30-378 reloading thoughts

[10mmg]

Details: Weatherby Back Country carbon 2.0 in 30-378. Once fired brass loaded with 112 grains of 50bmg pushing a 200 grain accubond 3220 fps average (fps deviation 17). Coal is 3.680 +/-.001. Target photo is off the bench from 300 yards. First 5 shot string (higher grouping) is from cold, lower grouping is from a rested but not room temp gun.

Question: In a 5 shot string I am always getting one flier. Doesn’t seem to always be the same round in the series but it seems to be ever present. I am using a level on my scope and keeping the bubble in the middle. Shooting from a lead sled. Is there a reloading component I am missing that is giving me these flyers? Am I expecting to much from a hunting rifle? Perhaps I am a bad shot. Just seeking thoughts or ideas.

Thanks all 

[jrebel]

Can't see the picture?? 

Ultralightweight rifle in that caliber pushing that heavy a bullet makes me think a couple things...

1.  The shooter is likely the problem.  Anticipating that recoil, has to have an affect on most shooters.
2.  Get rid of the lead sled, they are very hard on rifles and their components.....especially on these heavy hitters. 
3.  I'm assuming this is once fired brass in this same rifle??  If not, I would consider it virgin brass till you have it fireformed to that chamber. 
4.  Are you unfirming your neck tension with mandrels or bushings?  If so, what is your neck tension? 

I'm sure the pictures will show....but what are your group size / MOA?  You ES of 17 is outstanding, so it sounds like you have your combustion for this round figure out.  You may play with seating depth a bit....what is your distance from the lands? What is your neck tension??  Still lots of questions....though again, my first guess is the shooter (not because your a bad shot...but becuase the recoil of that rifle). 

[10mmg]

Well you couldn’t see the picture cause I failed to post it. So I am old. Posted now

[10mmg]

I have a muzzle brake that makes it louder than a fart canned Honda at 2am on a Tuesday but the recoil is minimal. Could be the noise but I have never been prone to flinch. I’ll use bags and bipod on the next trip to the range to eliminate that possibility. Brass is all through the rifle so it’s formed to that rifle. Reloading dies are RCBS. How do I verify neck tension or adjust it?

Thanks for the feedback

[str8meat]

Tried getting mine to shoot heavy bullets, rifle didn’t care for them. Barnes load speaks for itself. The other picture is  180 grain hammer hunter. 108 grains 8133 moving at 3410. Have fun that’s a lot of horsepower to drive and keep in a straight line. Have fun.

[jrebel]

I have a muzzle brake that makes it louder than a fart canned Honda at 2am on a Tuesday but the recoil is minimal. Could be the noise but I have never been prone to flinch. I’ll use bags and bipod on the next trip to the range to eliminate that possibility. Brass is all through the rifle so it’s formed to that rifle. Reloading dies are RCBS. How do I verify neck tension or adjust it?

Thanks for the feedback

The best way to check neck tension (in my opinion) is using pin gauges or mandrels.  Example....I use a .3075 sizing mandrel to size my necks uniformly.  I chose that mandrel by checking with a .3060 mandrel (works as a pin gauge) to confirm I have 0.002 neck tension.  Bullet diameter is 0.308, neck opening is 0.360...which gives me 0.002 neck tension.  Brass will spring back after being stretched, so to just pick a mandrel or bushing die and assume your getting a certain neck tension....is not going to work.  Different brass has more / or less spring to it so you have to check when you use different brands, lots, times loaded. 

In my experience....most brass and FL sizing dies will apply 3-5 thousandths neck tension.  When I'm loading, I load my ammo with 1-2 thousands depending on the use of the ammo.  My heavy hitters, I usually go with 2 thousandths to keep the bullet from moving in the magazine.  If I go 1-1.5 thousandths....I apply a little crimp to my big boomers.  At 2 thousandths, I'm comfortable not applying crimp and using them in my magnums. 

Another bonus to using sizing mandrels, is your necks get lubed with molly lube or graphite which prevents cold welding.  Consistency is king......consistent neck tension could help fliers.  Lubed necks will prevent cold welding...which could eliminate fliers. 

