Decided to try a new bullet in my Tikka Lite 6.5x55 which has been very accurate with every bullet tried so far. Bought a box of Hornady 129 gr SST. This type of bullet has been accurate for me in other calibers so wanted to see how it would do in 6.5mm.
Loaded over 47.0 gr IMR 4350, COAL 3.150, 20 thou off the lands. Chronod at 2850. Alternated with two other rifles at each distance to keep the barrel cool.
Got a 1 1/8 group at 100 metres, 2 1/2 high. Not great but sometimes you get a so-so group. Went to 200 metres and had two close together but the third was a flyer 4 inches right. Fired a fourth which was with the first two, 1/2 high. Well, maybe I jerked that third shot but the release looked good.
Went to 300 metres. First shot 5 inches low , about where I expected it. Second shot , couldn`t find it through the spotting scope. But sometimes a bullet hole is on a dark line on the target and hard to see. Fired two more, nice little group with the first one. Decided to shoot a fifth, a flyer 4 inches right.
Finished the session, went forward to get my targets. Got to the 300 metre board and saw mud splattered on the 6.5mm target. Could only find 4 bullet holes. Looked down at the ground 4 feet below the target and saw a fresh bullet furrow in the mud under the target. The second shot had gone 4 feet low??? I looked at the case when I got back to the firing line and it looked OK, no split neck or crack in the case.
In all the thousands of shots I have fired over 50 years, this is the first time I have seen anything like that. I check every load for powder content before I seat the bullet. I suppose that you could say that if it only happened once in 50 years that is pretty good odds.
It is so bizzare that I am wondering if any other Forum member has experienced such an event?
Loaded over 47.0 gr IMR 4350, COAL 3.150, 20 thou off the lands. Chronod at 2850. Alternated with two other rifles at each distance to keep the barrel cool.
Got a 1 1/8 group at 100 metres, 2 1/2 high. Not great but sometimes you get a so-so group. Went to 200 metres and had two close together but the third was a flyer 4 inches right. Fired a fourth which was with the first two, 1/2 high. Well, maybe I jerked that third shot but the release looked good.
Went to 300 metres. First shot 5 inches low , about where I expected it. Second shot , couldn`t find it through the spotting scope. But sometimes a bullet hole is on a dark line on the target and hard to see. Fired two more, nice little group with the first one. Decided to shoot a fifth, a flyer 4 inches right.
Finished the session, went forward to get my targets. Got to the 300 metre board and saw mud splattered on the 6.5mm target. Could only find 4 bullet holes. Looked down at the ground 4 feet below the target and saw a fresh bullet furrow in the mud under the target. The second shot had gone 4 feet low??? I looked at the case when I got back to the firing line and it looked OK, no split neck or crack in the case.
In all the thousands of shots I have fired over 50 years, this is the first time I have seen anything like that. I check every load for powder content before I seat the bullet. I suppose that you could say that if it only happened once in 50 years that is pretty good odds.
It is so bizzare that I am wondering if any other Forum member has experienced such an event?
