Range Report Seating depth for Rpr?

[Pilotscrappy]

So I have been playing with seating depth and @ the range today my results weren't really what I was expecting/hoping for.
I've been seating my rounds 2.185 which is my base to ogive measurement,which is as long as I can go to still load in my pmags.

I loaded 5 rounds today @ 2.259 which is. 030 off my lands, then 5 rounds @ 2.269 which is. 020 off the lands.

My best groups were the shorter magazine friendly sizes and I thought for sure the closer to the lands I got, accuracy would have increased.

I was doing 5 shot groups and I did have 3 rounds almost go in the same hole @2.269 but then 2 went super low so I dunno if it was me or the ammo.

Anyone with a ruger found a sweet spot for where to seat the bullet for best accuracy?

Rifle is ruger precision rifle
6.5 Creedmoor
140gr Eld match
Hornady brass
Cci #200 primers
H4350 42.1 grains

 

[Pilotscrappy]

 

[Pilotscrappy]

The black and white target, all the bullets were seated at magazine length 2.185 btog

 

[CV_Ag]

I have nearly the same load for my RPR.
140 grain ELD-M
42.2 H4350
Cci 250 magnums
Norma brass

I seat 20 thou off the lands and I get sub 1/2 min. I’ve not yet played with seating depth at this point because after finding this load I saw no point in wasting more effort with it, no trying to be a bench rest shooter. When you first got your powder charge determined how was your grouping? I wouldn’t play with seating depth until you have a fairly decent load recipe to start with.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

I was grouping decent when I landed on this load usually I'm. 500-.700" group size.

I'm just trying to get more accuracy as I think the rifle is capable of better groups.

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

Someone posted in a thread a recommendation from a bullet manufacturer to test seating depths as far as 0.150 in from the lands. Yep, you're reading that right, nearly 5/32". I haven't tried it yet but soon will with my load development for my RPR. Supposedly, if done according to their instructions, you can find multiple sweet spots where small variations in seating depth don't have much change on velocities or accuracy.

 

[bfglowkey]

I also have a RPR and I have found that for Hornady ELDs of 140 and 147 that 0.01 off the lands is the sweet spot for me. For Nosler RDFs of any weight they like to jump and I run those Mag length. I will say this...H4350 makes for nice and easy loads but I have had huge success with both RL 16 and H1000 in terms of both accuracy and velocities/ES/SDs that are very barrel friendly....I am pushing 3100 rds down my factory barrel and no unexplained fliers yet or noticeable opening of groups. RL 16 is magic pixie dust but just keep an eye on the carbon rings. H1000 is a bit more tricky but man does it push those 140, 143 and 147s out. Next vicitim will be the Sierra 150s

 

[308pirate]

My best groups were the shorter magazine friendly sizes and I thought for sure the closer to the lands I got, accuracy would have increased.

As you've noticed, every rifle is an individual. Not all of them follow the rules of thumb and for the same reason you can't just rely on what works on the same exact rifle that belongs to someone else.

 

[XLR308]

I also have a RPR and I have found that for Hornady ELDs of 140 and 147 that 0.01 off the lands is the sweet spot for me. For Nosler RDFs of any weight they like to jump and I run those Mag length. I will say this...H4350 makes for nice and easy loads but I have had huge success with both RL 16 and H1000 in terms of both accuracy and velocities/ES/SDs that are very barrel friendly....I am pushing 3100 rds down my factory barrel and no unexplained fliers yet or noticeable opening of groups. RL 16 is magic pixie dust but just keep an eye on the carbon rings. H1000 is a bit more tricky but man does it push those 140, 143 and 147s out. Next vicitim will be the Sierra 150s

Am I reading this correctly ?
H1000 in the 65 Creedmoor or did you mean H100-V ?

 

[Pilotscrappy]

As you've noticed, every rifle is an individual. Not all of them follow the rules of thumb and for the same reason you can't just rely on what works on the same exact rifle that belongs to someone else.

Very true, I shot again today and experienced almost identical results.

I'm running 1 more test with the bullet seated .010 off lands.
If it doesn't tighten up I'll stick to loading magazine length.

