I've been shooting for a long time but this reloading business is new to me. Yesterday I loaded up 20 rounds varying the powder charge by 3/10ths of a grain every 5 rounds and found the best accuracy to come from the middle of those charges. So that evening I loaded up 50 rounds so that I'd have 10 rounds of each charge increasing 1/10th of a grain each. I cleaned the barrel after each 10 shot string so that I'd have one group starting with a clean barrel and one starting with a fouled barrel.

As I only have a RCBS 5-0-5 scale all the loads are as exact as i can get them. I even went so far as to weigh each bullet and box them up by their weight in 1/10th grain increments. I did manage one 5 round group that measured out at 0.902" but the other 5 rounds of that load went over 1.5". Adding everything together the group average for the day was 1.65". I'd like to get a load down to around an inch average. I dont expect .25 MOA groups at 10,000 yards and this is my truck/ranch gun so it's had a hard life but it is expected to roll a coyote out to at least 3 or 400 yards when one presents itself.

Rifle is my Ruger GSR (.308 Win) wearing a 2-7x Leupold
Brass was Federal once fired (through this rifle) and then neck sized. Trimmed to length with a Lee trimmer/gauge.
Winchester WLR primers
Nosler 165g BallisticTips (which I've had a lot of luck with out of my .30-06 in factory loads)
Temp yesterday was 32 degrees and today was a balmy 35 degrees.

And for powder I was using IMR 4350 (between 48.3 and 48.7 grains). I realize that every rifle is different but do you reloaders think I am barking up the wrong tree with this powder (or anything else I'm doing)?  Any tips on improving my handloads? Or maybe its the dummy pulling the trigger.

Edited to include info I forgot the first time.

What rifle and caliber is it? Keep varying the loads and bullet seating depth. Check bedding. Is your barrel full of copper fouling?

It might just be a 1.5 MOA rifle. How tight are the groups with factory ammo in that rifle and what bullets were those loaded with?

DPCD: It definitely wasn't inspection ready but it wasn't fouled up as far as I could tell. I even pulled out the Sweets 7.62 after reading your post and it didnt seem like it needed it to me.

Grenadier: The only factory stuff I've checked with this gun were Federal Fusions (165g) and I couldn't get them to shoot. Turned out it was either a scope or mounts problem, I replaced both and had just enough ammo to get it close to sighted in at 200 yards. Never fired a group to see how well it'd do.

You've found out the rifle has potential. Try a different powder next. Bullet weight may matter too. Then fine tune it when you have the most accurate combination. Or, learn about ladder methods and other stuff I've never tried.

Excellent work!

Well digging through the gun cabinet I found a few boxes of .308 Match that I'd forgotten about. I'll be sure to take some of that to the range next time I head out. At least I'll have an idea of what the gun will do with good ammo before I end up chasing ghosts trying to get a better reload.

BTW, to find a load I work in 1 grain increments from published data. Also, asking for favorite loads can help identify what powder and/or bullet to try next. The trick lately is to find components.

Cheers!

I start for example 43gr (3rounds),44gr(3) then 44,5gr(5) (0,5gr increase to the max load) in cartridges in size like .308w. Then small tinkering in powder charge can be made then you found a ok combination of powder and bullet.

I used Remington "Super Match" loaded with the 175g MatchKing bullet to establish the GSR is capable of today. I found out a few things, mainly that it shoots better than I am capable and that she is a dirty girl in that she doesnt like a clean barrel as both "clean" bore groups were over an inch. I called the flyer on both of these, even with the flyers it boosts my confidence in the little carbine.



Today was COLD, I didnt realize how cold I was until I got in the truck to leave and began to warm up. All in all though I think IMR 4064 needs some more looking into.

Last two groups of the day. I really had to fight to keep everything steady on the second to last group (left). Knowing I was done for the day I put everything aside and slung up to fire the last (right) group. Barrel wasn't allowed to cool, I wasn't shooting for speed but as soon as the crosshairs settled on the target a round went downrange. The primers were just beginning to crater so I think I'll back a few tenths and load up a bunch to do some more testing with.


Not sure what is was today but all day shot #3 was the one that gave me the most troubles.

I shoot that gun. I have not found any factory loads that beat my handloads with once fired then neck sized brass. I will try to post some loads. One is 40.5 of 3031 over a Sierra 168gr HPBT

All rifles are different. Consider checking OAL. I have a M70 that has over a 1/4" freebore. I run max oal on it. Different powders are another option. 4064 and 748 are options.

quote:

Originally posted by JBoutfishn:
All rifles are different. Consider checking OAL. I have a M70 that has over a 1/4" freebore. I run max oal on it. Different powders are another option. 4064 and 748 are options.

I did try 4064 the other day but by the time I got to it I was shivering to bad to do well. I plan on trying it some more but after checking the throat I can't seat that far out without turning it into a single shot. With a 165g NBT seated to the lands my COAL would end up being 2.920"! I can get out to 2.850" and still feed from the magazines so hopefully that does the trick.

i feel like the others do. 4350 might be a little slow for the 308 win. my 308's like RL-15 , IMR 4064 , 4895 the slowest powder i use is H-380