 

[jrebel]

Tried getting mine to shoot heavy bullets, rifle didn’t care for them. Barnes load speaks for itself. The other picture is  180 grain hammer hunter. 108 grains 8133 moving at 3410. Have fun that’s a lot of horsepower to drive and keep in a straight line. Have fun.

Str8tmeat.....I love hammers.  They shoot great and are devastating on game.  I bet that 180 grain HH in your rifle is a killing machine.   

[10mmg]

Thanks all.  Is the neck sizing mandrel what appears to be a third die in a set of reloading dies? Do you have recommendations for where to get mandrel? I have just been using the 2 die set to reload up to this point. Never knew neck tension was a thing that was maneuverable. Admittedly I am a newbie on this reloading and this seems like a tough cartridge to start with. Finding my 6.5 cm load was simple. Maybe I got lucky. Gotta get this dialed in for my September moose hunt.

[jrebel]

Thanks all.  Is the neck sizing mandrel what appears to be a third die in a set of reloading dies? Do you have recommendations for where to get mandrel? I have just been using the 2 die set to reload up to this point. Never knew neck tension was a thing that was maneuverable. Admittedly I am a newbie on this reloading and this seems like a tough cartridge to start with. Finding my 6.5 cm load was simple. Maybe I got lucky. Gotta get this dialed in for my September moose hunt.

I bought 21st century mandrels and mandrel die body.  I like buying the kit....even though it is expensive and has more mandrels that are needed because I like having the other mandrels to use as pin gauges.  I reload multiple rifles in similar calibers so It gives me infinite options for all similar calibers.  It's a buy once, cry once thought process. 

​If you go this route, make sure you buy the moly lube as well.  It is cheap and will last you a lifetime.  Don't forget the die body too. 

Make sure you are buying the madrels and not the nitride mandrel or nitride turning arbor.  A guy on another reloading site bought those not knowing and had the wrong items. 

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/caliber-specific-expander-mandrel/v/E30-Kit

Where are you located?? 

[jrebel]

Lastly.....all of this is not 100% necessary...but consistency will shrink your groups.  You want consistent neck tension.  You don't want cold welding. 

I look at reloading this way..... If I'm going to take the time to reload, I want ammo that is more accurate than factory rounds.  If I'm not getting better results....why am I doing it??

Do you anneal your brass??  If not find someone that reloads close to you and have your brass annealed.  You only have to anneal brass every couple firings.....though a lot of us do it every time. 

The things that have netted me the most benefit in my reloading career are (not in any particular order):
1.  Annealing my brass.
2.  Uniforming my flash holes
3.  Uniforming my neck tension. 

[10mmg]

I am in Chelan for the next 2 weeks then moving to Wyoming.

[jrebel]

I am in Chelan for the next 2 weeks then moving to Wyoming.

Congrats on the move.....bummer we are just not connecting on this topic.  I'm not sure I have the time given your rapid exodus of this fantastic state....(note sarcasm) to offer much hands on help.  I could have annealed your brass and ran a 30 cal. mandrel through a batch to see how much it helped.  I live in East Wenatchee, but work in Chelan. 

[royalbull]

I shoot a similar load in my Mark  V, 111.7 grains of BMG50 with a 210 Berger Bullet a little under 3100fps, the groups are pretty consistent at .330 occasionally if I'm not allowing the barrel to chill I'll get a flyer but it's usually still within an inch, gun weighs almost 12 pounds trigger is 1.75 pounds, I don't neck tension, haven't annealed yet but plan on starting to

[10mmg]

I am in Chelan for the next 2 weeks then moving to Wyoming.

Congrats on the move.....bummer we are just not connecting on this topic.  I'm not sure I have the time given your rapid exodus of this fantastic state....(note sarcasm) to offer much hands on help.  I could have annealed your brass and ran a 30 cal. mandrel through a batch to see how much it helped.  I live in East Wenatchee, but work in Chelan.

Thanks jreb. We are looking forward to it. I will look at the neck tension and annealing once I get settled. Keep Chelan safe for me.