Range Report Chasing the Hole

[mforsch]

Shooting and reloading for over 30 years; so my expertise is substantial in driving to the gun shop.
In all the years of reloading, I've read countless articles on prepping brass and weighing bullets and, yada, yada, yada-----and after spending countless hours prepping groups of "once fired" .308 brass, it shoots 1/2" groups---ok.
What I find particularly interesting is that my last purchase (of new) Winchester 308 brass gaged fine, measured fine, required no work other than a light deburring (and just for whimsy) I assembled the cartridges without all the usual labor. They shot 1/2" groups as well.
I thought perhaps it was just by chance, so I tried some 338 Win brass------got the same result.
So, reluctantly, I took 5 of those $3 a piece Lapuas right out of the box---and tried the same thing------got a similar result.

I understand that when working with used brass or once fired brass---especially if it isn't from your own firearm---you have to put in some work. I also understand that in order to achieve shot placement excellence, one need have mechanically similar brass. However, I have always heard that even new brass should be given the mechanical once over---or your groups will look like Congress trying to hold a vote.

As far as common shooting goes----maybe not-----because there are a lot of terrible groups shot with what once started as perfectly good brass---right out of the bag.......It's just a thought.

Along with that line of thinking---how does the brass itself affect the flight? Is factory brass inferior to "reworked" brass, or can we just say that if X holds the same volume as Xb, then touchdown should occur in a duplicate proximity---mechanically it sounds correct, anyway.

 

[rduckwor]

I agree to a great extent. Its very easy to get tangled up in what "others" tell you must be done for accuracy and consistency. At some point, one must stop chasing opinion and find what works for you. Then stick to it until you trip over an improvement that is truly an improvement.

 

[29aholic]

I read that years ago in Page's book "The Accurate Rifle" saved me a lot of headaches

 

[shoot4fun]

I weigh sorted and prepped Hornady 6 Creedmoor cases. Then I took the outliers and put them all together, Same lot of brass, powder, bullets and primers. I'm thinking "this is going to really show me what all the fuss is about".
WRONG!!
The all over the place brass weights with no prep at all outshot the prepped stuff by a lot.
I think I'll just spend more time shooting.

 

[Kuma]

I recently did a ladder test.. 308 175SMK half grain increments from 39 grains to 45 grains Varget... so 2rnds at each load meant around 26 shots.
Done at 330yds/300m the whole test was less than 1moa.
That's 6 grains of powder from low to high, 26 shots around 3 inches spread.
That tells me I am the weak link not the reloading I am doing.

 

[40xs]

where the small and subtle differences show up is at distance. Any difference will be on a gradual plane. A little at 300, a little more at 400, then some more at 500 and by the time you get to 1000, several inches. All the best shooters will tell you thay spend time prepping their brass, and they rely on this perfection to get them that extra point or extra "X" count which may be a tie breaker. I used to be up higher on the leader board until the competition got so fierce and the requirements for perfection with your ammo became important. Now, at my age, i just don't have the "fire" or "drive" to spend the necessary time battle the competition anymore. Let the younger and more ambitious shooters have their time with it. But, yes, perfect ammo can and will make a difference at 1000yds. if you are serious about competing, because "they" ARE, and they win!!