I was able to get in a few weekends of testing groups and am happy with the start. Last weekend I fired 5, 5 shot groups at 100 yards with 29.2 grains of N133. I tried 3 different seating depths that had shown promise, 2 at jam, 2 at .006 off jam and 1 at .003 off jam. The agg was .2426. Best seating depth of those 5 groups was.006 off jam. Not Super Shoot material, but in the hunt at a local match I’m fairly sure.
The first group at jam seating depth, foolishly shot without a couple fouling shots, measured .333. The second group, also at jam depth, was .220. The next two groups at .006 off jam measured .213 and .194. Clearly this barrel likes a fouling shot or two. The last group at .003 off jam was .253…..not sure why it doesn’t like this in-between depth as it didn’t group great last time either.
A couple weekends ago I tried the same powder weight and seating depths, but was having scope ring problems. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t get the rings tight and the POI was moving around. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong as the groups were okay, but each time the groups would move around slightly and the last group had some serious horizontal that I couldn’t blame on wind. This was the first time I got bit in the rear by lose rings, but I’m sure it won’t be the last. The agg last weekend was still a respectable .2804, and most importantly the .006 off jam groups measured .203 and .228.
Looking at the big picture, I calculated the agg of all five of the groups shot so far at .006 off jam with 29.2 grains of N133. To be fair, this includes one really small 3 shot group I got during initial load development, so it is a little compromised in value. This agg measured .1864, spanning 3 different days, with temps ranging from 55 degrees to 34 degrees. I think I’ve found my base load to work from. I’m most impressed with how consistent it has shot with the temperature range and the slight winds, as I’ve not been holding for wind at this point.
Some general information some of you may find useful or at least interesting. The rifle is a BAT model SV, with a 13.5 twist Krieger barrel, chambered with a .262 neck. It currently has a Sightron II 6-24x40mm scope.
I’m shooting Barts 68 grain boat tail bullets. (I couldn’t get any flat base Barts at the time. Not sure I’m giving up anything over the flat base versions though.) I’m using the standard components for the PPC including Federal 205m primers and Lapua brass. I’m not sorting bullets or brass in any way. Other than using a K&M primer pocket correction tool on the brass and neck turning, the bass has not been manipulated in any other way.
I currently use a Caldwell Rock BR front rest, and for wind flags I use dowels with ribbons. My wind reading skills are basically wait for consistent conditions, and fire off 5 rounds as quickly as I can. I use a home made target that makes for quick aiming, and consider it to be cheating a little. I’ve yet to get used to the official benchrest targets, and since I’m not competing, figured I would give myself every advantage I can get.
The first group at jam seating depth, foolishly shot without a couple fouling shots, measured .333. The second group, also at jam depth, was .220. The next two groups at .006 off jam measured .213 and .194. Clearly this barrel likes a fouling shot or two. The last group at .003 off jam was .253…..not sure why it doesn’t like this in-between depth as it didn’t group great last time either.
A couple weekends ago I tried the same powder weight and seating depths, but was having scope ring problems. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t get the rings tight and the POI was moving around. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong as the groups were okay, but each time the groups would move around slightly and the last group had some serious horizontal that I couldn’t blame on wind. This was the first time I got bit in the rear by lose rings, but I’m sure it won’t be the last. The agg last weekend was still a respectable .2804, and most importantly the .006 off jam groups measured .203 and .228.
Looking at the big picture, I calculated the agg of all five of the groups shot so far at .006 off jam with 29.2 grains of N133. To be fair, this includes one really small 3 shot group I got during initial load development, so it is a little compromised in value. This agg measured .1864, spanning 3 different days, with temps ranging from 55 degrees to 34 degrees. I think I’ve found my base load to work from. I’m most impressed with how consistent it has shot with the temperature range and the slight winds, as I’ve not been holding for wind at this point.
Some general information some of you may find useful or at least interesting. The rifle is a BAT model SV, with a 13.5 twist Krieger barrel, chambered with a .262 neck. It currently has a Sightron II 6-24x40mm scope.
I’m shooting Barts 68 grain boat tail bullets. (I couldn’t get any flat base Barts at the time. Not sure I’m giving up anything over the flat base versions though.) I’m using the standard components for the PPC including Federal 205m primers and Lapua brass. I’m not sorting bullets or brass in any way. Other than using a K&M primer pocket correction tool on the brass and neck turning, the bass has not been manipulated in any other way.
I currently use a Caldwell Rock BR front rest, and for wind flags I use dowels with ribbons. My wind reading skills are basically wait for consistent conditions, and fire off 5 rounds as quickly as I can. I use a home made target that makes for quick aiming, and consider it to be cheating a little. I’ve yet to get used to the official benchrest targets, and since I’m not competing, figured I would give myself every advantage I can get.
