week to check on barrel wear etc.
 
One of my concerns is carbon build-up, hence the check-up.
 
No, I have not tried heavier bullets for the reason that I am shooting at "unknown distances" and need all the help I can get such as in a "flat as possible" trajectory.
 
So I have opted for the lighter bullets.



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