how good is good enough?

[jimsbriar]

Hi all

I have a question that may generate some discussion. so, I have a sako finnlight 85 in 6.5x55. I have been slowly working up loads using lapua brass, fed 210 primers, 130 berger VLD and IMR 4350.

Max load according to the berger manual is 43 gr. with a published velocity of 2696 fps. at 43 gr. I was only able to get 2417 fps and my high/low spread was 57 fps. so, I kept creeping forward with the charge. Now I am at 46 gr. with a velocity of 2817 fps and a high/low spread of 8 fps.

I still have no visible signs of pressure. no marks on the case head, no cratered primers, no overly flattened primers and no bulge marks around the base of the case.

The gun keeps getting more and more accurate and my high/low spread gets smaller and smaller with every increasing charge. Right now I have 1/2" MOA.

how far should I push this? How good is good enough for those 600-700 yard shots?

thanks in advance!!

 

[357Mag]

Jims -

Howdy !

IMHO - YOU may have already arrived !

If accuracy for you intended rifle/cartridge use has been / is sufficient for the tasks at hand, you might ask yourself....
" Do I need any more velocity " ? You might just start to harm ( however slightly ) you barrel's longevity.

The spread numbers you have managed to obtain sound pretty good ( to me ).

Again, unless something is lacking accuracy-needs wise..... you might have already reached your " goal ".


With regards,
357Mag

 

[jim_k]

Ditto. My gosh,what more could you want?

 

[wboggs]

1/2" accuracy with over 2800 in a 6.5x55 sporter is more than good enough. No game animal can tell the a difference of 100fps at muzzle. Count your blessings.

 

[Raptor]

I agree, you are there. Shoot it and enjoy it. I have one on a Remington action and I shoot 139s with 45grs of H4350 and its a hammer. Unfortunately the barrel is going south, to many matches getting it to hot. I hope my next one will shoot as well.

 

[Lapua40X]

Make that five votes for "You Have Arrived".
If you push to the point of showing "signs" of pressure it's more than likely you exceeded safety limits well ahead of those "signs" showing up. No need to press your luck.

 

[XTR]

Are you talking about hunting or target shooting?

If you are talking about hunting, and you are asking this question you have no business taking shots that long on animals. I've cleaned 800 and 900 yard F class matches and put as many as 9 in the 10 ring in a 15 shot string, but I've also sent enough first sighters into the 8 ring at 600 yards to know that I won't be taking shots on animals at that range.

Hunting is the hard part, shooting is easy. Learn to get closer.

 

[Raptor]

Well said XTR. I figure I owe the animal I hunt a clean kill. If I want to see if I can hit a deer at 800yds I will put a cardboard cutout of one at 800 and shoot at it. It will surprise a lot of people at just where that "First" shot goes.

I shoot a couple times a week at from 600yds on out to 1200 and am amazed at how many times your off by nearly a MOA on your data at longer ranges which is a miss or a gut shot animal. And thats not even factoring in the winds we have out here in SD that never seem to blow at a steady speed.

 

[jimsbriar]

thanks to everyone for the feedback...I sincerely appreciate the honesty and expertise......you guys are truly great people.

Based on your feedback, I am going to halt further load development and consider it done!

Now, its time to practice, practice and more practice.

Oh, and do not worry about those 600-700 yard shots at critters... I leave those shots for the range only....they are simply confidence builders for me to see what I can achieve.

 

[dragman]

Nothing is ever good enough lol! thats why I am always playing with something.

 

[wyoming .260]

Hi all

I have a question that may generate some discussion. so, I have a sako finnlight 85 in 6.5x55. I have been slowly working up loads using lapua brass, fed 210 primers, 130 berger VLD and IMR 4350.

Max load according to the berger manual is 43 gr. with a published velocity of 2696 fps. at 43 gr. I was only able to get 2417 fps and my high/low spread was 57 fps. so, I kept creeping forward with the charge. Now I am at 46 gr. with a velocity of 2817 fps and a high/low spread of 8 fps.

I still have no visible signs of pressure. no marks on the case head, no cratered primers, no overly flattened primers and no bulge marks around the base of the case.

The gun keeps getting more and more accurate and my high/low spread gets smaller and smaller with every increasing charge. Right now I have 1/2" MOA.

how far should I push this? How good is good enough for those 600-700 yard shots?

thanks in advance!!

Heck If your unsure of the gun , box her up and send it to me. I could use a good shooting gun for the wife and antelope season is just around the corner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!