223 rem adventures

[DLT]

So I have been playing with my 223 with 69smk and ar comp. I settled on a load that was 3/8” at 100 day in and day out. I have shot steel at 600 with it with pretty good consistency. The load has an sd of 10 and es of 25. However today I shot a group at 200 with hardly any wind and it was ugly. Bad





I took a mad on and could not believe my eyes. Why would it have grouped 2” ? Puzzled I loaded a totally random charge of varget with the same seating depth and it did this


Did I just not have a good load of ar comp to begin with or was it me at 200 ?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

How wide was the charge range with the AR cp where it would hold 3/8@100?

 

[Downeast]

 

[DLT]

How wide was the charge range with the AR cp where it would hold 3/8@100?

It held it from 23.1 to 23.5. I never did any seating depth testing with it. It was coming, I just decided to see how it would group at 200. I assume it wasn’t me because of how I shot 5 mins later lol

 

[Dave in WI]

Sometimes loads that are 1/2 MOA at 100yds are not 1/2 MOA at distance. Best to check your loads at distance to confirm. This may not be your case, "just sayin"

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Chronograph those loads, may give you some insight on what's happening. Bolt or gas rifle?

 

[DGP4]

Might be temperature sensitivity. Usually with me, it is just a bad day at the range!

 

[DLT]

Chronograph those loads, may give you some insight on what's happening. Bolt or gas rifle?

It’s a bolt gun running ar comp. 5 shots. 3033, 3019, 3036, 3044, 3044 with a magneto speed. It was breezy, switching winds. 3-8 mph Ima guess. Think it could open up groups that bad ? I shot that load fri and sat in winds. Groups look near identical. 2” horizontal, only 1/2” vertical at 200yds. Holds 3/8 the few times I have shot it at 100 for groups. Like I said I have not completely settled on that load.

 

[sneakboxer]

I'd take a look at JBM in regards to wind drift. Using generic environmental info and a full value wind: 3mph was 1.1in and 8mph was 2.9in at 200y. AR comp has a pretty good following, I would not give up too soon. I'd like to try it myself but its never on the shelf in my area.

 

[clowdis]

I can do 2 different days and get 2 different groups with the same setup. I don't have a great bench setup and the fore end on my rifle is not flat, but group consistency seems to avoid me. So I don't get too concerned if I have a bad day at the range, it'll be better next time. Now if it's bad for 2 trips in a row then I might have a look at the load. It will take more than 5 shots though before I decide either way, good or bad.

 

[DLT]

I'd take a look at JBM in regards to wind drift. Using generic environmental info and a full value wind: 3mph was 1.1in and 8mph was 2.9in at 200y. AR comp has a pretty good following, I would not give up too soon. I'd like to try it myself but its never on the shelf in my area.

I checked it on the app I use. It showed 2.5 inches at 200. I guess that’s what I get being a novice. Hardly ever do I shoot groups at 200 yards. I reshot my load the following day in the same type of wind. Both groups (one from Friday and Saturday with arcomp had 1/2” vertical and 2” horizontal….. well minus the flier be it a flier or not

 

[whatsupdoc]

Shooting groups at 200 is more difficult than 100, people will tell you check the load and
SD and ES but that is not really relevant at 200. I have personally tested shooting groups at 200
with every round having a .02 to .03 charge weight increase for 7 or 8 shots and they grouped
as good as shooting identical charge weights. Groups were .5 to .7 at 200 yards using a bipod and a rear bag.

Now this is not a benchrest rifle that shoots under .2 inches where this may not apply but I would
say that your results are mostly shooter induced noise.

Some of my rifles will shoot good groups no matter how I hold the rifle others will be very finicky
of how I hold them. Longer ranges simply magnify my errors.

 

[SecondsCount]

One or two groups does not always tell the story. I like to shoot at least three 5 shot groups to get an idea about what is going on.

 

[Dr. Jay]

I think the main question would be did you use any wind flags?

 

[cath8r]

Sometimes.... it's just you. Been there.

 

[DLT]

I think the main question would be did you use any wind flags?

No. Don’t own any and I have not made any, I was shooting in the wind. Off and on. Tree leaves moving broom straw moving.

 

[SecondsCount]

No. Don’t own any and I have not made any, I was shooting in the wind. Off and on. Tree leaves moving broom straw moving.

At 200 yards, a full value wind change of just 2MPH, can move your bullet 0.2 MOA, or almost half an inch.

Conditions may have lined up perfectly on the Varget group.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

No. Don’t own any and I have not made any, I was shooting in the wind. Off and on. Tree leaves moving broom straw moving.

I NEVER, ever, "Test" loads,.. on Windy Days.
However, I will, Plink and shoot Steel, on Windy Days to,.. "Test",.. ME.
Wind MUST be, Under,.. 5 MPH and going from South to North ( the Direction that, I shoot Targets ) on the Days that, I test Loads.
Couple, a Bad MENTAL day ( NO Focus ) and some, Wind = YIKES !
Don't Beat yourself up,.. Have at it, on a BETTER, Day !

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

In my 1-7 Twist ar, I could NOT get, as good of Groups with either, 68's or, 69's ( consistently ) as with, the 60 Grain NBT's and 65 gr. SGK's,.. in My, Rifle. So I'm, STAYING with, those 2 and will use, the 69's that I have left, in a 1-9 Twist, .22 Creedmoor, to be built,.. LATER.
Lots of, ar Competition shooters have good Luck with, them,.. I did,.. NOT !
I might NOT have found, the "Right" Powder, IDK ??

 

[DLT]

I NEVER, ever, "Test" loads,.. on Windy Days.
However, I will, Plink and shoot Steel, on Windy Days to,.. "Test",.. ME.
Wind MUST be, Under,.. 5 MPH and going from South to North ( the Direction that, I shoot Targets ) on the Days that, I test Loads.
Couple, a Bad MENTAL day ( NO Focus ) and some, Wind = YIKES !
Don't Beat yourself up,.. Have at it, on a BETTER, Day !

Thanks. It’s makes perfect sense.