 

[Mattv931]

Pilotscrappy.... I've also been doing some thorough testing with my rpr 6.5cm. Although I did take my barrel out of the action just to clean the threads and barrel face and receiver face. I have about 500rounds through my factory barrel. I have been playing with the 140gr eld-m and 140gr hornady bthp. I always start the eld-m off at about .015 thousandths off the lands then go out to .030, .045. In my rpr and savage shilen barrel both loads at 42.5gr h4350 with 140gr eld-m at .030 thousandths off the lands (my bullets are touching lands at 2.237 base to ogive) lapua brass 2x fired neck sized with. 289 Redding bushing cci small rifle magnum primers produce 1/2 inch groups easily. I would advise at least 100 rounds for barrel break in and then check the copper fouling in the barrel, scrub the barrel with some copper solvent then shoot about 10 rounds to get it fouled back down to the sweet spot. I believe these barrels are fairly rough inside, but they shoot really good with good handloads. My 140gr hornady bthp loads that are not very sensitive to seating depth are .020 thousandths off lands with 42.5 h4350. Heres a pic 140gr eldm. 5 shots at 100yards.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

Nice looking group we're you just shooting off the bipod for the one? Impressive either way.

Since I posted this I actually got a considerable improvement on my groups but I'm seated about. 010 off lands. They shrunk a bunch at that length, but only bummer is I have to single feed which is a pain in the ass with the rpr.

I need to. Get a different magazine now.

But like all things reloading I'm constantly trying different things to get the best results.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

And yeah I probably need to decopper my barrel and scrub the hell out of it, I'll do that tonight actually cuz I agree with ur post that they are a little rough

 

[Mattv931]

Nice looking group we're you just shooting off the bipod for the one? Impressive either way.

Since I posted this I actually got a considerable improvement on my groups but I'm seated about. 010 off lands. They shrunk a bunch at that length, but only bummer is I have to single feed which is a pain in the ass with the rpr.

I need to. Get a different magazine now.

But like all things reloading I'm constantly trying different things to get the best results.

Yes sir, I always shoot off of a bipod and rear bag, it a just a cheap Caldwell green bag not in the pic though, little bit tricky adjusting the elevation with the rear bag since it's not canted back there, im to cheap to buy a monopod lol, but i make it work. Anyways, yea I'm using just the factory mag in mine and honestly I haven't checked the oal but at .030 off lands it's close in the mag but I'm still able to use it, I think an AI mag would be alot better, and i agree single feeding is tough. I use copper killer on my barrel, I let it sit and soak for about 20 minutes, then scrub the shit out of it with a brush, everybody has different methods though, I just noticed my accuracy was slowly going to shit, I was ready to pull the trigger on a new barrel haha, then I took my muzzle brake off and cleaned around the muzzle crown and noticed all the copper in the barrel, what an idiot lol. I love this rifle though, to be a factory rifle they're some shooting outfits. But yes I'm glad to hear your groups have shrunk, definitely a shitty disappointment when you put time and work into handloads and they dont shoot good lol.

 

[Racer88]

but only bummer is I have to single feed which is a pain in the ass with the rpr.

Why do you say it's a pain in the ass to single load the RPR?

I have no problems with it at all - using the "Bob sled." I actually like the cadence of single loading vs loading from a mag.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

What's the bobsled ?

I just meant single loading with the stock pmags is a pain, unless there is some trick I'm unaware of ?

 

[CV_Ag]

What's the bobsled ?

I just meant single loading with the stock pmags is a pain, unless there is some trick I'm unaware of ?

If you’re going to single load I’d reccommend a different mag. Becaue yes, the stock pmag is a pain since it catches the bolt each time. Magpul makes AICS mags which solve that problem. Some people have use a dremel to file down the factory mag as well.

 

[Racer88]

What's the bobsled ?

I just meant single loading with the stock pmags is a pain, unless there is some trick I'm unaware of ?

Ah! Ya gotta get one! Really nifty (especially if you like to single-load your bolt or semi-auto rifle). It's a solid block of some kind of plastic with a ramp built in, that slides into your mag well.

I'll fetch a link for you: http://www.originalbobsled.com/

Also available at MidwayUSA and other retailers.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

Oh nice, I'll check those out! Thanks guys

 

[creedmoor664]

What's the bobsled ?

I just meant single loading with the stock pmags is a pain, unless there is some trick I'm unaware of ?

I found a little trick that you can use for single loads and your pmag 10 magazines.

What's the bobsled ?

I just meant single loading with the stock pmags is a pain, unless there is some trick I'm unaware of ?

Here is what I do. It centers the round perfectly and it slips right into your existing Pmag 10 round magazine. When your done, pull it out and go back to loading your mag. Took me all of 20 minutes to make. 3/4" PVC pipe

 

[creedmoor664]

Here is what I did. It centers the round perfectly and when done slip it out of your pmag. Took all of 20 minutes to make. Hard to read the dimensions. It's .681" in diameter and 2.586" long.