After discovering the problem with my brake and correcting it, the weather just wouldn't give me a break, until today. Add to that, I managed to get my hands on a box of Hornady 123 Amax bullets. So I loaded up four sets of 5 loads each and headed out. Conditions were near perfect with a modest tail wind straight at the 100 yard target board and I had the range to myself. That didn't last though. After setting up the targets, chrony, bench rest and rear bag and all my accouterments, I settled down and after three shots, the next group of club members showed up. A fellow with two boys who brought their .22s and set up over on the left benches. We only have a five bench rifle range and dad set next to me with his Sako .338 Lapua bolt action. I got another shot off while dad was fiddling around and as I was breaking the next shot, he set that monster off and warped space and time. I naturally fired a sympathy shot and screwed up the group. We traded turns for the most part after that, but he still managed to surprise me a couple more times. Try as I may, I could not detach myself from thinking about whether he was about to shoot or not, but managed to throw some very pleasing results nonetheless. It was cathartic just getting out and shooting on a beautiful Minnesota spring day with everything working right.
The best group I got was from the initial loading of 29gr of 8208, but 29.5 was a close second. The 30 and 30.5 charges were outside the sweet zone and despite being not as good, it was still very satisfying to just get to shoot with decent weather and very capable bullets.
Here's the results:
EDIT: The targets are 1/2" grid and bull.
Now that I have that behind me, I will go back to finding a good recipe for my 100 and 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips since my original effort was poisoned by the brake problem and I still have some left. I may try working up a recipe for a Barnes bullet for hunting. Not sure what I'll pursue after that since I don't shoot competition. Perhaps try the Amax's again at one of the longer ranges in the area to humiliate myself They and the gun are capable of exceeding my own skill level.
Thanks to Bill Waites for his encouraging PMs and help finding some of those Amax's.
Hoot
The best group I got was from the initial loading of 29gr of 8208, but 29.5 was a close second. The 30 and 30.5 charges were outside the sweet zone and despite being not as good, it was still very satisfying to just get to shoot with decent weather and very capable bullets.
Here's the results:
EDIT: The targets are 1/2" grid and bull.
Now that I have that behind me, I will go back to finding a good recipe for my 100 and 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips since my original effort was poisoned by the brake problem and I still have some left. I may try working up a recipe for a Barnes bullet for hunting. Not sure what I'll pursue after that since I don't shoot competition. Perhaps try the Amax's again at one of the longer ranges in the area to humiliate myself They and the gun are capable of exceeding my own skill level.
Thanks to Bill Waites for his encouraging PMs and help finding some of those Amax's.
Hoot
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