I have been beating my face against the wall trying to figure out this load thing. I have reached out to many people. I have read forums and watched vids. I have an issue that is not mentioned anywhere I have looked and most of the people I have reached out to don't respond. I have a 6.5CM. I have tried 3 different powders (4350, StaBall, H100V) and 4 different bullets (144gr Berger, 147gr ELD, 140gr ELD and 142gr SMK) and I get the same data patterns with every combo. Every powder/bullet shoots fine. In my OCW/ladder testing I get accuracy windows that are obvious. Here is the problem: When I load where the windows are the loads dont shoot in that window. EX- I have windows at 2660 and 2780. If I load for 2660 it shoots 2755. Why? I cant control where the speeds are. I see data patterns and load to hit somewhere in that pattern and it just wonders off. I'll post a pic of target from my phone in the next post.
Weird load issue
- Thread starter 105gr
- Start date
Garmin Xero and RCBS 502 beam scale. If its the chrony I dont know how to fix that. I have tested/calibrated the scale. I set it to 142 and put a 142gr SMK on it and its correct.
I’ll just throw out a few basic questions:
DC
- What brass are you using?
- Tell us about your barrel?
- Can you share the details on one specific load work up that you have done with 1 bullet and 1 powder?
- How did you determine these windows at 2660 and 2780?
- Tell us about your shooting set up, bench, prone, sandbags, distance, etc.
DC
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
^^^ plus how does the scale read when a 40 and 50 gr bullet is compared(10 weighs ea)? What is shooting order on the target and how fast are the groups shot?
fisherman987
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm not sure exactly what you are trying to do
You don't say how you're obtaining your charges but it seems to me you are doing something inconsistently. Or your scale has gone out of whack somehow and is showing inconsistent weights. If you are dropping the charges and trickling up to your desired weight, I'd vote for something is out of whack with the scale or there is some outside influence on the scale affecting its performance.
MikeRu
Gold $$ Contributor
2888fps w Berger 144 seems like it might be a hot load. Any pressure signs such as bolt lift?
Hornady brass currently. Have used Starline also.
Barrel is 8T 28" but I cant remember what barrel we put on. Shillen? Bart? Not sure.
One specific load is in the pic. Thats 144gr Berger with StaBall.
I determined the windows by speed and group. The lowest ES/tightest groups are 2660/2780
I shoot prone on a bipod and bag. Testing is 100yds.
I never loaded for a particular fps. I just look for small round groups. For my varmint hunting rifles I would concider all your targets bad groups. I would look at the bench setup. Do you have good trigger release. How do you react to the gun recoiling. When my gun goes off I try to stay relaxed and don't move a muscle in my body. When the gun goes off can you see the cross hair move on the target? Describe the rifle. I don't use cheek weld, I think it adds one more variable. The stock butt should be in the hollow part of the shoulder and not touching the shoulder bone.
Last edited:
fisherman987
Gold $$ Contributor
Bottom line is you have to be able to load what you measure as the same charge weight and have all your shots be within at least 30-40 fps of each other. If you can't do that, then none of your data means anything because you're starting out with totally random velocities. Bullets will fly all over the place and tell you nothing. Figure out why the velocities are not consistent with the supposed charge weight. Either the charge weights are random, or as I suspect, you have some sort of brass prep problem and/or reloading inconsistency that is causing the wildly inconsistent velocities, maybe a little bit of both. Also, how long has it been since you cleaned your barrel? Have you always had this kind of results with your reloading, or did this just happen suddenly, or over a period of time.
Just tested 69gr SMK. It weighs the same every time. The shooting order on the target is left to right starting on the top row. Then down to 2nd row left to right. (just like we read/type). Several minutes in between groups. Barrel is definetly not cold for every group
Its pillar/glass bedded. Doesn't mean there isn't still an issue but I have given the bedding attention.
I will have to retest to get that data
2888 is hot. Thats the end of the string. The windows are 2660 and 2780. I'm not going for 2888.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.