300gr Bergers not grouping

[Ishallbie O'Cullkillin]

In the Savage 110FCP HS, I'm not the only one that can't get the 300gr Bergers, seated at mag length, to group MOA at 200yds, but I'd like to try & get an idea of who IS. Sierra & Lapua 300 grainers both shot MOA without much load development, but the SMK's are hard to find, & both bullets are giving up substantial B.C. values compared to the Bergers. This being the case, I will persevere in searching for the right powder-seating depth combo, until I run out of Bergers. In the meantime, who is having success here?.... Anyone?

 

[jmptx]

Re: 300gr Bergers not grouping

Partial Success in a DTA SRS

I have just started into load development with 300gr Bergers as well. With SRS the mags I am able to load the rounds out pretty much as far as I want. I went with a C.O.L. of 3.825" which by my calculations on my rifles is ~.03 off the lands. I hesitated to go longer only because I was worried I might cause issues, at it was my first time measuring seating depth.

I tested H1000 from 83gr up to 92.5gr, and saw better groupings at 200 yards with my 92 and my 92.5 charge. (92.0 is listed as max, but I was not seeing pressure signs, so I bumped up a bit) Both had 3 shot groups < 2 inches. I would not have been unhappy with that, except that the same rifle last week shooting 300gr Scenars with 104gr of H869 did a 3 shot group in ~.87" I seated the Lapua's at whatever the max depth in the books is listed at (3.7" or so I think).

I did not feel that I was shooting my best yesterday, so maybe the 92gr of H1000 with the 300gr Berger seated at 3.825" is better than I think.

Since I am rambling:
I am also not sure I like H1000 as much as H869, but I have heard a lot of good things about it so I decided to give it a try. I shoot 4 rounds per load test, 1st shot is a zeroing shot, then I shoot 3 for a grouping. If I was doing 2 shot groups I would be able to say I have <1" groups, but I always had at least 1 shot that pulled the number down. I don't normally see that in my shooting. It may have been a bad day, or maybe something else?

 

[SavageLapua]

Re: 300gr Bergers not grouping

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jmptx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Partial Success in a DTA SRS

I have just started into load development with 300gr Bergers as well. With SRS the mags I am able to load the rounds out pretty much as far as I want. I went with a C.O.L. of 3.825" which by my calculations on my rifles is ~.03 off the lands. I hesitated to go longer only because I was worried I might cause issues, at it was my first time measuring seating depth.

I tested H1000 from 83gr up to 92.5gr, and saw better groupings at 200 yards with my 92 and my 92.5 charge. (92.0 is listed as max, but I was not seeing pressure signs, so I bumped up a bit) Both had 3 shot groups < 2 inches. I would not have been unhappy with that, except that the same rifle last week shooting 300gr Scenars with 104gr of H869 did a 3 shot group in ~.87" I seated the Lapua's at whatever the max depth in the books is listed at (3.7" or so I think).

I did not feel that I was shooting my best yesterday, so maybe the 92gr of H1000 with the 300gr Berger seated at 3.825" is better than I think.

Since I am rambling:
I am also not sure I like H1000 as much as H869, but I have heard a lot of good things about it so I decided to give it a try. I shoot 4 rounds per load test, 1st shot is a zeroing shot, then I shoot 3 for a grouping. If I was doing 2 shot groups I would be able to say I have <1" groups, but I always had at least 1 shot that pulled the number down. I don't normally see that in my shooting. It may have been a bad day, or maybe something else? </div></div>

I've worked up to nearly the exact same load as yours. 92gr H1000, 300gr Berger, .030" off the lands... With Lapua brass and CCI250 Mag Primers...

I get pretty consistant .3 MOA with this load.

210yards, 3 shot group, .596" CTC.

This is out of a 110BA.

 

[jmptx]

Re: 300gr Bergers not grouping

Well, maybe I won't give up on them yet. What is the twist on that barrel? Mine is 1 in 10" (and 26 Inches long)

I am making up up another batch with 92g, same seating Lapua brass and Fed. 215 primers. Maybe a different day will give some better results.

I will be happy with .5MOA, I am pretty sure I would have to quit coffee and practice a lot more to do any better than that.

 

[SavageLapua]

Re: 300gr Bergers not grouping

It is a 1 in 9", 26".

I'm going to be working up a new load with FGMM 215's. See how those do. To my understanding they have a more consistant burn and should therefore yeild more consistant results.

I hear ya on the -coffee and +practice... I could use a little of both... lol

 

[littlerascal56]

Re: 300gr Bergers not grouping

I had better luck with Hornady 285 BTHP match bullets in my Savage..touching the lands, and still worked fine in the factory magazine. Shot them over H1000.