Rifle Build and First Time Reloader Range Report - Where to go from here?

[Brazo264]

Howdy all, I'm just a hunter and I've never shot a 10 shot group before with a centerfire rifle but this forum has inspired me to want to shoot and practice more. These are also my first reloads that I've made on my own. Here is some info about the rifle and my loads.

Rifle - Gunsmith John Beanland

223 Remington Match
Lone Peak Fuzion action
1-7" Bartlein Marksman contour 22"
KRG Bravo with overmolded cheekpiece found on X-Ray or Whiskey-3 and minimalist spigot
Accutac Bipod
Trigger Tech Diamond
Bushnell LRTS 3-12x44
ARC Rings
10 round MTD Poly mag
5 round Accurate Mag metal mag
Both mags fed flawlessly although the 5 round AM felt a little smoother

Loads - All charges thrown with a Harrel's Custom 90 Culver Measure

Hornady 75 A-Max
23-23.5gr IMR 8208
Lapua brass
Fed 205
2.490" COAL
-.020" off lands

After the first two groups (top left and top middle) I adjusted the scope .1 mil right but that may not have been necessary.

All groups shot with bipod and rear squeeze sandbag off a bench.

I definitely had shots that I feel I pulled or didn't follow through properly and they landed out of the group. Need to keep practicing.

Questions:

a) Is this any good?

b) Where do I go from here? Call it good and mass produce at what charge weight? I was thinking maybe 23.2gr? How do you decide?

c) Test different seating depths? I can try -.050" and -.080" off next?

Anything else you'd like to recommend? I am all ears. Thank you for all the information given here, I thought I'd give back with a thread.

Best to all

 

[Brazo264]

Thumbnails

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I wouldn’t spend any more components looking for a better load. I’d roll with 23.3.

 

[JFK]

It’s likely capable of better. Those aren’t bad groups, but as time allows I’d try a different bullet or powder.

 

[Shortschaf]

Trying different bullets will have a more dramatic affect on accuracy (good or bad) versus a powder ladder with a single bullet

I would say if you want to reload, try different bullets with medium-charge weights of whatever powder you like. But in the meantime shoot a pile of cheap factory to get more trigger time

 

[Ckat]

Nice setup.

Some basic “rules of thumb” that not all agree with… horizontal dispersion is often based on trigger control (or lack there of). Vertical dispersion is often based on being just out of an “accuracy node” on powder charge (has to do with barrel harmonics). I’m with Q, I would load a bunch at 23.3 and get busy with quality, focused trigger time.

If you wanted to play with seating depth, I don’t see a problem with that… in all of your load development — only change one variable at a time or you won’t really know what made a meaningful difference. I most often land at 0.020” off — my results have been good enough there that I rarely play with seating depth anymore.

Welcome to a hobby full of rabbit holes!

 

[Brazo264]

Nice setup.

Some basic “rules of thumb” that not all agree with… horizontal dispersion is often based on trigger control (or lack there of). Vertical dispersion is often based on being just out of an “accuracy node” on powder charge (has to do with barrel harmonics). I’m with Q, I would load a bunch at 23.3 and get busy with quality, focused trigger time.

If you wanted to play with seating depth, I don’t see a problem with that… in all of your load development — only change one variable at a time or you won’t really know what made a meaningful difference. I most often land at 0.020” off — my results have been good enough there that I rarely play with seating depth anymore.

Welcome to a hobby full of rabbit holes!

I appreciate that feedback and notes, I definitely need to work on my trigger control and comfortability behind the rifle. I'll have some fun setting up the sizer die now as these were all virgin brass. Thank you all.