I'll try 52gr Sierra MKs next. If anyone has some words of wisdom, I'm all ears.

I rrrrrrrrrrrreally hope I just haven't found the right combo. Only tried 5 combos today. I'll try the Sierras with about 10 different powder charges on my next day off.

I guess I should have given more info in the original post. Someone asked me to post results in a previous thread.

Sierra recommends 4064 with the MK so I'll pick up some of that tomorrow.

[This message has been edited by LongDistanceOperator (edited 04-13-2002).]

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BigBob

[This message has been edited by BigBob (edited 04-14-2002).]

I'll start at 34gr next time, using Varget and 4064. I am going to use the Sierra MKs. I just don't feel comfortable seating that flat-base bullet. I don't know if I'm damaging the bullet or neck while seating.

Thanks again, Lee

I have yet to shoot a 22-250 that would not should the 52 sierra HPBT match well.

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3-7-77

quote:

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Originally posted by LongDistanceOperator:
Guys-
Thanks for all the help. It's a custom barrel, but with a SAAMI chamber, so no need to neck turn. I did some other case prep though; deburr necks inside and out and uniform primer pockets. I'm waiting on my flash hole deburring tool to arrive.

I'll start at 34gr next time, using Varget and 4064. I am going to use the Sierra MKs. I just don't feel comfortable seating that flat-base bullet. I don't know if I'm damaging the bullet or neck while seating.

Thanks again, Lee

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Neck turning uniforms the neck wall and assures that the bullet is seating in the center of the bore. Neck wall variations will result in uneven release of the bullet AND split necks. Turning for a factory chamber can reduce your groups by 50%.

Neck tension is pretty crucial. When I turn (I'm new at this, but following Sinclair instructions) I run the necks on an oversize mandrel and then turn on the standard mandrel. This provides uniform neck tension at 0.002" (.223 Ackley Improved).

Flash hole deburring will help group size.

I'm going to assume nothing here and toss this out:

Brass needs to be uniform. All the same brand/lot. I keep track of the lots in terms of how they've been previously fired.

Sounds like maybe the Berger bullets are not sitting in the neck sufficient to provide a uniform release tension.

Varmint Al's discusses brass workup to death. Lots of links to look at too:

http://www.cctrap.com/~varmint/arelo.htm

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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=223ackleyimproved

Sonofagun-
Yes, I had the gun built. Why didn't I just ask the builder? Hmmmmmm....good question. I suppose I like corresponding with other shooters better (getting more opinions). While I'm still stumbling around in the dark, so to speak, I don't want to say who built it. When I post pics of several 1-hole groups, I'll tell who the 'smith is.

Ghengis-
I don't really understand neck turning for a SAAMI chamber. While it may result in a more concentric neck O.D., it will also slightly reduce the O.D. It seems to me that this would let the neck sit a little bit lower in the chamber, thus making it more likely for the bullet to slam into the rifling unevenly. Mind you, I am new to this, so if I'm mistaken, please let me know.

Thanks, Lee

Don't wait too long before calling your 'smith. My experience is that if the gun doesn't shoot at least close to expectations with all the standard recipies, you can spend a LOOOOOOONG time trying to figure things out.

When I last had this problem, I gave the gun back to the builder and asked him to try load development just to make sure it wasn't something bizzare like a bum set of dies, etc. He couldn't get the gun to shoot either and he went back to work...hopefully you won't have to ship it half way around the world to try this....

R

quote:

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Originally posted by bearlake:
Sonofagun, yous mus be from da U-P of mitchigun a?

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Whadaya mean a? is yous a Canuck?