New to reloading Continued

[Pete112288]

So I just got into reloading and have made another post or two with questions.
I don't have anyone around me that reloads so I am resorting to the community on here as an outlet for this new addiction, haha.
Today was my third trip out with reloads for my Browning A-Bolt 30-06. And my second trip tinkering with my dad's sporterized Eddystone Enfield 1917 30-06.
I have been going slow and testing different things each time.
What I have been working with is Accurate 4350 (just under half a pound left now) IMR 4350 (stocked up with 2 1/5 pounds of it) 165 grain Nosler Partition (what I am hoping to have as my hunting round in my rifle. And Hornady ELD-X 178 grain (what I was hoping to use for my dad's rifle). The brass I have been using is once fired remington for mine and once fired federal for my dad's.
My dad's rifle funny enough seems to like the Partitions better. But still have work ahead of me, the best group from his gun has been 1.25 inches, and that was with the partitions, I also got the same size group with factory winchester 150 grain bottom shelf stuff.
My rifle has been a different story. I managed a couple groups with partitions that hit 1.1 inches. Factory remington corelokt I can't get to shoot better than 1.75 inches. I tested a couple groups of the ELD-X in my rifle. Same powder charge but different OAL. The 3.300 length shot 1.1 inch group, the 3.250 shot a 2.5 inch group.
In 2008 when I first gor my rifle, I could shoot sub-MOA with corelokts. Now I am still tinkering trying to find anything that comes in under an inch at 100 yards. I started thinking I was doing something wrong shooting. Then I found the reloads that came with my rifle when I bought it from an old coworker of my dad's. 180 grain Sierra Spitzer, 56.2 grains IMR 4350, in some old military cases stamped from 43 to 63 in year of production. Loaded in 2001. And the OAL of the 15 I have left carries widely from 3.270 to 3.320 with an average around 3.300. I shot a 3 round group with them and was rewarded with a group barely over 0.5 inches.
Now I think I am going to tinker with trying to copycat that load.
Tips, advice, general chitchat welcome, I just needed an outlet, hahaha.

[300rum]

Just copy cat it and leave it alone.  That bullet will be fine with anything you need to shoot. 

[chukardogs]

Bang for your buck. I've found that consistent and accurate shell sizing (especially length of case), your OAL adjusted to your specific gun per bullet and measuring your powder to the tenth of a grain with a trickler are the three things that are easiest to do that will give you the best results.
I love the old military stuff and have found they all have some issues. Like the 1898 Springfield Armory 30-40 Krag. It shoots 200 or 220 gr. round nose bullets much better than say a Speer 180 gr. Grand Slam because it was built for that type of bullet and the lands are much farther forward than say on a newer brand name rifle that was chambered in the 30-40. I couldn't get the 180 GS to within .100 thousandth of the lands.
 If you haven't already, check your Eddystone by making a couple dummys to find the exact OAL that will just clear your lands. The OAL in the books doesn't come close in my Springfield 30-40 Krag or 30-06. 

[jasnt]

Measuring oal with most bullets you going to get various measurements because of the inconsistency of the nose.  I would recommend getting the hornady comparator kit so you can measure off the o-jive.  You will get more consistent results.

Personally I find it easier to find where the bullet jams into the rifling than it is to find its touch point.   Every bullet will be a little different how it engages the rifling
To find jam you don’t need extra tools either.  Just seat a bullet long and chamber it.  As it jams into the lands the bullet will get pushed into the case.   

[Mtnwalker]

A single 3 round group doesn't tell you much. Could have easily been an anomaly with that old ammo, I'd confirm again with a 5 or 7 shot group before you switch gears and try to copy it

[GWP]

I had to chuckle.
I will find a recipe that works on my stuff and then screw around until the accuracy goes away, then eventually when I start getting frustrated. I will go back to the accurate recipe so I can verify accuracy of the set up and say to myself (literally) "Hey stupid, quit messing with success!"
It just may be the curse when you get into reloading.
Shoot more. Play with recipes. Go back to what you verified that works. Repeat.
As has been stated, each barrel or firearm like different things. I have ones that like no resize on cast bullets, ones that like a resize, some that like certain bullet weight and speed, which is all normal parts of the process.
I have a 357 that shot great and kept a clean bore with powder coated 'as cast'' bullets. I decided to size them, because I thought I should. Horrible accuracy, and the leading after only a few rounds was astounding. Obviously too small for the bore and was melting the bottoms from blow by. The better way would probably have been to pour the chamber and size accordingly, but what fun is that? 
Have fun with your loading!

[Pete112288]

So I finally made some progress today and think I have a load figured out for my gun. I managed 2 4 round groups with one load that printed great. 3 shots each under .5" at 100yards. Then on both groups I had 1 shot fall 1 inch away from the others, at least 1 of those I know was shooter error.
My dad's old Sporterized Enfield has been more challenging. Best group I got was 1 inch with 150 grain psp winchester factory loads.
All the reloads so far have been 180grn Sierra Gamekings, 180grn Hornady Interlock, 178grn Hornady ELD-X, and 165grn Nosler Partition. I have managed a group or two under 1.5" with the partitions and the Gamekings. But not consistently. I am wondering if his gun likes lighter bullets. His chamber is shorter and seems to shoot better with more jump than mine. But I also wonder if his gun is more sensitive to shooting different bullets without cleaning between them. I read that different bullets can foul a barrel differently and cause problems. The more I shot different bullets the more his opened up. The last 3 groups of the day were 5+ inches.
Overall, if I can get one of those loads that shot 1.5" to be consistent I will be happy. Next session I'm planning on not trying different bullets on the same day without cleaning.

[Pete112288]

Got my gun dialed in now. I managed multiple sub-MOA groups today, even out to 200 yards.
Now it's just the patience to work with my dad's gun.
I got 3 sub-moa groups today, but it is very picky compared to my gun. I am only getting that accuracy out of his if I make sure the barrel cools all the way between groups of no more than 3 at a time. And the first group after cleaning is about twice the size. Then it opens up again after about the 15th shot or so. So knowing that now, I am going to put it to the test on my next session. 2-3 shots at most between barrel cool down and do a clean after shot 10 or so and see what happens.

[GWP]

It is odd how different barrels are.
I had an old rifle I bought to get the scope off of it, but took it and shot it with a box of Federal ammo just to see how it would do.
14 shots fired at 100 yards one right after the other with a freshly cleaned barrel. After 14 shots with no break in between the shots the barrel was pretty warm. All, from cold bore to number 14, into a 1-1/2" circle.
I have another rifle that does NOT like a clean barrel. The first shot consistently shoots low an inch or so. After that they are all on top of each other.
Sometimes just slowing a round down (or up) a little can make a big accuracy difference as well.