Load development groups

[JORTZ]

Im shooting a 6.5 grendel with 123 amax and 8208xbr powder.
My question is that ive shot 12 3 shot groups 75% of them the first 2 shots are touching but the 3rd is around .75 inch to the left on every 3rd shot in the group.
Was wonder if it due to heat in the barrel or is it a reloading issue.

 

[Homerange]

Normally barrel heat. This is best kept as consistent as possible....even go to the extent of firing a couple of sighters before attempting groups if time does not allow adequate cooling between shots. But in can also be barrel cleanliness.... those first few shots on a clean barrel before consistent results are seen.

You just can't hurry the process, informative group shooting takes time.

 

[trailrider121]

Very interesting topic on target groups. You mention that 75% first two shots are touching, what is the other 25% doing? Is your second shot away from the first, and third shot is touching first?

 

[JORTZ]

Very interesting topic on target groups. You mention that 75% first two shots are touching, what is the other 25% doing? Is your second shot away from the first, and third shot is touching first?

I shoot the first 2 shots are touching or in same hole then the 3rd is .75 to 1 inch off to the left which makes around a 1 inch group.
This continues as i increased powder charge and shoot groups.
Im just not sure if it is my barrel heating up by the 3rd shot or if its a reloading issue

 

[Tim Singleton]

Have you tried to tune it out with seating depth?
Is it a gas gun or bolt gun?

 

[dedogs]

I shoot the first 2 shots are touching or in same hole then the 3rd is .75 to 1 inch off to the left which makes around a 1 inch group.
This continues as i increased powder charge and shoot groups.
Im just not sure if it is my barrel heating up by the 3rd shot or if its a reloading issue

Jortz, You didn't answer trailrider's question. What are the other 25% of your groups doing. dedogs

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Definitely not barrel heat issue with a 6.5 Grendel. Could be a cleaning issue like previously mentioned. Either too clean, or too fouled up. Are you cleaning before each group for a barrel break in process?

Try a few different primers with the same loads. Ive eliminated fliers that way many times. So if you are using CCI 400 or 450, try a Rem 7 1/2 or Fed 205, or vice versa. If that doesn't work, you need to go to a different powder.

Just out of curiosity, what is your barrel twist rate?

 

[TheOtherZilla]

First off it's not 75%, but 66%. Either heat or shooter error.. I'd try again using 5 shot groups..

 

[Jet]

Shoot some 5 and 10 shot groups and see what it does. Are you cleaning between groups?

Rich

 

[savagedasher]

I would shoot three 2 shots and compare
Larry

 

[Tim Singleton]

Seating depth off will give the two and one

 

[Ledd Slinger]

First off it's not 75%, but 66%. Either heat or shooter error.. I'd try again using 5 shot groups..

The reason I disregard heat issues is because I have, and still do, rap off 3 shots in quick succession with much larger Magnum calibers on hunting rifles with #4 and #5 contour barrels and can get 3 shots to stick together for sure. 5 shots will stick together if it's a nice cool morning. I've fired 3 shot groups in 80 degree weather using a 358 Norma Mag hunting rifle (#5 contour) and had no issues with heat fliers

 

[JORTZ]

Ive broke in the barrel and clean after every group and left it go to every 50rds and shot groups with a fouled barrel and same results.
Ill try 5 to 10 shots at a time with different primers and see what results i get.
Thanks for the info

 

[JORTZ]

Very interesting topic on target groups. You mention that 75% first two shots are touching, what is the other 25% doing? Is your second shot away from the first, and third shot is touching first?

The other 25% are around 2 inches so i discarded them they were all well below max charge.
If i could firgure out how topost a pic thatwould probably help

 

[JORTZ]

Have you tried to tune it out with seating depth?
Is it a gas gun or bolt gun?

Its a gas gun and have tried different depths

 

[Ledd Slinger]

If the primer change doesn't make a difference and you want to try a different powder in the 8208 burn rate area, I haven't owned a rifle to date that uses fast powders and didn't shoot IMR 4895, RL 15, or Hodgdon BLC-2 with great accuracy. Hodgdon 4895 and Varget are always good choices as well

 

[DHD]

I shoot the same bullet and caliber. However, with the 123's I tend to use either LeverRevolution or AA2520. I've had better luck with the slightly slower powders and the heavier bullets in the Grendel. To be honest, the 120 grain SMK shoots better for me than the 123 Amax.

I have very good luck with XBR and 107/108's though.

I use only AA/Lapua brass and use 450's almost exclusively.

I have an accurate barrel (Satern) and my Grendel is set up for shooting off of the bench, but I will see a round squeek out of the group occasionally. Gasngunitis is all I can call it. 5 or 10 round groups fwiw.

 

[JORTZ]

I shoot the same bullet and caliber. However, with the 123's I tend to use either LeverRevolution or AA2520. I've had better luck with the slightly slower powders and the heavier bullets in the Grendel. To be honest, the 120 grain SMK shoots better for me than the 123 Amax.

I have very good luck with XBR and 107/108's though.

I use only AA/Lapua brass and use 450's almost exclusively.

I have an accurate barrel (Satern) and my Grendel is set up for shooting off of the bench, but I will see a round squeek out of the group occasionally. Gasngunitis is all I can call it. 5 or 10 round groups fwiw.

Whats a good starting load for the leverRevolution powder

 

[DHD]

Work up please, but I use 31.2 of LeverRevolution with either the 120 or 123. I have a 24" barrel and see 2650 +/- with very good es/sd. If I don't throw out a flyer I would call this a 3/4" load. Understand that it shoots better, but figuring in a flyer (me or the rifle, doesn't matter) that is an overall average over many many 5 and 10 shot groups at 600 yards. I have over 2500 rounds on this barrel and use the 120's most of the time.

Again, I use only AA/Lapua brass and 450 primers with this load. My rifle shoots a 120 SMK pointed, better than any 123. The best this rifle ever shot was with 120 Berger BT's, but $40 a box is painful especially when a SMK is only slightly worse.

I used AA2520 as my heavy bullet powder before LeverRevolution came out and saw pressure quick on hot days and I live in SC. I get the same velocity and no pressure signs with LeverRevolution. Brass lasts 8/10 firings before primer pockets go.

I've had some luck with Re15 accuracy wise, but velocity is low.

 

[JORTZ]

Work up please, but I use 31.2 of LeverRevolution with either the 120 or 123. I have a 24" barrel and see 2650 +/- with very good es/sd. If I don't throw out a flyer I would call this a 3/4" load. Understand that it shoots better, but figuring in a flyer (me or the rifle, doesn't matter) that is an overall average over many many 5 and 10 shot groups at 600 yards. I have over 2500 rounds on this barrel and use the 120's most of the time.

Again, I use only AA/Lapua brass and 450 primers with this load. My rifle shoots a 120 SMK pointed, better than any 123. The best this rifle ever shot was with 120 Berger BT's, but $40 a box is painful especially when a SMK is only slightly worse.

I used AA2520 as my heavy bullet powder before LeverRevolution came out and saw pressure quick on hot days and I live in SC. I get the same velocity and no pressure signs with LeverRevolution. Brass lasts 8/10 firings before primer pockets go.

I've had some luck with Re15 accuracy wise, but velocity is low.

Thanks for the info.