NF1E

Haven't paid much attention as to variations in poi between sorted cases. I tend to take a 50 cnt range box of segregated ammo out , fire 5 sighters/foulers and then enjoy the shooting. I must say, I have not changed my scope settings more than a click or two vertical. Not sure if it's weather or ammo related. Again, not looking for differences in velocity between groups. Maintaining consistency withing each group has been my goal. Use of a barrel cooler between shots has seemed to help too. Whatta Hobby!

With both Starline and Lapua brass the weight sorting is pretty simple, most is within 3 -4 gn so that breaks down to 3 divisions of 1 gn each. I keep these groups separated into either 50 or 100 count range boxes. No such thing as plinking around here anymore. Whatta Hobby!

Very nice indeed. Used to neck turn when I was a bit more picky than I am these days. Now with Laupa or Starline I just neck size, run a tapered carbide mandrel down the tube and call er done. My Labradar always has shown a much better SD than that calculated from results of an optical chronograph as used in this informative example. Whatta Hobby!

As of late, I have been loading .223 ammunition for precision shooting. Never paid any particular attention to SD. Well, over the last couple of weeks I have been doing a bit of checking on the results of differing variables. Powder is loaded to within .02 gn which is the size of a kernal. Bullets used are Berger 73 gn bt target and have not been sorted by weight. Primers are BR-4s and I have been told that other primers should lower the SD even more. I did not notice any measurable difference in point of impact at 100 yds. Each group tested was 50 rnds, or 1 of my range boxes. Thought some might be interested in those variables. New Starline .223 50 cases sized and loaded with 23.5 gn of Varget. SD 20+ " " " 50 cases sized, and weight sorted to 1 gn with 23.5 gn Varget. SD 12+ " " " 50 cases sized, weight sorted to 1 gn with flash hole de-burred loaded with 23.5 gn of Varget SD 6.5+ Whatta Hobby!

Thanks for the suggestion. I have tried all sorts of different solutions over the last 50 plus years, just thought I would use Berger's idea of two separate 3 shot groups for each depth. No problem using lots of components anyway. I can always use the trigger exercise. Whatta Hobby!

Considering the addition of the bolt for the lug. Maybe next Winter during some slack time in the shop. Whatta Hobby!

Hope to get out on the range with my latest seating ladder today. As simple as shooting a couple 3 rnd groups in each seating length might seem, I have always been able to find improvements using this method. Good enough for this old guy anyway. Going from a .010 jamb to a .110 jump usually gives a good indication of a place to start. Whatta Hobby!

Working on tuning the seating depth of my 73 gn Berger bullets and precision bolt loads. After finding the powder load, now even more fun. Loading 6 each .010 jamb, touching, .030 off,.070 off and .110 off per the Berger reloading manual. Looking for that .030 - .040 wide sweet spot and then more refining. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of hand loading for me. Nice part of all this is once you change any variable, it back to the beginning. Whatta Hobby!

Getting down to the nitty gritty on a decent 100 yd load for the Savage 110 .223 20" 1-9 bull barrel. Scope is NF Competition 15-55x52. Brass used is new weighed Starline with 1 gn segregation. Cold clean bore 10 rnd group was shot with 23 gn Varget pushing same 73 gn Berger bullet for an initial cold clean bore .45. After each group was shot a dry patch was pulled through the bore and cooler run for 5 minutes. Me thinks the .2 moa final load will do nicely on the fly swatter challenge. Shot off a front rest with rear bunny bag. Whatta Hobby!

41.4 ended up being the choice. ran a couple more load ladders after the previous photo today with a temp of 25 degrees and a light wind. Last one was 41.3, 41.4 and 41.5 just for the halibut and 41.4 won. Supposed to be rainy tomorrow with another 3+ inches predicted. Expecting to spend some time loading a couple hundred 110 Sierra hp varminters in Lapua cases over 41.4 gn of Varget set off with 210M primers. Looking forward to attacking the flyswatter target with ammo ready to do the work. Whatta Hobby!

Another challenge I picked up from Rimfire Central. Supposed to be for 50 yd rimfire so why not .308 at 100 yds. Keeps things interesting. Whatta Hobby!

Loading up this morning for the final .1 of the ladder I have been working on with Lapua .308 brass, 210 M primers and Varget. Using the 41.6 from the last target set as a center point. Loads will be 5 each from 41.4 to 41.9. May seem like a lot of effort, but developing a load specifically for the " fly swatter" target using a .308 Savage bolt rifle takes a little more work than for generic bullseye shooting. I have been known to enjoy a good challenge and the focus on this one has been a hoot for the last couple of months. Whatta Hobby!

Prepped 150 Lapua weighed and segregated cases that have been fire fitted to the chamber on my .308 Savage. Neck sized, .307 mandrel run in the necks, primer pockets unitized and then primed. Whatta Hobby!

It is always enjoyable to find a bullet, powder , brass and primer that work well together in a particular rifle. Change any variable and it's back to the drawing board. Whatta Hobby!

Makes all the difference when work is done creating a charge ladder. As shown , a little work can make a 1" shooter into a 1/4" just by getting the right powder charge figured out. As you can see, less than a quarter grain one way or the other and it goes from being quite accurate to just pretty good. Worth the effort in my opinion. Whatta Hobby!

Rifle I am working with, at the moment, is a .308 , not .338. I am using Lapua .308 brass. Whatta Hobby!

Not even a little. Got ride of my Barrett years ago. My private range only goes out to 300 and that's just about right for my needs. Whatta Hobby!

Loaded a bunch of .308 Lapua cases with 110gn Sierras and Varget to finalize a ladder load for a Savage 110 that I have been playing with. Whatta Hobby!

Shifting gears for the Spring 100 yd season. Going from 150-175 gn bullets to Sierra 110 gn fb. Whatta Hobby!

Weight sorted a bunch of new Lapua .308 cases. Ran a .307 mandrel down the neck. Primed and loaded 150 with 175 smk over 37.8 gn of TAC. Whatta Hobby!

There have been some questions as to what a rear lug actually is on an M-14 type rifle on other forums. I pulled one of my Bula Defense Systems rear lugged XM21 actions out of it's stock so I could show what a rear lug looks like. Doesn't improve accuracy, but does tend to extend the longevity of a bedding job. This lug is drilled and tapped for an anchor but I don't use them, at least not yet, but always a possibility in the future. Whatta Hobby!

Loaded another couple hundred today. MEN cases loaded with 175 smk over 37.8 gn of TAC.

AT 75, I hope never to have to shoot with a gas mask on. If the need indeed arises I think a 1911 will be in order.

I have gone to mostly bolt action rifles rather than ARs. No more need of a gas mask to shoot. Whatta Hobby!

Just because if find they last for more loading cycles and provide better accuracy than boxer. No problem finding good brass cases. I have 6 or 8 1K cases of MEN left in the stash. The two flash holes seem to give more consistent ignition. I do shoot some Boxer primed palma brass that uses small rifle primers for .308 too. Nice to have choices. I think I have maybe 10K once fired DAG berdan brass .308 cases on standby. Difficult part today is finding KV-7.62 N primers. Whatta Hobby!