Range Report

[RiskyBusiness]

Finally went out to confirm some results from my first handloads which i had found some promising results. Would love some guidance on where i should go from here. Test +/- 0.1 gr loads of Trip 2's best groups? Play more with seating depth by 0.010 which would put me at 2.235 and 2.005? I'm not a great shot so i shot off a sled for this and i just started reloading but im happy with the groups my $80 barrel showed so far. It may not be sub moa at 100yds but its close and im sure it can improve a tiny bit more. I also have a pound of cfe 223, ram tac, but mostly an 8lb of varget and half a pound of h335 left. Working with 55gr BT FMJ hornadys and for these test i used all LC brass trimmed to 1.500 and shot from a 16" barrel from an AR and 4x scope at 100yds.

Trip 1: Varget @25.0, 25.3, 25.9 gr and 2.200 COL was promising
H335 @24.3, 25.2 and 2.200 COL was promising

Trip 2: (VIEW PICS)
Varget @25.0 2.215 COL + (Top center circle in pic)
Varget @25.0 2.225 COL opened up more (top right circle)
Varget @25.3 2.225 COL + did better than 2.215 (far right center)
Varget @25.3 2.225 COL + little tighter than 2.215 (bot center)

H335 which in the past trip showed the tightest groups didnt perfom this time. Maybe I can try it again at 2.200 where i initially tested it at. I think i did however screw up and load 10 rounds of mixed COL of that h335 at 24.3 and as you can see on the top left corner target a group of 5 close and 5 drifted to the left. From the data that favors COL of 2.225 i think those could have been the bunch grouped in the target together. As much work and time this needs invested in, i actually do find it appealing and keeps shooting fun because you're chasing after goals each trip.

[slayer61]

Li' help.



To me, the development is the fun part. Notes on details, lengths etc. Try it all!

[stilly]

What shotgun you reloading for again??





I typically know my limits. I warmed up the other day with .45 ACP and had my target farther out than everyone else AND shot better groups then everyone else. For the Deagle I had to bring it in a bit because I am still not used to those sights.

FIRST think about reloading, Do you like the feel? Are they safe? Do they feed reliably?

Second thing- Accuracy. Where do they hit based on where you aim?

You can not REALLY judge accuracy TOOOOO much without using a sled. SO if I know my red dot is on target and I can hit the red dot several times with my load, it is a good load to me. I tell you what though- it is REALLY nice to be able to hit a golf ball 154 yards out in 2 shots though. AND that is hanging off the spare tire of a Jeep.

[Sir Toast]

What shotgun you reloading for again??

DANG STILLY! Way to crush this man's thread! I hope the OP has a good sense of humor.

[RiskyBusiness]

What shotgun you reloading for again??

haha very nice Stilly
i could've repeated a 3 shot group and gather only the best ones but i opted for 10 shot groups because hey i wanted the trigger time lol

[RiskyBusiness]

DANG STILLY! Way to crush this man's thread! I hope the OP has a good sense of humor.

Im use to him already lol he's actually very insightful half the time, good people though.

[stilly]

Mr Risky knows I have no malice for him.
He is also not an easy guy to crush.


Also, if you are EVER short on targets- I know this place, http://www.targets.net/index.html has targets and when you buy a lot they can get pretty ridiculously cheap.

[kcheung2]

For Varget & 55 grain projectiles, I suggest you try the 25.8-26.8 range.

[6mmintl]

What twist barrel are you using?

[RiskyBusiness]

For Varget & 55 grain projectiles, I suggest you try the 25.8-26.8 range.

Yeah i definitely saw good results with 25.9, i'll be careful to increase it by increments of 0.3, i realize it will be a compressed load so i doubt i'll reach the max before it starts to spill over the top of the mouth.

[RiskyBusiness]

What twist barrel are you using?

1:7, i do have a 1:8 as a back up. Guys at the reloading shop told me 1:7 is more for heavier projectiles and not 55gr.

[rm1911]

From a 16" AR with a 4x scope, the top and bottom left and the middle right look great. You're shooting a 4x scope which makes precision harder and the target isn't great for scoped rifles. There are good scope targets. They have alignment lines on the.

Point is those are really good groups and probably more accurate than showing. Get a chronograph. It's super useful. I just got one from amazon for $90.

Part of the spread can be differences in powder charge and velocity. I'd bet if you get exact powder measures (throw under then trickle to weight) you'd see them tighten. And, once you find the right load, a chrono will help with ballistics and scope hold and such. Or mil clicks on the scope.

[RiskyBusiness]

From a 16" AR with a 4x scope, the top and bottom left and the middle right look great. You're shooting a 4x scope which makes precision harder and the target isn't great for scoped rifles. There are good scope targets. They have alignment lines on the.

Point is those are really good groups and probably more accurate than showing. Get a chronograph. It's super useful. I just got one from amazon for $90.

Part of the spread can be differences in powder charge and velocity. I'd bet if you get exact powder measures (throw under then trickle to weight) you'd see them tighten. And, once you find the right load, a chrono will help with ballistics and scope hold and such. Or mil clicks on the scope.

Oh wow I didn't think of targets with horizontal alignments. Not to mention my $80 PSA budget barrel. Thanks for the encouragement I'll be going back out and tweak a few things. Not sure about a trickler as I'm using my turret press as a single stage and weighing every charge before seating a bullet so charges should be on point. I could throw on a 3x9 scope to see if that shows improvements. Anyone else test loads wth red dots or 4x sights and have better groups?

[JackEllis]

With or without a red dot, the top and bottom left and the middle right would meet my requirement of 1" or less at 100 if I'm estimating the size of those targets correctly.

If those three are different charge weights at the same seating depth, then I would move the seating depth up and down a bit.

[divingin]

I would say that none of those are 1" groups. The B-8 target measures 21" x 24", the printed bull is 5.54". So the smallest shoot'n'see is, what, 2"?

If I were the OP, I would ignore COL for now, as you need to fit the cartridge in the mag; concentrate on technique (steady the rifle as much as possible, and make sure you *squeeze* the trigger, noting where the crosshairs were when the shot broke), then look for a charge that groups well for the shots that you feel were good (i.e. only count the shots where you broke the trigger cleanly when the scope was on target, you weren't moving, flinching, etc.)

Once you figure out a charge/bullet combo that works, then play with seating depth (though you're still going to be limited by the need for mag length ammo, unless you single load.)

Just my take.