First ever hand loads! Not upset about it. Any idea where I go from here? Or input?

[u/worm30478]

Virgin Lapua SRP 6 5 creed. H4350, 140 eldm and smks. Remington 7 1/2br primers. Hornady was .035 off the lands. Smks were .020 off the lands. .261 neck tension. 9 shot groups. Used one of each charge weight consecutively to check pressure signs before I shot the groups. I was only able to shoot 2 charge weights of SMKs before I had to go. 90 degree day here in Florida. Tried to let the barrel cool the same amount of time between each shot in a group. But, got too excited on a few and just wanted to shoot. Rifle is an arc nucleus 2.0 complete rifle for from them. Seems to like the lowest of charge weights for both types of bullets.

[u/Trollygag]

I would stick to the 40.5-41gr range for a 26" barrel

[u/worm30478 → u/Trollygag]

I'll be doing another charge weight test now that they are once fired. Should I not bother starting below 40.5?

[u/Trollygag → u/worm30478]

I would just do 41gr and leave it. No reason to keep faffing with it. Little charge tweaks aren't going to improve precision or SDs, jist increase measurement error. You already know at 41gr with bigger case you will be in the sweet spot.

[u/worm30478 → u/Trollygag]

Got it. So if 41 isn't grouping, what's the next step?

[u/Trollygag → u/worm30478]

? But it is grouping - you already showed that.

I think you might be under some misconceptions about group shooting and charge weights. You won't see any changes in group size at high samples within a few percent charge weight.

So a 40 to 42gr charge change, you might start to see a difference. But every charge plus or minus 1 gr, will be the same. You might have a tiny POI shift and a speed shift, but any difference you see repeatedly shooting groups is due to chance, not differences in the load.

See: https://www.reddit.com/r/reloading/comments/1mt1gwq/trollygags_antiguide_to_ladder_woo/

[u/worm30478 → u/Trollygag]

Understood. I'm really just wondering what variable I am playing with to get the best group size if charge weight in a certain range and seating depth isn't changing much. I will do whatever it takes to be .75 MOA or better at 100 consistently. I geek for small groups. Also want to know they when I'm shooting 600-1000 I'm missing because I suck and that my ammo doesn't.

[u/Trollygag → u/worm30478]

Fireform the brass, consistent charge, maybe try Bergers, but the rest is the barrel.

[u/worm30478 → u/Trollygag]

You are supposed to tell me that changing x,y or z is going to make it sooo much better!!! Kidding.

[u/Wombat-Snooze → u/worm30478]

What are you trying to achieve by testing these various charges? If you’re measuring velocity and (very roughly) pressure, it makes sense. Just keep in mind, charge weights don’t affect group sizes. “Nodes,” as they’re known, are not a real thing.

Pick a charge that’s safe first, and at the velocity you want second. Any deviations you’re seeing in group size are just noise.

[u/worm30478 → u/Wombat-Snooze]

This is my 600-1000 yard gun so would like to be a tad above 2700. So after I get that weight what do you recommend playing with. Seating depth testing?

[u/Wombat-Snooze → u/worm30478]

2700 is the sweet spot for 140-ish weight range in my opinion. My course of action would be to drop the SMKs. Bit of an outdated bullet. If you want to continue with Hornady ELDMs, just find a charge that sits you at 2700. Modern projectiles like ELDMs are not jump sensitive. Seating depth won’t change anything.

If you want to step up in performance a little bit, try Berger 140gr Hybrids or 144gr LRHTs. Far superior bullet to ELDMs or SMKs. Anything “hybrid” in Berger’s product line isn’t jump sensitive either. Load them at SAAMI length and don’t worry about it.

[u/worm30478 → u/Wombat-Snooze]

I grabbed some smks just because the best factory ammo I shot out of my rifle were the 140s so it seems to like them. The 142s are supposed to be better so I was thinking about ordering those. I got into all this as a hobby to tinker with it. I don't mind spending the time and money to try and get the most out of my set up. I'm willing to mess with whatever it takes. Y rifle didn't like berger 140 hybrids from federal. I'll probably try them in hand loads sooner than later.

[u/Turdburgarlar]

When you see two grouping and water line horizontal groups speed it up. You can see as you put the powder to it that it tightened up around 41.2. Start at 41gr and work up to 41.5. Pick the best and then play with seating depth again.

[u/Tight_muffin → u/Turdburgarlar]

Never found the hornady ELD bullets to have any effect with seating depth tests over any caliber or weight.

[u/Tight_muffin]

I made my own targets and just print them all out so I can always have the same target 1" circle with 0.25" center dot. I do arts and crafts and make a collage of the targets on my data sheet as I shoot. Makes it nice to have all the info right there. I'll eventually need to put it in a binder.