Is anyone else this dumb?

[Pathfinder76]

So I’ve been hunting Moose with a 338 this fall and have a decent shooting load in a 225gr Swift A-Frame. It shoots an inch or so which should be fine for any Moose that walks. However that accuracy comes with an OAL that really crowds the magazine box. Every time I stuff the cartridges in there I cringe hoping cartridge tip in the mag box doesn’t jam things up. It hasn’t, but I think about it.

I have a 225 TSX load at the same OAL that shoots similarly. Just OK. With both loads I tried 20 thousandths deeper seating depth and groups started opening up so I quit. Anyway, I hunted yesterday morning, getting home about 11:30. I ran to the basement, loaded 7 TSX rounds and seated them 50 thou deeper. Enough that I was doing something different. I then ran to the range and shot the following group. I then gave a slight adjustment to the scope. Shot a second similar group, ran home, loaded 20 more and went hunting.

So I hunted yesterday with two separate loads in the same rifle and, sort of, developed the second load mid day. Anyone else do dumb things like this? :-)

[Battle Rat]

No, not yet but,,,
A 338 will always shoot minute of moose but I'm getting 2 touching a one flyer.
I'll wind up playing with the load to accomplish something that isn't required.
It's all about the fun of reloading.

[Knotter]

Doing this right now with e-tips in my cz 308FS.

[brewster29]

I don’t know that a group like that could be considered dumb.
It’s a good use of midday hours.

[renegadeg2]

What you observed with drastic seating depth changes is absolutely right.

You can find similar accuracy nodes 40 or 50 thou apart. Don't need to limit your seating to the first to 20 or 30 jump. One of my rounds is nearly 70 thou jump.

See this for full context.
I.e. berger seating depth method.
Appies to all projectiles.

https://bergerbullets.com/getting-th...in-your-rifle/



-Reza

[sns2]

Chuck, I have always started my loading of Barnes bullets at 50 thou off. Once I had to go 70 thou off to get good accuracy, but only once. 50 thou has almost always yielded great results. Drop a big one!

[Nyksta]

I do a lot of off season shooting and am confident if the conditions are right, that i can take a shot out to about 400 meters. Less if the conditions arent the best.

After all the off season practice and load confirmations, most of the time crossing paths with game and harvests are always 50 meters or less...

Your mixed loads will probably be a non-issue

[elkhunter11]

I have tried several things that other people might not consider to be smart. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but when they work, it was worth the effort.

[prarie_boy1]

That load is going to hit with authority!

[Mayhem42]

Hand press
3 clips - different bullets and loads depending on what we see
6.5 x 55
I shake my head every time he gets excited and starts the clip shuffle

[DiabeticKripple]

i load my barnes 50 thou off as well, seems to work good and just fits my tikka mag.

i also load way past book max value and work up to it, using a chrono and visual markings on the brass looking for pressure signs. I have found a few loads that didnt reach the desired velocity until i was 1-2gr past max book value, and i still didnt have pressure signs.

[stob]

Shoot 5 shot groups 2fto get a true picture of your load

[Bushleague]

I do not, if I ever even question a rifle/ load during November, I simply grab a different rifle and keep hunting until the season is over. Thats really about the only reason I even own more than one centerfire.

[Dean2]

looks pretty smart to me. I am with you on not liking COAL that crowds max mag length. I would take less accuracy not to have that, in this case you got the best of both worlds. I too like Barnes but they really do like to run hot with a lot of jump.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Dean2

looks pretty smart to me. I am with you on not liking COAL that crowds max mag length. I would take less accuracy not to have that, in this case you got the best of both worlds. I too like Barnes but they really do like to run hot with a lot of jump.

It bothers me to no end.

Interestingly this load was already 40 thou off. 50 was bad and 60 worse so I shelved it. Apparently it likes 90. The 338 isn’t a hoot to develop loads for so there she sat.