Where to from here

I spent this afternoon out at the range with my 6.5mm SAUM.

The purpose of my range session was to play around with seating depth of the Hornady 143gr ELD-X projectiles.

My rifle likes 62grs H1000, so I loaded 3 rounds with the bullets touching the lands, then the next set of 3 at 5 thou off the lands, followed by the next set of 3 at 10 thou, then 15 thou. So on and so forth till I got to 45 thou.

The group I shot below is with the bullets 35 thou off the lands, and the group size is 0.7 MOA. This is the optimum seating depth as all the others were an inch or over.

My rifle incidentally loves the 140gr SST, it is punching sub 0.5 MOA groups, however I am more keen on the 143gr ELD-X.

I am guessing that the next stage is re-visiting powder charge weights again. I have ascertained that 62.5grs gives ejector marks on the case head and also group size is an well over an inch.

What would you all do as far as powder weight charges - half grain increments or smaller? or, should I really be concentrating on taking this load and trying it at longer ranges?

Attachment 48947

Have you tried RETUMBO yet??

I did today actually. I started off at 56grs and worked up in 1gr increments to 62grs, and loaded 3 rounds.

62grs of Retumbo shows no excessive pressure in my rifle. I had the projectiles sitting 20 thou off the lands, groups are on an inch. Next time I'll load up, I'll seat 35 thou off the lands.

Didn't have a chance to chrony today.

What's your intended end goal? Paper puncher or moose slayer?

If the latter, go shoot some beasties.

What charge weight are you running with Retumbo?

Maybe I have to accept the fact also that my rifle just won't shoot these ELD-X projectiles. I mentioned above that it shoots the SST's really well, I'm just not overly taken with their BC figures. Other option might be going to a lighter 130gr Accubond or something similiar?

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Originally Posted by Nibblet

What's your intended end goal? Paper puncher or moose slayer?

If the latter, go shoot some beasties.

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Beasties

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Originally Posted by 6.5mm-mag

Beasties

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.7 moa? Job done :thumbsup:

How consistent is your first round shots? Usually bang on or .7 or closer...
1000y = 7 inch providing it's holding that all the way out, your not going to miss because of your rifle.

But that's just me and I'm pretty agriculture ay @BRADS @Alonzo

Yes @Nibblet, agricultural is one word. I can think of others.


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Originally Posted by Alonzo

Yes @Nibblet, agricultural is one word. I can think of others.


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Accurate, messiah....

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Nope, they were not on the list.


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I would maybe look at other powders.
I don't muck around with seating depth other to see if the rifle will shoot with projectile seated close or with 20-30 thou jump.
Changing by 5 thou at time is a waste ammo and time imo.

Failing that you may just have a fussy barrel.


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First round shot is always consistent, with the second shot close. Third shot is always a way from the first and second. This is a custom rifle, criterion barrel and trued action with professional bedding job. This rifle puts 140 SST's under half MOA, with no work done on finding seating depth. You could draw some conclusions from that: maybe it doesn't like those ELD-X and it likes a non VLD projectile or maybe I just need to go back to playing around with the powder weights.

Forgot to mention to try a primer change with the most accurate load you have worked up so far.
I changed primers because I couldn't get any of my usual primers once and it made a lot of difference in accuracy and ES



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Whats the advantage of the ELD over the SST? apart from those shiny tips :cool:

SST has a decent BC compared to other standard hunting pills.

I run GMX and 140 SST in the 264 Win Mag

Try 2225, it "should" use 1 grain or so more powder than 2217.

Try shooting it further out, I've seen a couple of 6.5s shooting better in moa terms at 2-300 than 100 :wtfsmilie:

As mentioned you barrel may well be fussy :(

I use 62gns Retumbo in mine with 140gn Accubonds but it is a Hot load so usual disclaimers apply.

Mikee,

What style are Accubonds - are they a VLD or closer to a standard shape projectile? How do you find they perform on game at close to longer range (say 500-600 yards)?

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Originally Posted by 6.5mm-mag

Mikee,

What style are Accubonds - are they a VLD or closer to a standard shape projectile? How do you find they perform on game at close to longer range (say 500-600 yards)?

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Not sure if you would call them VLD more like the SST in shape.
The 3 Deer shot with them have all fallen over and not moved so seem to work alright. Longest shot is only 200m though,