I took a trip to the range today for the fist time since late last fall. After about an hour of shooting, I was about ready to tear my rifle down and rebuild her making sure everything was torqued. It was the first time I've used my suppressor on a warmer day (72F). I suspect the suppressor heating up was affecting my accuracy. I'll need to do further testing on a better day to verify.
The winds were gnarly to say the least. For the most part it was half value winds with large gusts between at the bench, between the 100 yard and 200 yard berm, between the 200 yard and 300 yard berm, or some combination. The winds were acting like a bipolar.schizophrenic girlfriend at that week. It was constantly changing directions.
I ran into an experienced guy at the range and told him what I was expecting. He said he'd experienced days like that at this range were he got similar results due to the wind. I'll go try a different place to shoot before I blame the rifle.
I was shooting almost exclusively Hornady factory AMAX other than some load work. I only tracked the velocity of a small sample of what I shoot, but none the less I got a huge STD (40 fps) in velocity.
2427 2467 2398 2375 2381 2450 2473 2470
This was an early 200 yard target. POAs were all over the place, not just dead center of any target.
I discarded the suppressor and saw an immediate improvement. (SDN-6) In its defense I was incredibly pleased the initial accuracy of it at 100 yards, in the cold at Rebel's shop.
Things calmed down long enough for me to see what this rifle is capable of at 300 yards. The following a target at 300 yards an adjustment up then back down got me right on target.
The winds died off just long enough for me to pull of this little beauty.
The following was a ladder test of Barnes 127gr LRX and Nosler 129gr ABLR, both used Hornady virgin brass ,CCI 450 primers, and CFE 223.
The 127gr LRX. This is what not to do. I may have started at max pressure. I was using the super chrono and wasn't able to monitor the velocity as I was shooting. If anyone is interested in trying this combination, I'd suggest starting below 28grs.
Charge (gr) Velocity (fps)
29..... 2221.0
29.3 ..... 2237.0
29.6 .....2263.0
29.9 .....2257.0
30.2 .....2319.0
30.5 .....2378.0
30.8 .....2322.0
31.1..... 2421.0
31.4..... 2375.0
The 129gr Nosler ABLR
Charge (gr) Velocity (fps)
28.4..... 2208.0
28.7..... 2227.0
29..... 2257.0
29.3..... 2251.0
29.6..... 2260.0
29.9..... 2303.0
30.2..... 2309.0
I may have something at 29.3gr to 29.9gr. 30.2gr was max fill at 2.294 COL. 30.5gr was so compressed the press caved in the nose during loading.
I won't even display the Nosler 123gr CC OW target. The results weren't acceptable at all. It also used Hornady virgin brass ,CCI 450 primers, and CFE 223.
Charge (gr) Velocity (fps) STD Dev # Samples
30..... 2344.0..... 30.5..... 3
30.3..... 2379.3..... 6.7..... 3
30.6..... 2396.7..... 27.1..... 3
30.9..... 2413.0..... 23.1..... 3
31.2..... 2455.7.... 10.2..... 3
31.5..... 2477.7..... 20.4..... 3
31.8..... 2499.7..... 16.5..... 3
32.1..... 2534.7..... 21.0..... 3
32.4..... 2526.0..... ..... 1
32.7..... 2588.0..... ..... 1
It was obvious (at least to me) I had hit the pressure limit at 32.4grs and the velocity data backed it up.
The winds were gnarly to say the least. For the most part it was half value winds with large gusts between at the bench, between the 100 yard and 200 yard berm, between the 200 yard and 300 yard berm, or some combination. The winds were acting like a bipolar.schizophrenic girlfriend at that week. It was constantly changing directions.
I ran into an experienced guy at the range and told him what I was expecting. He said he'd experienced days like that at this range were he got similar results due to the wind. I'll go try a different place to shoot before I blame the rifle.
I was shooting almost exclusively Hornady factory AMAX other than some load work. I only tracked the velocity of a small sample of what I shoot, but none the less I got a huge STD (40 fps) in velocity.
2427 2467 2398 2375 2381 2450 2473 2470
This was an early 200 yard target. POAs were all over the place, not just dead center of any target.
I discarded the suppressor and saw an immediate improvement. (SDN-6) In its defense I was incredibly pleased the initial accuracy of it at 100 yards, in the cold at Rebel's shop.
Things calmed down long enough for me to see what this rifle is capable of at 300 yards. The following a target at 300 yards an adjustment up then back down got me right on target.
The winds died off just long enough for me to pull of this little beauty.
The following was a ladder test of Barnes 127gr LRX and Nosler 129gr ABLR, both used Hornady virgin brass ,CCI 450 primers, and CFE 223.
The 127gr LRX. This is what not to do. I may have started at max pressure. I was using the super chrono and wasn't able to monitor the velocity as I was shooting. If anyone is interested in trying this combination, I'd suggest starting below 28grs.
Charge (gr) Velocity (fps)
29..... 2221.0
29.3 ..... 2237.0
29.6 .....2263.0
29.9 .....2257.0
30.2 .....2319.0
30.5 .....2378.0
30.8 .....2322.0
31.1..... 2421.0
31.4..... 2375.0
The 129gr Nosler ABLR
Charge (gr) Velocity (fps)
28.4..... 2208.0
28.7..... 2227.0
29..... 2257.0
29.3..... 2251.0
29.6..... 2260.0
29.9..... 2303.0
30.2..... 2309.0
I may have something at 29.3gr to 29.9gr. 30.2gr was max fill at 2.294 COL. 30.5gr was so compressed the press caved in the nose during loading.
I won't even display the Nosler 123gr CC OW target. The results weren't acceptable at all. It also used Hornady virgin brass ,CCI 450 primers, and CFE 223.
Charge (gr) Velocity (fps) STD Dev # Samples
30..... 2344.0..... 30.5..... 3
30.3..... 2379.3..... 6.7..... 3
30.6..... 2396.7..... 27.1..... 3
30.9..... 2413.0..... 23.1..... 3
31.2..... 2455.7.... 10.2..... 3
31.5..... 2477.7..... 20.4..... 3
31.8..... 2499.7..... 16.5..... 3
32.1..... 2534.7..... 21.0..... 3
32.4..... 2526.0..... ..... 1
32.7..... 2588.0..... ..... 1
It was obvious (at least to me) I had hit the pressure limit at 32.4grs and the velocity data backed it up.
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