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A. INITIAL BREAK-IN:
AFTER EACH SHOT FOR THE FIRST 10 SHOTS DO STEPS OUTLINED BELOW I THROUGH 4. THEN REPEAT SAME STEPS AFTER EVERY 3 SHOTS FOR THE NEXT 30 ROUNDS FIRED. MAINTAINING ALL CLEANING STEPS I THROUGH 5 AFTER EVERY 5 TO 7 ROUNDS IS RECOMMENDED FOR AS LONG AS YOU OWN THE RIFLE. (Run an oiled patch down bore before storage and wipe outside metal with same. Then clean with solvent and dry patch before shooting.)
* The greatest damage you can do to any rifle's throat and bore is to shoot it repeatedly without giving it a 4 to 5 minute cool down between shots. One or two follow-up shots in a hunting situation is okay and won't hurt the barrel.
B. CLEANING PROCEDURES:
1. Run regular solvent soaked patch down bore from receiver out through muzzle crown. Scrub w/brush 2-3 times then run a couple patches down & out to flush burnt powder out of bore exposing copper fouling.
2. Soak (saturate) a patch with a copper solvent such as Shooters Choice "Copper Remover" or Sweets 762 or Barnes CR10. Soak a second patch with same and run down bore after I st patch (should get drips on bench top). Let it set in bore 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Scrub with brush 6 to 8 round trips out muzzle & back up to chamber.
4. Now dry patch until clean and then put a patch on front of brush and mop out solvent back wash in chamber. It's now ready to shoot again,
5. These exact steps in sequence get 97% of copper out of any barrel. To get it 100% "pristine" clean in bore, repeat steps 2 through 4 with one more soaked patch w/copper remover. (If you use Sweets 762, after step 4, run a regular solvent soaked patch down bore and then dry patch again several times.)
6. Recommendation; always shoot two light fouling shots after thorough cleaning before hunting and then adjust scope to shots 3 through 5 during sight-in activity. This gives you usually in most rifles, "dead-on" to where cross hairs are placed on game, when first shot is fired from a cold barrel and any follow-up shots usually are right-on also.
OVERVIEW:
The following tips on developing handloads works 99% of the time with most calibers and bullets for most rifles. First some basic information to understand in developing handloads. Each brand of bullet manufactured has its own unique shape, length and weight. Even within the same lot # of bullets lengths can vary, some by .001" to .002" and other brands and styles by.010" to .020" +.
The basics to keep in mind are one brand and shape of bullet will "dial-in" differently than another brand even if of the same weight. Bullets don't start engraving at their point of one caliber diameter but usually on the bullet at the point that's .002" less in diameter.
ARNOLD SYSTEMATIC APPROACH:
Measure either bullet tip or point of ogive back to bolt face from when bullet just "kiss touches" lands in throat. If you're using Barnes or Speer hunting bullets subtract .050" from this overall measurement and .040" if Hornady spire pt. bullets. Both Sierra and Nosler bullets should have .025" to .030" subtracted from OAL measurement. Next, keeping powder charge constant in all loads, load 5 rounds at the measured (above) shortest subtracted length, then 5 rounds .005" further out and so on until you are .005 "off the measured distance that bullet kiss touches lands. Select a powder and charge density that your load book for reference indicates was a good performer and start a grain or so lighter. Remember to keep all loads to the same measure of powder, as you're only changing OAL of cartridge every 5 rounds in.005" increments.
Be sure to mark load number with felt pen on cartridge cases (each 5 rounds) and record load data in spiral notebook to take to range on each load for reference when shooting and later comparison.
When at range always make sure rifle bore is thoroughly clean and dry (see Arnold Arms - Break-in and Cleaning Instructions). Now start with shortest OAL 5 rounds first. Aim at a ½" or 1 " white (preferred) or orange dot on black background.(Practice 3 to 5 dry fires with the goal to keep crosshairs on or inside dot after trigger is pulled. If they move outside dot, that's where a live round would have gone.)
Maintain consistent shooting form and hold on rifle at bench for each shot. Let barrel cool after each shot 4-5 minutes. After shooting a 5 shot group, thoroughly clean as referenced above then you're ready to shoot next 5 shot group .005" longer in OAL. Groups on or around each dot will begin to shrink down and if you've gone past "sweet spot" with a subsequent load, further groups will start to open up again. (Judge shots 3-5.)
FINE TUNING LOAD:
Whichever load shot the tightest group relative to the others is the load to now fine tune. Now repeat a load of 5 rounds the same as your best group shot and 5 rounds .002" longer and 5 rounds .003" longer. Also 5 rounds .002" shorter than previous best load. You now have four combinations of lengths to shoot on your second trip to the range totaling 20 rounds. Remember cleaning and cool down steps at range. One of these loads will shoot tighter groups than the others and remember to practice dry firing while barrel cools down. These two range sets of tests will determine optimum length of cartridge using that brand, shape, length and weight of bullet.
FINAL ADJUSTMENT:
After determining OAL of cartridge, now for third trip to range, you'll be dialing-in barrel harmonics. So with previously determined "best load and OAL", now repeat 5 rounds of that load (powder charge and length) and 5 rounds .5 grain more powder and another .5 grain more yet, if not over maximum safe load density shown in load data book used, and a fourth load .5 grain less than previous best load. From these four combinations you should see at the range, that one of these loads will shoot even tighter groups than the others. You now have a "dialed-in" load for that bullet in that rifle! Repeat all steps when going to a different bullet.
TIPS ON LOADING:
Always prep, size and trim cases to same length. When seating bullets, seat one-half stroke, rotate case 90, then complete seating stroke. Nurse seating adjustments down on bullet for each cartridge to desired finished length for consistency. (Use dial caliper).
TIPS ON SHOOTING FORM:
Consistent control of the variables is important. These are the rifle, firmly mounted scope, consistent ammo and shooting form at bench. To promote consistent bench posture and especially for magnums try the following: First sit upright, bring rifle & sandbag rest back to you. Put a second sandbag under toe of rifle butt, interlock arms, don't cant rifle L or R, maintain consistent pressure & position of butt to shoulder and put shooting hand thumb along side pistol grip not over it when precision shooting. Practice these tips with dry fires until comfortable.
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