freediver111
WKR
Honest question as a relatively new reloader/long range shooter: How much time, money, and effort is it worth attempting to detect subtle powder changes and COAL on cheaper factory guns?
So here's my example. I'm developing a load for a Savage 12FV in 6.5 CM. Not a fancy gun, heck only cost me $320 on sale from Cabela's.
After trying a few different loads in groups of 5, I settled on a charge that gave me sub 1" five shot groups at 100 yds on two occasions with decent SD and ES (19 and 40 respectively) shooting off a Chrono (F1 Chrony, not a Magneto, but not total junk). These were seated 0.02" off the lands.
I'd really just like to get to loading and practicing, but now I'm OCD'ing over testing some charges in 0.2 or 0.3 grain increments around my "good" test load and/or trying the Berger COAL test (3 rounds each from .01, .03, .05, and .09" off lands).
Am I really going to notice a huge difference as a mediocre shooter using a cheaper factory gun? I think testing COAL might be a good next step, but I seriously wonder if I'll notice anything by adding or subtracting 0.2 grains of powder to a decent load.
Honest question. What do you guys think?
In case you're wondering, using new Lapua Brass, CCI 450 primers, 47 grains of RL26, Hornady ELD-X 143's averaging 2880-2900 fps. out of a 26" tube. Gun has had about 70 rounds through it, so not fully broken in I guess some might say.
So here's my example. I'm developing a load for a Savage 12FV in 6.5 CM. Not a fancy gun, heck only cost me $320 on sale from Cabela's.
After trying a few different loads in groups of 5, I settled on a charge that gave me sub 1" five shot groups at 100 yds on two occasions with decent SD and ES (19 and 40 respectively) shooting off a Chrono (F1 Chrony, not a Magneto, but not total junk). These were seated 0.02" off the lands.
I'd really just like to get to loading and practicing, but now I'm OCD'ing over testing some charges in 0.2 or 0.3 grain increments around my "good" test load and/or trying the Berger COAL test (3 rounds each from .01, .03, .05, and .09" off lands).
Am I really going to notice a huge difference as a mediocre shooter using a cheaper factory gun? I think testing COAL might be a good next step, but I seriously wonder if I'll notice anything by adding or subtracting 0.2 grains of powder to a decent load.
Honest question. What do you guys think?
In case you're wondering, using new Lapua Brass, CCI 450 primers, 47 grains of RL26, Hornady ELD-X 143's averaging 2880-2900 fps. out of a 26" tube. Gun has had about 70 rounds through it, so not fully broken in I guess some might say.