Accuracy Factors

[royinidaho]

Adam,

The case response was a bit cheeky. Like I said, no one else would vote for it.

I purchase bunches of cases Winchester as I mentioned as they are llighter than REMs. I then sort to the lightest of them. I do nothing else to them until I see "flyers" appear in groups. I mark those cases. If they are repeat offenders they are discarded. As a last resort, and only if I have a "tight" necked chamber to I neck ream or turn them.

IThe overall process is all in how one looks at it.

I have two criteria accuracy and maximum velocity. One without the other is pretty much useless to me.

The powder makes the biggest difference but not all the difference. Example is the 270 Win that I rebarreled. The only powder that achieved the desired velocity with reasonable pressure was RL-22. However I could get it shooting no better than 3/4 MOA @ 100. I went through all the variables of powder, bullet and seating depth and it would get no better. Switched from FED 215s to CCI-200s, changing nothing else group size dropped down to the 1s and 2s with equal velocity to the Fed 215s.

Next was a 338 Win. Bullet selection was limited to anything weighing 250 grains. I figured that if I had to shoot a 225gr bullet I ought to be shooting it in a 30 cal.

I figured SMKs would be the ticket. Again RL-22 gave best velocities but only 1.5 MOA groups. Unsatisfactory! Tried different primers, different seating depth, etc with no improvement.

Switched to Sierra 250 Game Kings and groups droped to just a little over 1/4 MOA @ 200 yds. Then tried some Wildcat 252s and groups dropped to right at 1/4 moa. But a little improvement here is a lot.

What I'm attemting to get at is that I feel that the powder will get one real close but to get spot on it will be one of the other components or techniques that makes the grade.

I may a bit out on the edge as my targets are by design and desire well beyond 500 yds. It takes that amount of fine tuning to make the hunts successful. A 600yd or beyond coyote or even a deer or elk is a pretty small target.