Some of you may recall my struggle to find a load that would print both barrels close together in my 375x2.5" Flanged Nitro Express H&H double. At 30 yards the barrels were grouping from two to four inches apart, and increasing the powder charge did not bring the groups together. The chambers were very tight (but also very long), and the groove diameter was .378+. Individual barrel groups were very good, but no amount of variation in bullet weight, powder type or weight, seating depth, or other variables would bring the individual barrel groups together.

My last hope before having the rifle re-regulated was to try larger diameter bullets, but the largest jacketed bullets that I could find were still only .377. Finally I ordered a Walnut Hill swaging press and point forming die from RCE. It arrived last week, and after getting familiar with it I started "bumping up" .375 diameter bullets to try in my double. This die produces a relatively blunt round nose (similar to the original Nitro Express bullet contour) at almost .3785 diameter.

I made it to the range today, and even though the 270 and 300 grain bullets are not grouping as close as I would like yet, the 235 grain bullets are grouping much better!!! Things are definitely looking up .

Here is one of the better groups from the earlier series with .375 diameter bullets at only 30 yards



Here is the load that I tried today with the reformed 235 grain bullets bumped up to .3785 at 40 yards (I didn't bother to move it back to 30 yards for a direct comparison since I did not expect much improvement over the former grouping). I don't know if I wiggled on L1 or L2, but at this point I am one happy shooter.



It seems that the right load in this case involved not only the proper bullet diameter, but also longer than normal brass to allow seating the bullets closer to the lands (not to mention turning the necks to allow use of the larger diameter bullets).

It is always rewarding to find the "magic combination" to get a nice old rifle shooting again, and in the case of my "problem child" it was doubly rewarding!!!

Jim

WTG, Jim!

Makes ya feel good, don't it!

Sure beats unwrapping a new 'plastic fantastic' and having it shoot <1 MOA out of the box. Where's the fun in that?!?

There is a tremendous feeling of satisfaction is solving such a problem! Congrats and savor the moment!-Rob

What seems like a problem, becomes a good memory, once solved! Double rifles are worth the effort, and become prized rifles, instead of a problem children, once fed properly! Now find a good place to hunt with it, and you are in high cotton! Congratulations!

Having recently gone through such trauma and like you comming out smelling like a Rose, I applaud you for your sticktoitness!! My solution, though as difficult to solve, and solved purely by part guess and part luck was much simplier than yours, I simply added 1.5 grains of dacron filler to close up groups to about 1" from 3"s...Touchy, Touchy.

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the kind words. This particular rifle has been a most interesting and informative experience . After 30+ years of reloading it still amazes me about how much variation there can be from one firearm to another in working up accurate loads. At times it can be very frustrating, but in the end the rewards are definitely worth it .

Jim