Erratic Loads?

[rbahri5206]

i know, my point exactly...its a .22 and its 200 yards. if its blowing 15 MPH with a 9 or 3 o'clock cross, the theoretical wind adjustment is around 4-5 inches. @ 10 MPH, its about 3 inches...and thats with a 77gr bullet.

however, the OP has not put what his groups were and what his expectations are as far as "accuracy" goes. he doesnt tell us if his conditions were the same, etc.

It could be that he's looking for 1 inch groups at 200 yards and he's getting 2 inch groups

It could also be parallax or maybe something in his scope is off like other posters mentioned like improperly torqued scope rings or screws.

Point being, we need the OP to give us more details.

The groups at 100 yards were very tight like an inch or two, the next set of shots was at 200 yards with a slight wind under 5mph, target was a 12" plate and they were every were I mean from the very bottom edge to the very top edge.

[damndave]

Not all loads good at 100 yrds are good at longer ranges. Assuming you did your part, keep load developing.

[CK_32]

Not all loads good at 100 yrds are good at longer ranges. Assuming you did your part, keep load developing.

We'll assuming you have adequate MV a 100 yard group should hold faily well @ longer distances assuming it's a good BC bullet and conditions aren't factored in.

Right? I'm not trying to be befuttle your post but am curious my self since I've never really nailed down a consistent 1/2" group due to reloasing skills or my shooting skill as of yet but am coming close to one at the moment and that's my understanding as long as your not fighting the transonic stage a 100 yard load should preform just as we'll at longer ranges.. Or is there another factor I'm not accounting for aside from transonic, BC and elemental effects?


Also not trying to thread jack but don't want to start a fresh thread on that especially since it might help/aid OP as well.

[bsumoba]

sounds like you need to do more load development and get more trigger time.

What scope are you using and what kind of shooting position are you doing? it sounds like it is a combination of your load development, and shooting technique. @ 200yds, everything wrong or right is amplified. a good load out of a squared away 20", 1/8 twist barrel should be getting around MOA or less consistently, not 1-2 inches. 2 inches with handloads at 100 yards is large IMO.

FYI, my pet load for my wife's M&P15 Sport is 23.5gr CFE223, 77gr SMK, 2.600" OAL, and this is what Im getting at 100 yards. This is with a 4-16 scope, bipod and rear bag.

If you noticed, 23.3-23.6 shows a POI that is very similar AND the groups are tight. Above and below this range, the POI shifts and there is no real good pattern and the groups open up. I then narrowed it to 23.5 grains. What this means is if I accidentally charge 0.1 grains in either direction above or below, I should expect a very little POI shift. This is the advantage of finding an accuracy node.

[CK_32]

Nice shooting^^

[tiller]

or.......he could be flinching.

This is the correct answer

[6mmintl]

The groups at 100 yards were very tight like an inch or two, the next set of shots was at 200 yards with a slight wind under 5mph, target was a 12" plate and they were every were I mean from the very bottom edge to the very top edge.

"An inch or two" at 100 is maybe 3-5" at 200, x 2 means sight alignment issue/heavy trigger/crimped bullets?/more wind then observed/SumTingLoose.

[rbahri5206]

Thanks for all the tips I am gonna try some of the things you guys mentioned and see what I come up with

[krwada]

Good groups at 100 yards
Crappy groups at 200 yards?
8 twist AR barrel?

You need to try a heavier pill ... that is redneck speak for a heavier projectile. An 8-twist barrel using 69 grain bullets being pushed out at 2800 fps or thereabouts ... well ... I can say this for certain ... you run the risk of instability at the longer distances with this kind of combination.

Try an 80 grain or heavier bullet. See how that works for you at 200 yards.

[NiMiK]

I've had the same problem with my first 5 loads using 69gr SMK. I fixed it by measuring off the Ogive rather than COAL. It was a night and day difference for me.

[rbahri5206]

I've had the same problem with my first 5 loads using 69gr SMK. I fixed it by measuring off the Ogive rather than COAL. It was a night and day difference for me.

I'm a little new to reloading can you explain this a little further?

[Sleighter]

Good groups at 100 yards
Crappy groups at 200 yards?
8 twist AR barrel?

You need to try a heavier pill ... that is redneck speak for a heavier projectile. An 8-twist barrel using 69 grain bullets being pushed out at 2800 fps or thereabouts ... well ... I can say this for certain ... you run the risk of instability at the longer distances with this kind of combination.

Try an 80 grain or heavier bullet. See how that works for you at 200 yards.

What? There is no reason for a 69gr bullet to be unstable at 200 yards unless your barrel or crown has issues. I would like to see your data to support your assertion that makes you so certain its the bullet.

[DelDanko]

1-2 in at 100 should mean approx 2-4 at 200. longer ranges ARE harder to shoot since the target will seem smaller in the scope so the previous 3-5in group could easily be expected. Get the 100yrd group down to 1in for 5 shots then try 200 again and see if the problem persists.

if you already did a ladder test and found 25gr to be best accuracy then do a new ladder with different seating depths. Also try to keep the same cases if possible.

Good luck buddy! with enough practice and testing the loads will be 1-2in at 200 soon enough.

[NiMiK]

I'm a little new to reloading can you explain this a little further?

If you're serious about precision then follow the videos below. This is the same method when reloading for bolt rifles. If the OAL is longer than your your magazine, you can still load it in the chamber by hand. Make sure you don't exceed the max OAL when seating the bullet.

Determining OAL:

http://youtu.be/phQdxDwe804

Measuring Ogive:

http://youtu.be/M92w4YoxbEM

[rbahri5206]

If you're serious about precision then follow the videos below. This is the same method when reloading for bolt rifles. If the OAL is longer than your your magazine, you can still load it in the chamber by hand. Make sure you don't exceed the max OAL when seating the bullet.

Determining OAL:

http://youtu.be/phQdxDwe804

Measuring Ogive:
http://youtu.be/M92w4YoxbEM

Thank you.