Post by Richard on Sept 17, 2020 11:01:26 GMT -5
Range time….
Have not put anything on the past few weeks as other things take precedent and I have been playing with different scopes, so not much to show. Lots of “two and ones” that seemingly are “unexplained? Maybe just the nut behind the butt? Just been finding it hard to explain when two shots place close together and the third one 2” away (at 300 yards)? Usually, the two shots that place together, are very close in velocity and the “democrat” is maybe 20 fps faster or slower? Not so here? It seems like the scope is randomly shifting? I subsequently put on an old (but always good) Leupold MK4 fixed power 16X scope that I had, had Leupold put in a mildot reticule, a few years ago. I abandoned it when I got my NF 8x32 and then the NF 12x42 and have been using them ever since. Results with the 16X have been looking promising but still not totally convinced. I have now been shooting at 300 using the first mil under the crosshairs. Those dots 100% cover my 2” orange dots…………not as precise as a 1/8 dot with the 12x42…….never the less pretty decent. I have also been using some 3” dots which allow a orange shadow around the mildot. Enough rambling…
The Ultimate Predator and I have been discussing IMR and Hodgedon 4895 along with the 325 AeroMax. Results so far are sketchy but then I have not been shooting too many of these bullets……….mostly the 350’s. Steve had indicated that 3080 fps is his sweet spot and that rifle has a similar contour and twist as my Black Corona. Since I had recently gotten eight pounds of IMR 4895 (due to a 1” five shot 300 yd. group I fired with some old IMR I had on hand) I of course wanted to use that powder. The thing is, I had been noticing the IMR seemed quite slower than the H? So, today I was determined to nail down the velocity of both powders……….side by side….apples to apples.
After fouling the barrel with some three shots and IMR, (100 grains) I shot a three shot group using the first mildot under the crosshairs (100 yard zero with the crosshairs). This put my group about 2” + and slightly right of my POA. I was planning on shooting a five shot group but forgot to “refill” by box of 325’s and found I only had eight bullets. Since these three shots had an ES of only 1 fps (2966, 2965 and 2965) and formed a .916” group, I left it at that.
Next up, was the H-4895 (100 grains). This five shot group impacted some 6” higher than the IMR group at an average of 3068 fps with a 17 fps ES. A “three in a row” group (2,3 and 4) measured 1.8” while all five came in a 2.8” BIG difference in group size and velocity!..............102 fps faster. Obviously for me, speed is not critical. Once your up in these velocity ranges, POI is nothing more than a click or so on the scope or using a different mildot.
Since I was out of 325”s, I shot a group using that same mildot along with 98 gr. of IMR 4895 and the 350 AeroMax….not impressive. Av. vel. at 2882 and ES at 29 fps with three in 1.8” and four in 2.5”. But, I was interested to see what this velocity would produce. I will be doing more testing with the 325’s at 100 gr. I have some 105 grain powder charges and will see what they produce……maybe seeing how much powder is needed to duplicate UP’s 3080 with Hodgedon?
An interesting note:Last week, 103 gr. of IMR 4895 and the 325 only gave me 2948 average for 4 shots with a 49 fps ES. 99 gr. gave 2939 fps with a 24 fps ES. I am wondering if I can even get 3080 out of IMR 4895? Any thoughts? This is Lab Radar checked!
If groups continue to be good at 100 grains, I would have no need to up the velocity.
Have not put anything on the past few weeks as other things take precedent and I have been playing with different scopes, so not much to show. Lots of “two and ones” that seemingly are “unexplained? Maybe just the nut behind the butt? Just been finding it hard to explain when two shots place close together and the third one 2” away (at 300 yards)? Usually, the two shots that place together, are very close in velocity and the “democrat” is maybe 20 fps faster or slower? Not so here? It seems like the scope is randomly shifting? I subsequently put on an old (but always good) Leupold MK4 fixed power 16X scope that I had, had Leupold put in a mildot reticule, a few years ago. I abandoned it when I got my NF 8x32 and then the NF 12x42 and have been using them ever since. Results with the 16X have been looking promising but still not totally convinced. I have now been shooting at 300 using the first mil under the crosshairs. Those dots 100% cover my 2” orange dots…………not as precise as a 1/8 dot with the 12x42…….never the less pretty decent. I have also been using some 3” dots which allow a orange shadow around the mildot. Enough rambling…
The Ultimate Predator and I have been discussing IMR and Hodgedon 4895 along with the 325 AeroMax. Results so far are sketchy but then I have not been shooting too many of these bullets……….mostly the 350’s. Steve had indicated that 3080 fps is his sweet spot and that rifle has a similar contour and twist as my Black Corona. Since I had recently gotten eight pounds of IMR 4895 (due to a 1” five shot 300 yd. group I fired with some old IMR I had on hand) I of course wanted to use that powder. The thing is, I had been noticing the IMR seemed quite slower than the H? So, today I was determined to nail down the velocity of both powders……….side by side….apples to apples.
After fouling the barrel with some three shots and IMR, (100 grains) I shot a three shot group using the first mildot under the crosshairs (100 yard zero with the crosshairs). This put my group about 2” + and slightly right of my POA. I was planning on shooting a five shot group but forgot to “refill” by box of 325’s and found I only had eight bullets. Since these three shots had an ES of only 1 fps (2966, 2965 and 2965) and formed a .916” group, I left it at that.
Next up, was the H-4895 (100 grains). This five shot group impacted some 6” higher than the IMR group at an average of 3068 fps with a 17 fps ES. A “three in a row” group (2,3 and 4) measured 1.8” while all five came in a 2.8” BIG difference in group size and velocity!..............102 fps faster. Obviously for me, speed is not critical. Once your up in these velocity ranges, POI is nothing more than a click or so on the scope or using a different mildot.
Since I was out of 325”s, I shot a group using that same mildot along with 98 gr. of IMR 4895 and the 350 AeroMax….not impressive. Av. vel. at 2882 and ES at 29 fps with three in 1.8” and four in 2.5”. But, I was interested to see what this velocity would produce. I will be doing more testing with the 325’s at 100 gr. I have some 105 grain powder charges and will see what they produce……maybe seeing how much powder is needed to duplicate UP’s 3080 with Hodgedon?
An interesting note:Last week, 103 gr. of IMR 4895 and the 325 only gave me 2948 average for 4 shots with a 49 fps ES. 99 gr. gave 2939 fps with a 24 fps ES. I am wondering if I can even get 3080 out of IMR 4895? Any thoughts? This is Lab Radar checked!
If groups continue to be good at 100 grains, I would have no need to up the velocity.
