I currently have a load that will do .5". I began to wonder if I could shrink those groups to sub .5" moa. What would be the best way to go about this. Increase/decrease powder by .1, (currently the load is 45.5 H4350 110 accubond cci 200, RP brass at 2.970), try diffrent primers, or increase/decrease seating depth by .005. To try all three would be an endless amount of combinations. But if you had a choice which one would you choose and why?

The first things that I would look at are my reloading practices and case preparation to make sure that everything is as uniform as I could make them. Sorting and prepping cases by make, weight, length, run-out and neck thickness to make sure that they have as small of variations as possible.

Then I would look at the other components that I'm loading. Are you shooting a match bullet or hunting bullet? Do you sort bullets by weight and ogive length into different lots? Are you using match primers?

Then I would look at what the chronograph was telling me about how consistent the load was. If I had a standard deviation (SD) of larger than 9 fps I would vary the neck tension and bullet seating depth because they're easier to adjust and don't cost you anything.

Then there is the other support equipment for the rifle: Do you have the optics for precision shooting, high enough power, mounted correctly, parallax adjusted? Do you have a trigger that will trip without moving the rifle's position? How about the front rest with a bag that fits the forearm and a rear rest that will allow the gun to recoil consistently?

Then you have to look at shooting technique: Is the way that you are holding the rifle and tripping the trigger absolutely consistent?

It sounds like you did not "Develop the Load" to start with, but were very fortunate to trip onto an accurate one. If that is the situation, you might want to try the never improved upon Creighton Audette Method to quickly narrow down the possibilities. Then once you locate the best Harmonic, fine tune the Load by adjusting the Seating Depth.
---

That said, it "might be" extremely difficult to improve on your current Load by messing with it. It may just be better for you by moving farther away from the Target. Shooting at distance will do more for your current shooting skills than 100x the shots up close. Every insignificant detail is magnified at long distance and it allows a person to detect minute errors in shooting technique.

If you are shooting at a circle, you might want to consider changing your Target to a Black Square and aiming for the corners. The problem with most circles is you have to watch 4-quadrants to make sure you are in the same place each time.

If you do not have a crisp clean trigger release, that will definitely increase the ability to tighten a group. Make sure the rifle is unloaded and go in a dark quiet room with it. Sit down, cock the rifle, and as slow as you can pull the trigger back do it while concentrating on what you "feel". If you can feel when the trigger is actually moving prior to the release, it can be made better.

Best of luck to you.

quote:

I currently have a load that will do .5". I began to wonder if I could shrink those groups to sub .5" moa.

You're either a machocist or a reloader.....and I'm not always sure they're not the same

Find your local benchrest club and hang around and ask questions as these are the guys that really know accuracy and can give you concrete advice.

IMO if you truly have a hunting rifle shooting 1/2" groups you're about at the end of the trail for that style of rifle. You'll hear of folk shooting in the smaller groups.....but FWIW it's all internet baloney.