Do I or Don't I

[NorCalFocus]

So I have worked up a pretty decent shooting load for my .308 700. I'm really happy with it, and I think a lot of the grouping is still up to me. But I've read and been told that I'm a little shy on the amount of powder I'm using. Meaning I have more room to see if there is a another accuracy node in there.

Here's my 300 and 100 yard targets from yesterday. Keep in mind I was shooting in the wind, and like I said, I feel I can do better. The 100 yarder I blew the last shot and put it a bit high. (forget the two big holes, another gun) and the 300 I was really happy just to be on paper with all 10 rounds, let alone a group close to 1 MOA without my one flyer.

Do I try another round of ladder testing, or leave well enough alone? I'm really leaning towards leaving it. But thought I'd get some opinions. My goal is to take this load to about 700 yards.

43g Varget
168g Hornady Match
Federal Brass
WLR Primer

[Bastard]

I would start keep the load & start adjusting the seating depth.

[tiller]

I would say practice your shooting skills! Those are awesome groups.... But that rifle is capable of much more!


One of the hardest things is being as good as your rifle! That is my biggest struggle,

[NorCalFocus]

I would start keep the load & start adjusting the seating depth.

I'm seated to 2.800, I can't remember how far off the lands it was, but I know I have some room there. Thanks for the idea.

I would say practice your shooting skills! Those are awesome groups.... But that rifle is capable of much more!


One of the hardest things is being as good as your rifle! That is my biggest struggle,

Thanks man. I got 130 of these loads left, so I'm thinking of just shooting through them to get practiced up.

[Nickgt40]

Range time, we both just need more range time. Lol

[h.charlie]

shoot them then adjust your load, whats the case capacity to how much powder you are putting in? are these neck sized or full length sized? Some shooters prefer federal #210 for longer range shooting, whats the seating depth consistency? Are you weighing your brass and bullets to load in groups of the same weight? 700 yards is not to hard to achieve but you need to start looking at the smaller details to do it on regular bases with good grouping, so basically what is reloading routine

[Whiterabbit]

I would start keep the load & start adjusting the seating depth.

yup.

Here's a tip. Load up 50 to 100, and seat the bullet so it just jams into the lands.

When you go to the range, take a hand press and your seater die. Shoot a group, screw the plug down a bit, shoot a group, screw the plug down a bit, shoot a group..... (don't forget to let your barrel cool!)

You should see the groups start open, then close up, then either open up again or you hit the base of the ogive. Either way, you know where to lock the seat stem down. In my experience, a gun is happier with its cartridge at 100% or slightly over case fill more than being a certain distance from the lands, regardless of the jump to get there. But I also don't shoot boutique VLDs or other odd bulelts either.

Once you nail the depth, bonus points if you label that seater die "168 Hdy Match" and go buy another seater for general reloading.

[NorCalFocus]

So what I did on these loads...

FL size
Cleaned primer pockets
Flash home uniformed
Trimmed with Lee trimmer
Chamfered and debuted
Primed with hand primer
Trickled up to 43 grains
Bullet set, checked every 5-7 rounds for COL

Yeah I know there's other things I can dd in there but it's pretty good practices.