Leverevolution with 120 ELD-M/ballistic turret issue

[Yama]

I recently put a Swarovski Z5 BT on my Howa mini for shooting hi power silhouette. Before my purchase, I used the Swaro on-line ballistics calculator to ensure everything would work. My hand loads clock @ 2500 in this weather, 2530 fps when it was a wee bit warmer. Used this load cuz I get one hole @ 100 yds.
Everything looked great on paper, however when I actually zeroed for each distance I ended up about 5 clicks short at the furthest (500 m). The come-ups on the calculator didn't quite jive with the real world. I got the scope for a great price, but not being able to utilize it the way I intended is disappointing.
I'm hoping I can address the issue by increasing the velocity, and also increase knock down probability on rams.
My load is 30.5gr CFE223/ CCI 450/ Hornady and Starline brass/ Hornady 120gr ELD-M @ 2.19" OAL for approx. 2530 fps
Just received the Grendel hand loading manuals from Alexander but not much on the Leverevolution powder.
What data there is in the books is encouraging, but more data would be appreciated, and also rational opinions
I'd like to get up to 2600 fps and I hope that will give me better zeroes with the scope. Hell of a system if I can make it work.
Btw, talked to Swaro and there's no way to cheat the turret to get more clicks cuz of the zero stop, etc., etc. .

Cheers!

[VASCAR2]

Have you considered using a 20 MOA mount which will permit more elevation on your scope. I suspect the Ballistic Coefficient stated by Hornady is off or the environmental factors used were a little different than what you used in the app (or combination of factors).

Leverevolution powder is very similar to CFE223 and some people use CFE223 as a guide for Lever. You might consider a different bullet with higher BC. Generally the 123 grain SMK, Lapua SCENAR or Nosler CC have a higher BC which might correlate better to your reticle. You might get more accurate data using a G7 in calculating your dope on a ballistic calculator.

[LRRPF52]

What BC are you using for the 120gr ELD-M?

[centerfire]

BDC knobs never line up perfectly, DA changes constantly. I can't stand BDC, take your known MV and BC and run solutions with real time DA.

[Yama]

The limitation is with the design of the turret; a 20 MOA rail would not help. The design of the turret limits the rotation, after zeroing at for example 200 meters, to just shy of one complete rotation.
Using .486 as the B.C.

[centerfire]

What's the difference between the zero of your rifle and the mechanical zero of the scope?

[Yama]

centerfire: if you mean is there any more elevation adjustment left, then yes there is. However, from zero the ballistic turret can rotate to only just shy of one revolution because of the design, not because there is no more adjustment available otherwise.

It's a unique system, but not without limitations. Regardless if a 20 moa base or any other form of base/ring compensation/adjustment for elevation, the turret can still rotate only a finite amount regardless of a practical zero, such as 200 yards for example.
The ballistic trajectory has everything to do with what ranges the scope's turrets are capable of being used. Something like a .30-.378 wouldn't have the same issue at the same distances. But the wee Grendel doesn't have the same poop and pushes the limitations of the scope's ballistic turret system.
Is it possible to push a 130 gr low drag match bullet to 2600 fps in a 20" bbl bolt action Grendel? A 120 gr? Leverevolution? CFE223? Bueller? Bueller?

[grayfox]

For a 20" barrel, as you seem to have, 2500 give or take for the 120 class is pretty much tops. Forget about 2600 for a 120 class bullet. For long range the 123 class is pretty much the sweet spot, or look at the 129 Ablr (listed BC 0.561) but realize you'll be doing that at 2450 +/-, maybe even down to 2400. But it flies great and has 1300 ft/s opening velocity.
Your issue load-wise is not using a better BC bullet, like the 123 Eldm, Nosler 123CC or 123 SMK, or Lapua even better. They will have less drop so you might be able to reach your goal. For limits of about 500m maybe even the 108 Lapua or 107 SMK but I have not shot those, others have and might chime in.

[Yama]

The ranges are fixed for my intents: 200, 300, 385, and 500 meters, so I'm not too concerned with anything beyond that. For any hunting, I would choose a different bullet and shots would be more within my own ethical limits for a clean kill, which for me is probably closer to 300 yards max on most game.
Replacing the barrel with perhaps a 22 or 24" may be the way to go in order to increase velocities to meet my needs.
Load development with Lvr is in the future, for sure.

Anybody tried the Nosler RDFs?

[grayfox]

Couple of the guys on here (memory escapes me, after all it's 3:30 AM LOL) had a lot of trouble getting RDFs to do anything for them, there are some threads. Ablrs have done well, the new Sierra 130 TGK might be a possibility for you. I think the 130 TMK might have been reported as being too long to allow sufficient powder for the Grrr, except maybe for a bolt action where you can load them longer...
At my elevation-328', in yds now, the Ablr in my Howa 20" bolt gun (200 yd zero) drops about 11.4 MOA at 500 yds, that's a data point for you. MV=2450 ft/s. Using a 250 zero it comes to 9.8 MOA. With those specs but a 2.5" scope ht (as for an AR) you'd be looking at 9.66 MOA...
I load my Ablr's to 2.305 which is longer than most AR mag lengths, just as fyi.

[Yama]

After some searching, I found a video showing how to remove the zero stop shim on the Z5, enabling the turret to rotate like a more conventional target-type turret. Despite Swarovski warning me that doing this will void their warranty, I'm going to try it as it appears this will solve my elevation adjustment issue with the Z5 ballistic turret and the wee Grendel cartridge. It's a simple procedure and is totally reversible, so I fail to see how it can affect the warranty or be detrimental to the operation of the scope. Grateful to Omer for the video.