jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
Geez it's been tough to get out and do anymore load testing with my new rifle, but I have been able to slaughter quite a few squeaks with what's kind of become the standard load so far.
I had processed a hundred brass from my old 222 stock of Winchester. Unknown age or #s of reloads, and to judge their worthiness, I decapped them with my Lee universal decapper after sizing the necks down to 20 cal. The decapper rod measures .2035", and any cases that didn't show good tension were simply chucked.
I then stuffed them with 23 metered grains of BLC-2, and capped them with 32 gr. V-Max's, seated .010 shy of the lands.
I took 50 of these shells out last weekend and smithereened quite a few squirrels at a spot where 150 yards was about the limit of my shots. It was kinda like fish in a barrel. Then today, I took the other fifty out to check them on target with my state of the art bench rest set-up.
Didn't expect too much from these fire-form shots, especially since the wind kicked up before I got started. It got to blowing the heat off the ground, creating HORRIBLE mirage, and my cross hairs were dancing around on the target like I had the DT's. For kicks, I left the barrel dirty after shooting the fifty some shots last weekend to see how it did.
Aaannnd -- here's my target.
Shot a couple warming shots before group #1, and it wasn't too bad. #s 2 and 3 were just peachy. Number 4 was opening up, but by that time the wind was getting pretty gnarley. I then decided to clean the barrel to see what kind of effect that might have. And you see numbers 5 and 6.
I used a pretty firm hold on the rifle today -- lots of face and shoulder. Groups printed pretty consistently, but I did adjust two clicks left after group #1.
I've got no idea of FPS on these loads, but they feel pretty mild, and show no signs of high pressure -- which is just fine with me. I'm thinking there is room to hit another accuracy node above this one. I don't think that groups in the .2's and .3's are too bad considering the questionable linage of this old brass.
I've got new bullets and powders too test, but it's damned hard for me to get out and do it. Work is cutting into my fun time, and when I get a little time it's hard not to simply take a box of these shells out and bust squirrels. jd
I had processed a hundred brass from my old 222 stock of Winchester. Unknown age or #s of reloads, and to judge their worthiness, I decapped them with my Lee universal decapper after sizing the necks down to 20 cal. The decapper rod measures .2035", and any cases that didn't show good tension were simply chucked.
I then stuffed them with 23 metered grains of BLC-2, and capped them with 32 gr. V-Max's, seated .010 shy of the lands.
I took 50 of these shells out last weekend and smithereened quite a few squirrels at a spot where 150 yards was about the limit of my shots. It was kinda like fish in a barrel. Then today, I took the other fifty out to check them on target with my state of the art bench rest set-up.
Didn't expect too much from these fire-form shots, especially since the wind kicked up before I got started. It got to blowing the heat off the ground, creating HORRIBLE mirage, and my cross hairs were dancing around on the target like I had the DT's. For kicks, I left the barrel dirty after shooting the fifty some shots last weekend to see how it did.
Aaannnd -- here's my target.
Shot a couple warming shots before group #1, and it wasn't too bad. #s 2 and 3 were just peachy. Number 4 was opening up, but by that time the wind was getting pretty gnarley. I then decided to clean the barrel to see what kind of effect that might have. And you see numbers 5 and 6.
I used a pretty firm hold on the rifle today -- lots of face and shoulder. Groups printed pretty consistently, but I did adjust two clicks left after group #1.
I've got no idea of FPS on these loads, but they feel pretty mild, and show no signs of high pressure -- which is just fine with me. I'm thinking there is room to hit another accuracy node above this one. I don't think that groups in the .2's and .3's are too bad considering the questionable linage of this old brass.
I've got new bullets and powders too test, but it's damned hard for me to get out and do it. Work is cutting into my fun time, and when I get a little time it's hard not to simply take a box of these shells out and bust squirrels. jd
. Great write-up and good groups.... if it were me I would only clean yer rifle after a rat
I would try some 39 or 40 grainers sometime too.
jd
Dirty girls -- and rifles have always fit nicely into my game plan. 
jd
