Chasing a low SD/ES

[Jtate]

6 Dasher, 32.9 grains of N140, Berger 109. cci 450 SD 5 ES 13, fps 2995. cci BR4 SD 5 ES 13, fps 3011. Fed 205 SD 3 ES 8, fps 3011. And cci 41 SD 2 ES 7, fps 3018. I would have bet you a $100 buck it would not have turned out that way. Shot over a 35P with the screens at 8 ft spacing. From a scientific perspective does not mean much, the sample size is too small with only 5 shots with each primmer, but it means something.

 

[Terry]

What does the 600 yard target say?

 

[Jtate]

I have only shot the cci 450 load at 300 yards, three shot group was .679.

 

[johara1]

One target mean very little you must have repeats, Wind blows them in as well as out. Barrel quality is the most important single thing..... jim

 

[wkdickinson]

One target mean very little you must have repeats, Wind blows them in as well as out. Barrel quality is the most important single thing..... jim

"Wind blows them in as well as out." I never thought about wind that way, but very true. Kind of the same as MV +/- for vertical. Sometimes the stars all line up correctly. But only repeatability really tells you the truth.

 

[johara1]

"Wind blows them in as well as out." I never thought about wind that way, but very true. Kind of the same as MV +/- for vertical. Sometimes the stars all line up correctly. But only repeatability really tells you the truth.

That is where. ES comes in keeping it in single digits and group shape. With the repeated groups and shape under controlled conditions with flags...... jim

 

[rjtfroggy]

I don't chase the numbers any more, haven't taken the chrono out in quite awhile. As long as the bullets land in the same place as I'm aiming, I don't really care how fast they are going.

 

[johara1]

I don't chase the numbers any more, haven't taken the chrono out in quite awhile. As long as the bullets land in the same place as I'm aiming, I don't really care how fast they are going.

Not the best idea, when you change lot of powder or change powder and you can't get it to shoot you have no idea where you were in velocity ..... jim

 

[Alex Wheeler]

You can see the primers also changed velocity. When testing a primer you need to cover a little ground with powder charge as well. Any of the ES that you shot is good enough to win anywhere. Pick the primer that seems to give the widest powder charge window, not necessarily smallest group or best es.

 

[johara1]

Most uniform SR. primer by weight is the Fed. GM's..... jim

 

[rjtfroggy]

Not the best idea, when you change lot of powder or change powder and you can't get it to shoot you have no idea where you were in velocity ..... jim

Right now I'm only shooting 3 calibers and have enough powder for 2 of them for about 2years and can finish this season with the other. As for primers when I bought them I got 7k all same lot so not worried there either. I'll run out of bullets first.
I'm only shooting SR BR score matches and practice and by the time I need to resupply things should loosen up and I will replenish my supply the same way (buying enough for a few years), then I'll drag out chrono (maybe) and start over.

 

[johara1]

Short range is a whole different ball game, you are good to go..... I just sold my PPC. I'm kind of winding down too.... jim

 

[Jtate]

You can see the primers also changed velocity. When testing a primer you need to cover a little ground with powder charge as well. Any of the ES that you shot is good enough to win anywhere. Pick the primer that seems to give the widest powder charge window, not necessarily smallest group or best es.

Thanks Alex, what I found interesting was that the 450 had the highest ES and lowest speed, and that the #41 had the lowest ES and highest speed. I am damn happy with my ES, you would laugh if you saw how I measure powder.

 

[Dave Way]

I usually don’t even check velocity, ES or SD until I’m happy with the target at 1K, if then. ES’s and SD’s will tell you how consistent your reloading practices are and you seem to be doing well in that department. I have shot well in matches and honestly couldn’t tell people what the velocity was.

Numbers really don’t matter to me. They used to…that changed.

Dave.