Long range load development at 100 yards.

[Erik Cortina]

RMulhern,

So you start at 1,000 yards? Do you drive back and forth to look at groups?

 

[johara1]

I maybe a little different,but all is done at 100 yds. where i can use the wind flags to get my groups in the same conditions. Zero to one tenth groups are the only ones go too the next phase with and that is get a 180 degree full value wind of around 10 mph. and hold the same point of aim and see what size group you get. I have new barrels that are now fire form barrels and old ones that shot the lights out when the wind blows. You hope you find one every year but it has not happen so far. I see no need to test at mid range, if it shoots small at 100 and it shoots in the wind, 1000 will take care of it's self...... jim

 

[M14AMU]

RMulhern,

So you start at 1,000 yards? Do you drive back and forth to look at groups?

I get a foundation zero from 200 yards and THEN...I go back to 1000 yards. I don't have to drive 'back & forth' because the impacts show up through a spotting scope as shown akin to a 5 carat diamond shining in a Billygoats azz!

 

[Erik Cortina]

I would think only the first group would show, how do you keep track of the rest?

 

[Nomad47]

Simple. He pulls out his handy-dandy remote and has his robot spray paint over the first group. But it must be a tall robot because the inner circle appears to be 48".

 

[M14AMU]

I would think only the first group would show, how do you keep track of the rest?

Erik

The rest?? Really simple....I shoot one group a day and betwix the grandkids football/baseball games, cutting grass here in the summer and in general working my azz off....I'm lucky to have enough time to get ONE GROUP!! And the ONLY ROBOT HERE....is me!

Oh....for the target....it's here:


ricktarget01 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

And here's the 10 shots I fired this afternoon. The two slightly low.....I called! Saw 'em go! And as long as Jon Beanland keeps on building rifles that will do this....I'll kiss his azz twice a day!!


6x47JB by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

 

[Nomad47]

Oh, well, this topic WAS going really well. . . . .

Erik, thanks for the info on how to tune a 1000 yard load at 100 yards. I, as well as several others, appreciate your help and knowledge.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Thanks Bill. Next time you're close to Floresville, call me, we'll ring a few fonts again.

 

[Nomad47]

Thanks Bill. Next time you're close to Floresville, call me, we'll ring a few fonts again.

Thanks, Erik. Will do. We passed thru TX on I-20 a couple weeks ago. But I will likely use I-10 next spring and it would be a few weeks earlier.

 

[villarreal]

I found this target, and I think it's a perfect example of how some people might choose the wrong load because they fell in love with a group without reading the groups properly. This target was shot with my 6.5x47 Lapua and 139 gr. Lapua Scenars with VV N550 powder.

At plain sight, 38.5 gr. appears to be the best group, but if you look at the groups next to it they don't hit the target on the same place vertically in relation to the bull's eye. The load is not stable and this load would cause problems when moving further out because it is not inside the accuracy node.

However, loads 39.5, 40.0, and 40.5 are vertically in the same place in relation to the bull's eye. This is the accuracy node for powder charge, my next step would be to load 40.0 gr. and adjust seating depth and bring the group in and done, I now have a load that would shoot out to 1,000 yards. Also, when the groups line up vertically, the speed also varies very little over the chronograph for the loads that line up on target, it appears that the speed flat lines for a while before it starts to jump up again, this is where you want to be.

Erik, do you clean between grupos.

G.

 

[bozo699]

Oh, well, this topic WAS going really well. . . . .

Erik, thanks for the info on how to tune a 1000 yard load at 100 yards. I, as well as several others, appreciate your help and knowledge.

Bill,
What do you mean,....looks like it is still going really well to me.
Wayne.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Villareal, I do not clean between groups. I shoot F-Class so the gun needs to hold accuracy for at least 80 rounds without cleaning.

 

[Joe C]

Erik,

Thank you for pointing me here today as this is exactly the kind of info that is helpful for me. Heading to the 600 yard range tomorrow to test some Berger and Lapua bullets!

 

[savageshooter86]

reading this thread makes me want to go shoot some 8)

Eric have you ever worked up a load like mentioned and took it to distance(whatever you plan on shooting it at) and it not do well and had to tweak the load or anything?

 

[M14AMU]

Oh, well, this topic WAS going really well. . . . .

Erik, thanks for the info on how to tune a 1000 yard load at 100 yards. I, as well as several others, appreciate your help and knowledge.

Bill,
What do you mean,....looks like it is still going really well to me.
Wayne.

bozo699

Oh...he's just a bit 'chapped' because I came in with my post and somewhat 'broke the bubble'....which WAS NOT my intention but that's the way it was perceived! Frankly....after 60 years of long range shooting I've always considered 100 yards as a good distance to test 000 buckshot and I still feel as if it's worthless as teats on a boar hog! Hey...but whatever blows ya skirts up is fine with me!

 

[Erik Cortina]

reading this thread makes me want to go shoot some 8)

Eric have you ever worked up a load like mentioned and took it to distance(whatever you plan on shooting it at) and it not do well and had to tweak the load or anything?

No, once I tune it at 100 yards properly, it carries all the way out to 1,000 yards.

 

[Erik Cortina]

RMulhern,
That is precisely the intention or this thread, to educate people that do not know how to tune at 100 yards properly. Those that do no know how to do it usually think it's useless, and apparently you fall in that category.

Let me try to understand. So you think that if you competed at 1000 yards for group with someone that tuned at 100 yards you would win every time?
P.S. In competition, flyers count as part of the group even if "call" them.

 

[CatShooter]

P.S. In competition, flyers count as part of the group even if "call" them.

There are no fliers, there is only "The group"... excuses are for children.

 

[savageshooter86]

Erik- might be helpful too for newbies or people new to this type of load workup how long do you wait between shots and groups to ensure barrel temp is not causing any issues?

 

[Erik Cortina]

Erik- might be helpful too for newbies or people new to this type of load workup how long do you wait between shots and groups to ensure barrel temp is not causing any issues?

I will usually shoot about three groups (3 shot) and then wait until barrel is cools down (about 10 minutes), then I will shoot another 2 or 3 more groups and at that point I'm usually done with my powder charge testing.

I do the same for seating depth testing.