260 Reminton H4350 & 123 Lapua Scenars

[cowtownup]

Just seeking some advice regarding load development...

26" ER Shaw 1:8 twist Heavy barrel
H4350
123 Lapua Scenars
Lapua Brass
FGMM 210 Primers
.020 off the lands
Shot at 100 yards...

My reloading skills may have a little to be desired hence the SD's being all over the place. My lowest SD @ 43.9 was all over the place vertically. I'm thinking 44.1 to 44.3 is going to need further testing. Any suggestions would be great.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x256/cowtownupp/123%20Scenar%20H4350%20Lapua%20Brass_zpsfsjytnz9.j pg (http://s185.photobucket.com/user/cowtownupp/media/123%20Scenar%20H4350%20Lapua%20Brass_zpsfsjytnz9.j pg.html)

[Dennis]

Any HOT signs @ 44.1?

42.9 & 44.4 (if no pressure signs), try seating depts. from .010 in out to .050 off. Maybe start with .050 off, then .030 off, then .010 off, then .010 "IN", and see the difference.

In my experience, the Lapua's like to be close or in the lands, but I have found a few barrels that like the bullet being off a good bit.

Also, Varget worked best for me.

JMO

[stomp442]

I would start adjusting seating depth on the 44.3 and 44.7 loads. Try seating them to just touch the lands and about .030" off.

[LongRange]

44.1...5 rounds at .010 off and 5 at .030
44.3...same as above
44.7...same as above

this is going to tell you everything you need to know...i think the 44.7 is right on the ragged edge but id try it anyway.

44.1 to 44.3 is going to be your load...if the groups dont tighten up enough with the seating adjustment and your ESs are still high try CCI primers.

[Dennis]

Every barrel is different, you will find the load for yours. All suggestions above are worth trying, and maybe one will be right for your barrel.

[cowtownup]

Thanks for the input... No pressure signs at 44.1 but qUickload has me at about 64K Psi on the 44.7 load which is about 3K hot..

[eddiesindian]

Id go with 44.1 as is. Load up 20. shoot it hot, shoot it cold. 5 shot patterns. See if that pattern you got the 1st go around sticks. if it does?........then start playing with seating depths.

[cowtownup]

As I've looked back at the data, it seems the rifle likes somewhere around 3050 FPS.. The 44.5 load averaged slower than the 44.3 load, that's where I think my reloading ability limits me or maybe that is just margin of error on my chronograph. Either way, the true test is does this data repeat itself.

44.1 = 3053, 3012, 3040, 3026, 3047

44.3 = 3033, 3044, 3060, 3060, 3057

44.5 = 3023, 3012, 3027, 3031, 3046

44.7 = 3094, 3060, 3070, 3081, 3079

Would any of you recommend taking it down to tenth grain increments from say 44.1 to 44.6 and maybe do 3 loads at .010 off and 3 at .030 off at each tenth grain increment?

[JW]

I would get the powder worked out first before changing depth
Since you asked about it ( it will always be on your mind)--if you don't take it down to 1/10 increments now, you will after playing with the depth LOL
I agree with the others, your load looks like it will be in the 44.1-44.3 range

[LongRange]

As I've looked back at the data, it seems the rifle likes somewhere around 3050 FPS.. The 44.5 load averaged slower than the 44.3 load, that's where I think my reloading ability limits me or maybe that is just margin of error on my chronograph. Either way, the true test is does this data repeat itself.

44.1 = 3053, 3012, 3040, 3026, 3047

44.3 = 3033, 3044, 3060, 3060, 3057

44.5 = 3023, 3012, 3027, 3031, 3046

44.7 = 3094, 3060, 3070, 3081, 3079

Would any of you recommend taking it down to tenth grain increments from say 44.1 to 44.6 and maybe do 3 loads at .010 off and 3 at .030 off at each tenth grain increment?

what tool are you using to seat your pimers?
how are you sizing your cases? neck only? if neck only what tool?

personally before i went any farther changing anything id find the reason your getting such high ES's...if you dont get the extreme spread numbers under control its never going to group well at longer distences...if you have some other primers thats where id start...im playing with the FED210M's and am getting eratic spreads.

[homefrontsniper]

44.1 and kiss the lands. One hole @ 100 ! ( CCI BR)

[Dennis]

44.1 and kiss the lands. One hole @ 100 ! ( CCI BR)

Which bullet are you using?

[cowtownup]

I am seating primers on the press... I neck size only with a Lee Collet die...
I've pretty much always used the FED210M's but I would be more than willing to ante up for the CCI BR primers.. Hell I'm paying north of .30 cents per projectile and gonna let a .05 cent primer hold me down... Thats the story of my life, a nickle holding up a dollar... hahaha...

[LongRange]

Get yourself a hand primer...if your not seating your primers deep enough it can cause miss fires and inconsistent ignition and to deep will cause inconsistent ignition...you want to feel the primer just bottom out then apply just a tiny bit of pressure to make sure the anvil is seated.

you have a great die for neck sizing but make sure your getting about .003-.004 neck tension.

you don't need the BRs but they are the most consistent primer I've used and the CCI200s are right there too...like I said I would shoot the exact same test with the CCI primers and see how it goes...if your ESs are still high I'd play with neck tension next.

[homefrontsniper]

Which bullet are you using?
123 scenar in a 6.5 creed.
44.0 H4350 @ 3020

[wbm]

Right now I would pick what you consider the load with the best accuracy so far and shoot it long range....like over 500 long range. Have had more than a few loads over the years that looked great at 100 and sucked at 6. Have had the reverse happen also.

[LongRange]

Right now I would pick what you consider the load with the best accuracy so far and shoot it long range....like over 500 long range. Have had more than a few loads over the years that looked great at 100 and sucked at 6. Have had the reverse happen also.

i have had the same exact experiance...but ive never had a load with a high extreme spread shoot at longer distances and on his target he posted standard deveation numbers which are about half of what the extreme spread is and by looking at his groups at 100yds and the numbers id be willing to bet that those loads will do nothing but get worse...if the SDs where in the low single digets and ESs where in the low teens id say shoot at 300-500yds...he does have a few low numbers but the barrel dont like those loads...he needs to find whats causing the higher numbers and get them under control first.
theres several things that cause high numbers but the easy ones to start with are primers and or neck tension after that it gets a little more involved.

[wbm]

i have had the same exact experience...but ive never had a load with a high extreme spread shoot at longer distances

Me neither.

[cowtownup]

Well I am certainly not ready to take this thing long range then... I shot @ 200 yards today the loads 44.1, 44.2, 44.3 and 44.4 and still saw a large ES and the SD wasn't that great either. The load that grouped best had the highest ES and SD.. I didn't waste any time shooting these 20 rounds. I shot 10 let it cool for a little bit and shot the remaining 10 rounds... I took a few measurements while reloading these...

outside neck after sizing = .288
necks turned to = .014
outside neck after seating= .290

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x256/cowtownupp/Test%202%20Data_zpszlmraxqr.jpg (http://s185.photobucket.com/user/cowtownupp/media/Test%202%20Data_zpszlmraxqr.jpg.html)