Reloading Tips Accorging To Dicehorn #21

[dicehorn 38]

Neck Sizing

 

 

Simple task - screw down the die as per manuacturers instructions and off you go - yup it certainly works. However if you have developed a load that can easily shoot .6" - you would like it to do better but its only a Howa/Ruger/Remmy thats about as much as I can expect. Rubbish ! I had a Remmy in 22.250 that would put 5 shots less than an inch at 300 yds, I have a keeper friend who I reload for with a Tikka T3 with a 16" barrel that would not swap it for a £2000 custom job - he gets pissy if all 5 shots are not touching at 100 yds - believe me any well looked after barrel is capable of shooting sub .3" - period.

 

 

My tip is this, if your rifle shoots around the .6" and you would like to stretch the possibility and having tried a change of primers (Can reduce/increase groups by .3") try neck sizing not full but say 2/3rds or 3/4 of the neck it can make that vital difference.

 

To do this is easy - set the neck sizer in your die as instructed by the manufacturer then give it say two turns upwards and put a case through it, remove case and with a magnifying glass see how much of the neck it has sized - if not enough, then screw the die down a little more then repeat with the same case until you reach the desired amount then lock off the die and make say 4 rounds to try.

 

As a general rule you should always resize at least the same as the diameter of the bullet - ie a 243 bullet should be resized at least .243" of the neck. In reality though (barring some custom barrels) you should be looking from half the neck to all of the neck.

[andyf 144]

Hi Dicehorn:

I use RCBS dies, and a Lee cast press for mostly everything, I like to think my reloads are pretty consistent and OK.

Clearly you apply a bit more 'science' than I do, and I've taken a hint or two from your posts, but my ammo is used 'in the field'

the range etc is random, day-night as is the wind and uphill>downhill faction.

Do you think the extra 'fuss' is worthwhile?

AndyF

[dicehorn 38]

  On 19/10/2013 at 20:22, andyf said:

Hi Dicehorn:

I use RCBS dies, and a Lee cast press for mostly everything, I like to think my reloads are pretty consistent and OK.

Clearly you apply a bit more 'science' than I do, and I've taken a hint or two from your posts, but my ammo is used 'in the field'

the range etc is random, day-night as is the wind and uphill>downhill faction.

Do you think the extra 'fuss' is worthwhile?

AndyF

Good question Andy!

 

I use all 3 of my rifles in the field - my deer generally no more than 200 yds. Foxes at night hardly ever past 300 yds. But my passion with my 22.250 and 20 Tac is crows, rabbits and magpies out to 500 yds. Yes being able to dope the wind is a real science especially with the small calibres and the only way one can become proficient at that is to shoot paper in varying wind speeds and angles.

 

My need for supreme accuracy that once achieved gives me the confidence to take long shots with a predicted outcome. If for example a rifle will easily group .7" at 100 yds, then at 500 yds a group will open out well over 4" and on a crow/magpie flesh size, the chances of a successful shot would come out around 30% - on the other hand a rifle that will shoot 1/4 MOA at the same distance will increase success to around 85%.

 

Do I think the fuss is worthwhile? Well yes in my case and generally for most of the people I reload for. Would I recommend all reloaders try to make more consistent ammo? ......well of course not - thankfully we are all different in what we want from reloading our own ammo - my few tips for making more consistent ammo are for the reloaders would want to get the best accuracy out of their rifles by subtle tweaks - or perhaps just food for thought.

 

I only have about 4 more threads re tips, however none will involve neck turning or annealing - two important things that I do but for most reloaders non essential.

 

Peter