Lower ES

[243LPR]

So what is the preferred method to get the lowest possible extreme spreads. Thinking that the most consistent should be the most accurate. What affects ES more,powder type,powder weight or primer?Ive had spreads that were over 100 and was still grouping under sub moa @ 200. Is it really something to be concerned about?

[stangfish]

So what is the preferred method to get the lowest possible extreme spreads.

Testing

What affects ES more, powder type, powder weight or primer?

Yes

Ive had spreads that were over 100 and was still grouping under sub moa @ 200.

It is practicaly meaningless at that range as you can have one shot 1 7/8ths low and still be sub MOA. Try it at 600 +

[243LPR]

ES doesn't have anything to do with the distance being shot though. By sub moa I mean less than an inch @ 200.

[darkker]

Yes, distance really does play a very important role in it.
Try it and you will see.
Honestly, holding moa at 200 is simple; moa at 1,000 is what will cause sleep loss.

[stangfish]

By sub moa I mean less than an inch @ 200.

That is good shooting. You are actually sub .05" MOA. You may already know this, MOA is 1.0472 inches at 100 yards. 1/60th of 1 degree. You maintain MOA the further out you go the larger that group can be. So, multiply that by the number in hundreds of yards. 2.0944 inches = MOA for 200 yrds and so on.

So what does ES mean to you?

[243LPR]

The difference between the lowest and highest velocity.

[stangfish]

Excellent!

[Alleycat72]

Neck tension and seating depth.

[davemuzz]

All of the above is great info. But really….ES to me just means "Early Summer". :)

[Apache]

There is a method called front ignition that gives the lowest ES possible that I'm aware of. It was done by a fellow named Gibbs if you want to do some research on it. Others have also done some work with it but I think he's the one who started it on small arms weapons.

Not really something the average reloader can/should do but makes very interesting reading. One day when I have more time.....and money!