First results from new handloads!

Well, up until now I have been neglecting my poor blaser with factory hunting ammo. But just recently I started handloading, and finally started getting groups. I’m using berger vld target bullets and retumbo powder. Started at the minimum charge weight based on a table I got from berger. First batch wasn’t all that impressive, groups between .5 and .75″ at 100 yards, best being .4″ Went back today with the next batch of ammo, all with more powder, and it went much better. A few groups around .75″ for the worst. Then I had these. 🙂

.4″ group ctc.

.2″ group ctc, with one really bad flinched shot. 😳

.3″ group ctc, with another flinched shot. 🙄

All groups are 4 shots, some I only counted 3 if I knew I flinched on one. The powder charges were spaced pretty far apart (probably too far) but this definitely gives me something to narrow down on.

Here’s the thing though, and maybe some of you with tac-ops and similar rifles can help me out on this. Once you start really getting group sizes down small, how much can you see the difference between one group and the next, and knowing it is only the ammo and not you? I know it has a lot to do with the shooter ability, if you can only shoot 1 moa groups then you won’t be able to see groups getting smaller than that. But I can shoot ok, I just think if they get very much smaller than that my point of aim on that little dot will move wider than the groups should be. In my head i keep thinking, “just aim better” but I just wonder if you can aim at a target and keep the crosshairs within .1″ of the very center of that target. The more I think about it the less sense I am making, so I’ll just shutup now and hopefully someone understands my question. 😆 I do guess the answer will be something along the lines of, you can only shoot as well as you can aim.

Also, any tips you guys have to making the groups better please tell me. I am trying to be very consistent in loading. I measure each powder charge by hand. I try to make all of the rounds the exact same OAL. How much does brass length matter? I know there are the limits, trim once it hits a certain point and all. But should I trim them all anyway to get them to the same length, or does that matter much?

So much to learn. But it is definitely worth it. Just started last week and I have groups down near .25moa already. If I can get them closer to .1 I will be satisfied, but I have to make sure I can shoot that well to start with. 😆 And stop flinching on that last shot!