7x57 Ackley Improved

[DOGCAPPER]

Better groups are usually a couple of grains below max.

 

[STOMP442]

Been working on loads with 4350 and 4831 this weekend and I'm not real happy at all. Best group has been just under an inch with 54.0gr H1000 everything else stays right around the inch and a half mark. This is with 168 bergers and 162 ELD-X. I'm going to add some fore end pressure and see if that improves anything. I really don't want to shoot anything lighter than the 160 class bullets but I may have to.

 

[Brians356]

Hmmm, may I ask is this an all new rifle (including optics)? Or was it ever evaluated before the new barrel or chambering? My "think outside the box" indicator is buzzing.
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[STOMP442]

Yeah this is a new rifle. I traded into the donor rifle. Removed the original barrel, trued up the action then installed the benchmark barrel and refinished the walnut stock. Barrel doesn't copper at all and cleans up nicely. I am using Norma cases and CCI primers. Optic is a new leupold VX3i 6.5-20x50 mounted in standard turn in bases with Burris signature zee rings.

Here is the rifle.

 

[Brians356]

What bullet jump you trying? What sequence of charge weights in 4350?

Something's fishy in Denmark if good bullets, thoughtfully loaded, don't show more promise than that from a quality barrel. You've tried 3 powders. Make a radical change in bullet jump, and try 4350 again, in .3 grain increments. Post pics of the groups here. If nothing changes for the better, revisit the rifle, bedding, scope/mounts, barrel crown, everything.
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[STOMP442]

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I've been over the mounts and scope rings already. Crown looks good as well. I have also re-bedded it this afternoon. I have tested loads at just touching the lands to .025" off in half grain increments. I am going to start fresh with 4350 next weekend and see what happens.

 

[Brians356]

Forgive me, not familiar with you on the forum. Do you have other rifles that shoot much better than this one? What would you consider your accuracy standard?

PS
You ordered a 9 twist barrel. Have you actually verified it's a 1:9? Just a thought.
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[STOMP442]

Yes I have rifles that shoot much better than this. My accuracy standard is half moa for five shots or less if I can get it. Twist is verified at 9 twist.

 

[STOMP442]

Well, I think I have this figured out. I was able to get out to the desert yesterday after work as the wind had finally died down to a light breeze and shoot a few groups. I replaced the brand new Leupold VX3i with an older 6-18 Nikon that I know is a good repeatable scope and went to work. I started with 43.0 gr of H4350 and a 168 Begrer VLD seated .010" off the lands. If I shot 3 shot groups I would have been extremely happy with this load as the first three ended up in the same hole but opened up to about an inch for five. Worked my way up to 46gr and found another node that printed .816" center to center for five shots. I think this is the load I will stick with and adjust seating depths to see if I can get it to tighten up. Not to bad for shooting out of the bed of my truck and being almost dark. I think off of a bench this group would have been a bit tighter. I really didn't want the scope to be the problem but that looks to be the case. I think that thing was just bouncing around after each shot and had me chasing my tail. I am a big Leupold fan and own a bunch of them and this is the first time I have ever had an issue with one and it looks like this one was wrong right out of the box so it's off to Oregon for repair looks like.

Here is my 43.0gr load. The black squares are one inch and the red circles are half inch diameter.


and here is my 46.0gr load. Again the first three are pretty tight and the last two opens up a bit. I'm sure barrel heat is playing a role in that.

 

[dewey7271]

Forgive me, not familiar with you on the forum. Do you have other rifles that shoot much better than this one? What would you consider your accuracy standard?

I know him from another site. His rifles shoot much better than that usually.