Just some results from the range….9-22-20
Sept 24, 2020 11:37:50 GMT -5
hillbill, sew, and 1 more like this
Post by Richard on Sept 24, 2020 11:37:50 GMT -5
So, my shooting the last few weeks has been with my Leupold MK4 fixed 16X scope with mildot reticule. Not the very best at 300 yards considering the size bullseyes I am using. The scope has been zeroed with the cross hairs at 100 and I have been using the first mildot for 300 yards which puts it pretty close depending on the bullet and load. The only problem is the dot completely covers those 2” orange dots on my target board. The red dayglow dots are 3”. As viewed thru the scope, it appears as a slight red glow surrounding the mildot. With mirage, it gets kind of tricky for real good aiming. I mention this as I believe it accounts, somewhat, for group size. (or gives me an excuse?)
With the loads I have been shooting, I see some positive results and will be putting the 12X42 NF back on to see if it corroborates my findings with the 16X scope…..or maybe I will be sending it back to NF? In any event, the powder charges should provide some good readings for comparison.
Note: I am using Hank’s Direct Ignition so velocities will probably be in the area of 25 to 50 fps faster than same loads using the HIS modules. There have been some ongoing conversations with bkm and ultimatepredator (Keith and Steve) comparing loads. Also, my barrel is 30” long with a 1.3” breech end thickness for 6” and tapering straight to 1” at the muzzle. My bullets size right at .4500--.4501” for a light one handed seating. These loads are safe in my barrel.
For starters, I put two fouling shots down range with 300 gr. Fury bullets an 105 gr. of
I-4895 at velocities of 3037 and 3025 at “steel!”
#1..325 AeroMax with the same 105 gr. of I-4895 for an average velocity of 3034 fps and a whopping 75 fps ES. Removing the odd ball #4 shot, the average velocity dropped to 3020 with a 25 fps ES. These odd ball shots are what troubles me? Powder charges weighted to .03 (hundredths of a grain). Bullets sized alike the night before and seating feeling the same??? NOT all the time but the majority of times, this odd velocity shot will be out of the group. I might note that when Steve shoots the 325’s with a barrel similar to mine (his groups are pretty good) he is pushing this bullet to 3080 fps using
H-4895 at 101 to 102 grains and that using the HIS modules. I have shot 102 gr. of the same powder and with the DI am slightly over 3100 fps………..just for comparison. The way it looks, I might have to up the IMR charge to 106 or 107 gr. to mimic 3080.
I would not say the group is anything to brag about at 2” for five shots but then the first three were just over an inch which is not half that bad.
Barrel cooled down:
#2… Shot the same load again at the same bull but did a slight scope adjustment left and down (needed to go more) Here again, the odd ball shot (#3-3015) was out of the group. Looking at shots 1,2,4 and 5, the average velocity was 3044 fps with a 5 fps ES. The four shot group was .943”
#3… 300 AeroMax and 92 gr. of Benchmark. First shot a fouler for the change in powder (3040 fps). The next five averaged 3027 with an ES of 29. Taking out the odd ball low shot of #4 (3009) the four shot average was 3031 with a 13 fps ES. In this case, shot #1 (which was within the good average) was the odd shot out of the group while the low shot of #4 was in? Did I need to shoot more fouler shots with the new powder?....since 2, 3, 4 and 5 gave a fairly decent 1.2” group?
#4…Lastly, I went back to the 350 AeroMax and 100 gr. of IMR-4895. Shot a fouler (no reading on the LR?) and it hit way low. Shot #1 also hit similarly low an was of a lower velocity as was shot #5 (another similar low velocity-which also his lower). The bright spot was shots 4, 5 and 6 which gave a .884” group.
To me, using a chronograph (I happen to be using a Lab Radar) is very important when trying to analyze your groups. Without it, you have no idea, when a shot leaves your group, whether it was you?, the wind?, the mirage? Or whatever? At least with a velocity reading you have some idea what “might” have caused it? This is part of the reason I like to talk about my groups and what may or may not have caused a shot to leave the group. Especially when I feel everything felt good on the “nut’s” end……….scope properly aligned, load accurately weighted, bullet properly sized and loading felt right, trigger break not disturbed, wind flag doing what it did the previous shots etc.
The same can also be said for using wind flags. I have a flag with daisy wheel set up at 200 yards (the area where the wind is unshielded by our trees and backstop). I am able to see the flag in the bottom of my scope when aiming at my 300 yard target.
And that’s my story…………………..