New To Reloading Question

[Rickhem]

There's a lot of good info in this thread, and as others have stated, sometimes it takes a re-read or three before it all comes into focus. I'll add that for what you're doing, don't get too wrapped up in what you're getting from your chronograph, and focus on what your target tells you. The extreme spread is huge for those shooting much longer distances than 200 yards, where the velocity equates to vertical dispersion. If your groups are wider than they are tall, it's not ES making that happen.

Controlling ES, like most other aspects of reloading, is a rabbit hole unto itself. The tension that holds your bullet in your case is a big contributor. A bullet that starts moving nano-seconds sooner will be different than one that takes longer to start moving. This is where crimping, neck turning, and a plethora of other case prep activities play a role. Even sorting bullets comes into play, since a variation of of 2 grains of bullet weight will translate to small changes in your velocity. And while all these vatiables occasionally cancel each other out, they also occasionally act cumulatively, which is seemingly what my rifles always do.

But restating my point, an ES of <50 fps would translate to vertical dispersion measured in tenths of an inch at 100 to 200 yards.