Help finding node

[Pilotscrappy]

Hey guys, new reloader here and trying to find some guidance on finding an accuracy node on my rifle.
Here is my setup
Ruger precision rifle 6.5 cm
Hornady brass
Cci br2 primers
Hornady 140gr bthp match bullet

I loaded up 5 different weights and shot for groups and I'm trying to see which load I should further pursue. The lower charge 40.8 grouped decent but it was slow fps I thought a good node for this rifle was around 2700fps?

Any help / tips appreciated I'll post pics of the data

 

[Pilotscrappy]

 

[Pilotscrappy]

 

[Pilotscrappy]

Also I should add barrell wasn't freshly clean it probably had 30 rounds thru it since last cleaning before I did this ocw test. Barrell has about 700 rounds down it total. I had no pressure signs at all during test

 

[stello1001]

Were you getting loose primer pockets, sticky bolt lift, etc? If not, maybe try loading up to like 43.8 maybe even 44 but in very small and safe increments. Unless you're fine with the speeds you got. If that's the case, I'd tinker some more with seating depth and maybe going up or down in charge with smaller increments on your 41.1 load!

 

[ShtrRdy]

I like your step sizes of 0.3 gr. It looks like you have a node with 40.8. I would try 2 or 3 more steps above the 42 gr load to see if another node develops.

What distance are you shooting at?
What is the length of the barrel?
What powder are you using?

 

[Pilotscrappy]

Powder is hodgon h4350
Barrell length is 24"
Shooting at 100 yards

I wasn't getting sticky bolt or loose pockets.

I will keep going up in weight and see if I find another node. I am wanting to have a good round that I can shoot at 1k + yards.

I haven't messed with seating depth yet I believe I'm seating them at what the book calls for (magazine size) I'm using standard 10rd pmag right now.

I will pickup one of the aics style pmags soon so I can seat longer.

Another question should I play with seating depths in tenth increments or should I do it right and get the hornady tool and actually measure the distance to the lands?

 

[47guy]

Get the tool.

 

[bfglowkey]

I suspect if you load 3 rounds at 41.1, 41.2 and 41.3 and shoot them all at the same target...see how all three charges group. They look like they all will have same POI . If that's the case you have a great node and then you can tool around with seating depth and refund your brass prep for accuracy. My RPR loves RL 16

 

[Barryd]

Get the tool.

 

[Dai Bando]

 

[Pilotscrappy]

Everytime I look for RL16 it's not in stock
But thx for the info guys I will Def get the tool and measure to lands, also should I land on a ocw then play with the seating depth? Or should I mess with seating depth now and keep doing ocw tests

 

[47guy]

personally...i would re-shoot that entire test after i found out where i was in relation to the lands and run those bullets about .010 off the lands if you can...the only thing i see worth chasing is the 40.8 load but for me that is to slow id want at least 2750 or so and 41.1 opened up.

that said i bought 1000 of the hornady BTHP several years ago and shot 800 of them through 3-4 different barrels with different powders and primers and never got them to shoot well enough to continue using them...they may shoot in your rifle but again if it was me id run another test at .010 off the lands(if you can)and if they did not group better than the first test id change bullets...id also only load 3 of each charge weight and see if there is anything worth chasing...if 3 dont shoot a decent group why shoot 2 more.

also since your new to reloading you might want to try this instead of the OCW...ive shot most of the different load developments...ladders...OCW...the 10 shot posted above,ECT...and a few bastardized ones as well....this is the fastest,easiest load development ive found/used...in the last 10 barrels ive found loads within 30 or less rounds.
i know he is shooting a 6CM but just adjust the loads to your rifle and like i said id only load and shoot 3 rounds of each charge and see if you have anything worth chasing.

http://www.texasprc.club/preidloaddev/

 

[bfglowkey]

OP is using Mag length as his starting point I think because he is using the mags that came with the RPR. Seating depth ...to me at least, is a final tweak of a load. I have one of the ACIS mags and I will admit it is nice to be able to load to my lands if I want to but 9/10 I end up being within MAG feed length. If you want to single feed in the RPR and measure/start at the widely used 0.020 off the lands its simple to do...a little force lets the bolt slide the catch on the mag down and does 0 damage to either ( maybe a small scuff mark on the mag stop in the Mag itself)
As for pills in the RPR, mine seemed to love anything 140 and up. Didn't matter who it was from, if it was a 140g then it shot 3/4 or better when I found the node ( which was always around 2550 for my mid node and 2800 for my hotter node.) Since I switched to RL 16 and now RL 26 for my 147 ELD pill its shifted. H4350 is easy to use and can produce quick and accurate loads, I just seem to have better luck with Alliants offerings in my travels for my 6.5 and 6mm Creedmoors. I will say this....case prep and being consistent and "anal" have the largest impact on my load development and having easy to spot nodes than anything else I have tried. Big fan of making sure your brass care/prep.

 

[918v]

You can increase the velocity of your 40.8gr load by placing it in a heavier case.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

Just got back from the range after continuing my load development. Looks like I'm coming into another node around 2800fps ish.

I had no pressure signs with this setup should I keep loading heavier and see if I can get it to tighten up more?

 

[Pilotscrappy]

Actually at 42.3 was looking good as well minus the flyer low and left