Testing in High Winds

[LloydXmas250]

So I went out today to the High Desert. The weather report said it would be blowing 10mph but this was one of the few days I could go out so I just went for it. When I got to my spot it was blowing 20 with occasional gusts going straight across my firing line. I was testing the seating depth for my most accurate load for my AR. I tested 53gr SMK on 24.5grs of H335 seated at an OAL of 2.260" and 2.20." With the wind the groups were obviously not as good as they normally are and it does seem like the OAL 2.20" performed better.

I shot round robin, 4 X 5 shot groups of one OAL, then 4 X 5 shot groups of the other. Shots were taken prone on sandbags at 100 yds about one shot every 30 seconds. Groups were as follows:

OAL 2.20" - .9065", 1.1545", 1.3695", 1.6945" for an average of 1.28"
OAL 2.26" - 1.153", 1.522", 1.8615", 1.825" for an average of 1.59"

Is it safe to conclude that this test was OK under these conditions? Or are the results too minimal that it may have been affected by the excess wind?

I tried to shoot all shots at the same wind speed but there were a few that got away because of the wind (one group had the makings of .60" but the wind took one well away from the other 4).

Let me know what you experts think.

[TimRB]

When testing loads in the wind, you can ignore any horizontal stringing and concentrate on the vertical group size. Measuring group size to the nearest ten thousandth of an inch may be overdoing it.

Tim

[Antihero47]

Post some pictures of the results. We can give you some more information.

[LloydXmas250]

[Antihero47]

While at first glance, it looks like the 2.20 OAL works the best, I would conclude that the overall results from the 3 other targets and compared with the 2.26 OAL targets it really come out in a wash.

Regardless of wind, consistency is the key to accuracy. If the loads were consistent then the rounds would have strung horizontal with the wind, comparing your best groups of each OAL and comparing them to the other 3 it does not look like there is a majority pattern. I would wait another day and try the tests again.

I'll give you some advice, the wind won't change your impact vertical wise enough if the shooter broke the shot at the POA at 100 yards. Keep working on the trigger pull and hold with practice. What trigger are you running? Mil-spec?

[LloydXmas250]

Thanks for the advice. I'm completely fine with doing the test again. Gives me reason to go out and shoot more. I'm running a mil-spec trigger with a JP Enterprises light trigger spring. Another trigger is something I'll get down the road.