Gentlemen I have question for you.
With my H S in 204 ruger, with 32 gr factory ammo I shot a one hole group at 125 meters. I am new to reloading and it has been suggested to me that I have to find the proper seating depth for my chamber. with the candle blackening the long round slowly inserted in the chamber ect.
Is it possible that the proper seating length for the bullet is what factory ammo spec is?
Is it possible that I have a short throat in this H S rifle?
Thanks Greg

What it means is that your gun "may like" that ammo. You have to shoot more good groups to find out if the "one" was lucky. I have shot quite a few groups in my day that seemed like the holy grail....only to find after more testing that it was actually mediocre and the first good one was somewhat of a fluke.
But what happened is a good indication that you may be onto something....and yes...if further groups pan out I would certainly get a bullet comparator and set more bullets at that depth for testing. It may not even be the ammo that is the miracle.....how much other ammo have you run through the gun with positive/negative results........you may have a really really good gun.

quote:

Originally posted by kraky:
What it means is that your gun "may like" that ammo. You have to shoot more good groups to find out if the "one" was lucky. I have shot quite a few groups in my day that seemed like the holy grail....only to find after more testing that it was actually mediocre and the first good one was somewhat of a fluke.
But what happened is a good indication that you may be onto something....and yes...if further groups pan out I would certainly get a bullet comparator and set more bullets at that depth for testing. It may not even be the ammo that is the miracle.....how much other ammo have you run through the gun with positive/negative results........you may have a really really good gun.

An excellent post!!!

I once had a M-70 in .225 Win and it shot factory ammo better than any handloads I could feed it! It really pissed me off that I couldn't reload a better round!! I loaded the best I could and killed a ton of prairie dogs with it and eventually rebarrled it to 22-250.

My point....it is what it is!!! Accept it and get on with life! Theoretically we all should be able to handload ammo better than any factory ammo.....but stuff happens!

Disassemble one, note the seating depth of the bullet, the charge used.. chronograph it to see what MV it gives in your rifle..observe the type of powder it is...

check your reload manuals and see if that powder type, with that charge weight, giving that MV is commerically available.. it usually is or the load can usually be duplicated unless it is one of those Federal High Energy or Hornady Light Magnum loads...

Vapodog
I don't want to continue to buy factory ammo?

13000 posts, I hope some of the information you have passed on to others in the past was more helpful than what you have offered to me. FS

Fasteel ----- You have been given good advice already. Kraky hit the nail on the head, and vapodog speaks for his and my experience. You may never reach that group with reloads and you may never reach that group again with your next box of factory loads. The main thing is, have patience with your reloading and your objective may take some months to accomplish. The one thing you might know, the factory length is probably the right length for the round in your rifle. More shooting and tweaking is necessary. My experience is that if you once get that one hole group, you can do it again if you take the time necessary. Good luck and good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Fasteel:
Vapodog
13000 posts, I hope some of the information you have passed on to others in the past was more helpful than what you have offered to me. FS

Just a little harsh

There is no one seating for all loads and bullets. The combinations have their own sweet spots.

Now if you know you have an excellent bullet and a powder charge that gives you fair accuracy start by seating your bullet out till you can just feel resistance as you close the bolt handle.This is assuming that the cases easily chamber to start with. Do 20 rounds this way.

Now take five of the twenty and adjust the bullet seating stem inward by 1/2 turn. Repeat this again by going in another 1/2 turn. For the last five again go in another 1/2 turn. Record the overall length of each group.

Take them to the range and try them out recording each groups performance.

Once you have the best seating depth for that bullet only, you can start dicking around with varying powder charges by .3 of a grain.

Now you get the sweet loading so you got to try out different primers to see if one or the other gives better results.

Having achieved this now see what effect you get with different cases.

Now if all this does not get you what you're looking for try the same procedure with another bullet you think might work.

If you continue to strike out see if Vapodog will help you select a good rifle to buy. roger

Bartsche ; Nice Post. With solid info .

I had a Remington .222 throw 3 into the same hole
right out of the box . Problem was after I cleaned it , it never did it again with any loads .

It shoots real well by any standard SMOA how ever not into the same hole .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

quote:

Originally posted by Fasteel:
Is it possible that the proper seating length for the bullet is what factory ammo spec is?
Is it possible that I have a short throat in this H S rifle?
Thanks Greg

yes and yes.

What you have is a good starting point. But there is still info you will need to provide that has already been touched on...

How many times have you shot this factory ammo at 125 meters and produces one hole or close groups? It may have been a lucky fluke afterall, or not.

I was at the range last week with a 270, factory 150 partitions. First 3 shots, 2 holes, 1/4" apart 100 yards. Thought I had a winner. Shot it again at 200 and got 3" groups.

If in fact, your factory ammo is consistent, I suggest you look at the lot number and go buy more. One hole at 125 meters with factory ammo usually cannot be easily "bested" with handloads.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr.K:

I had a Remington .222 throw 3 into the same hole
right out of the box . Problem was after I cleaned it , it never did it again with any loads .

Had the same thing happen last year with a Stevens Mod. 200, .270 but it now is just shy of MOA. roger

Dumb question................How many shot group?

Tsiero it was a 4 shot group, the last 4 shots in the box. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts.
Regards Greg