RE: Newbie Questions
Remnard, how do you find any accuracy? Sounds to me like you are shooting two shot groups and the 2 shots you are using for group are at max load?
Anyway I like the Sierra manual the best! Go with their posted most accurate load and see what happens. I like 5 shot groups because that eliminates a whole bunch of variables. Flinch, pulled shot etc. Playing with loads is the funnest part of reloading so don't go on the cheap. I go to the range with 5 shots of the published accurate load and then I'll have 5 shots .5 grains below and 5 shots .5 grains above and 5 shots 1 grain above. Check for pressure when you start working up. A cronograph is also a great tool. When you record your shots through the crony see what is the most accurate and also what has the lowest extream spread. I like to play with different powders too and I'll load them the same way as noted before. Once you find what powder and charge works the best you can play with seating depth. You don't need the Hornady tool but is nice to have. You can find the lands by marking a bullet with a sharpie and close the bolt. You'll either see marks on the bullet or you wont. Seat the bullet out further or in further till you find that magical spot. With a factory gun I doubt you notice much difference in seating depth so what I would do is once you have your load to where you want it seat your bullet from there .010" deeper and .010" longer you could probably go .015". In a custom gun i go with .005" incriments. See what it does.
There are so many little tricks to aid in accuracy it's not funny. Play, Play, Play it's the best way to learn