Thread: Variables affecting precision

How I'd rate accuracy factors for hunting/long range shooting:

1) The Shooter.
2) The Rifle.
3) The Projectile (and if the rifle likes it).
4) The Powder (and how the projectile likes it).
5) The Charge Weight (accuracy starts falling off with velocity as you approach or exceed book max).
6) The Seating Depth (I just load to SAAMI specs and feel playing with depth is largely a waste and increases malfunction risks).
7) Esoteric stuff that can't be measured and I don't mess with it.

I have tried a lot of reloading methods, but now I basically do the Hornady protocol which I view as:

1) Get a good chronograph (Garmin Xero)
2) Pick a bullet and powder.
3) Start at low charge weight and go up a grain to 1/2 grain at a time towards book max to get my target velocity. Don't mess with tiny charge weight changes.
4) Try not to exceed book max as the added velocity often causes worse accuracy.
5) Shoot a 10 round group with target velocity load you want and see how it goes.
6) If the group is bad in first 5 shots, stop and change powder and/or projectile. Don't waste time messing with anything else. Bad groups never get better.
7) If the group is good, shoot it a bit more to get accurate dispersion/velocity numbers/zero.
8) Shoot at range to verify.

Doing the above I can have a load working or rejected quickly.

I have wasted a lot of time doing OCW, etc. and the above gets me the better results in a fraction of the time.