NEW 800 yd range in Louisiana

[Rocketvapor]

Ready to go back to the range and break in my new X-Caliber barrel.
Sorted out some Ginex SRP and loaded up 50 +3 sighters.
Found just a couple weight outliers.

Accepted 3.420gr to 3.460gr (+/- about a kernel of VARGET ) for this load out.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Made a range trip yesterday (7-5-23).
Flo started off @ 300 and didn't do bad.
Had several almost 1 MOA groups. Pic shot @ 300 yards with a FZ-80.


I bore sighted through the barrel and my new scope Burris XTR-2, 8-40X50.
Was "ON" after 5 shots @ 100 yds (never made it to 300).
Walked down and put 2 green dots (2 inch) and shot middle load. All looked fine.


Then stuff started going wrong. Had a few blanked primers. Seemed to be hotter loads. Changed pin and shot some more. Lighter charges did better than the hotter ones. Pins, right to left, first damaged pin, replacement, and a new pin.



After a few more shots I couldn't hit paper. Shot up, down, left, right. No hits @ 100 yds.
Moved a stand to about 30 yds. and couldn't hit a sheet of typing paper. Wife noticed little puffs.
Seems I was blowing up 88ELDs.

It was Hot, started out about 85F, got up to 93F.
Probably to much gas. Cut ejector spring didn't toss cases so no ejection pattern to watch.
Was NEW Dogtown Brass, Ginex primers, and a range of charge from 31.5gr to 32.25gr of SB6.5.
Problem seemed to be with the top 2 loads.
Load for the OLD (No-Gas) barrel was 32.4gr but loaded with a longer Base to Ogive.
Previous loads @ 32.7gr might have been popping an occasional 88 @ 600.



Bolt with new pin.


Next trip will cut charges a little more, cut gas way back. and try again with both Ginex and CCI primers.
Have a match on the 15th.
Probably with 85.5s, CCI450s, and once/twice fired brass, and a lot less gas.

 

[Rocketvapor]

The Burris seemed nice and clear, even @ 40X. Illuminated dot was barely visible at brightest setting in the bright sun.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Made a quick practice session Wednesday for a Saturday 600 match.
Most mostly my regular load (old barrel) but took a few with about a grain range in powder (SB6.5).
85.5 Bergers, CCI primers, SB6.5 from 31.55 to 32.55 grains.
Velocities reported by the Shot-Marker @ 600yds ranged from 1827fps to 1996fps.
Lowest load hit low and highest load hit high. Pretty good grouping in the middle loads.
Elevation sort of followed load with a few exceptions. Will have to try again after the match Saturday.
NO WIND for about a hour or so. I'm not that good with wind.


Somehow I think this is a calibration/sensor problem with the ShotMarker this trip.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Back from the match brass in the tumbler and up from Nap #1.
I got trounced again today.
Was a rush to get everything loaded up for both of us to shoot a 600 match today after shooting Wednesday.
After whining about not getting any sleep last night like a little B (Just kidding honey, darling, sweety pie) she did pretty well.
Beat me. Got 94.17% in June and 94.83% this month. A new best for her.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Made another practice session at the Bogalusa range.
Made a "guess" for a charge for the 90gr A-Tip (seconds), 0.4 gr less than our 85.5 loads.
A little seating depth range. Neither of us made MOA groups
Wife's 90gr targets, 3 different seating depths, scope adjusted for 2nd 15 shots.
Combined S.D. of the 30 shots (3 different seating depths) was 16, mean 2059@ 600yds.


and mine

If we have time might make a short trip to set scopes, before a 600yd match Saturday.
If not we'll use sighters.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Latest range trip, Thursday.
Started the wife off @ 100yds to check zero and compare the same load (31.0gr SB6.5) with the 85.5 and 90Atip.
Here's the 100 yard zero check;

and 5 shots with each @ 300 yds.
She still pulls a shot out of 5, 2 pulled out of 10

Starting to shop for bolt gun parts for a Christmas present.
This will also be for F-Class 600 and 1000.
Options will be the 22 Nosgar of course, 2500fps @ 300 yards, 2050fps @ 600yds with 85.5, 88, 90Atip.
Finding a couple places to get a long heavy 22N barrel, but limited ways to do the bolt gun receiver in 22 Nosgar/224v/6.8 SPC. Savage 10 receiver with a bolt nose change looks to be the easiest, or a used donor Valkyrie and swap barrels. Would rather continue with the Hagar brass instead of 22Nosler/Dogtown but a .223 receiver is easier to find.

She's been looking at the "expensive" rifles we see at the matches and really likes the laminated colorful stocks. $$$
I've been following 22BR threads and that may be an option (308 sized bolt face). Don't have the brass or dies yet but she's worth it

 

[Rocketvapor]

Made another range trip to Bogalusa.
Brought the fans. Shot at 100yd splatter targets and used the BulletCam to record groups to look at later.
My 100 yd groups were terrible. Might have had a couple close to 1.5MOA (non over 2.5).
Some were shooting left overs and odds and ends (excuse) but my barrel is toast (another excuse).

Flo shot some left overs to foul and then a slight charge test (a few tenths above and below what we had worked up earlier) with the 85.5s. Came right back to the middle charge.
Also took that charge with 5 shots each Win 41 SRP and 5 with GINEX SRP.
All primers were weight sorted to eliminate any outliers.
WIN41 might have done better (vertical). Match load will be 31.35gr, 85.5 Berger, Win 41.
No chrono data this trip.


Her Savage receiver will be delivered to FFL (at the range) Monday. Birthday is Tuesday, another range trip on Wednesday, then match (with AR) on Saturday.
Barrel on order, pretty blue laminated stock on order.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Another practice session at the Bogalusa range.
New barrel (about 60 rounds down the pipe) @ 100 yds. Barrel now has 110 rounds.
Will not have time for another practice session to play with seating depth before the next match.
Looks like I need to test loads near 31.1, 31.6, and 32.1
85.5, CCI450, SB6.5


Since I won't have time to load up and make another practice session before the next match;
I might load 32.1 for first relay, 31.6 for second, and 31.1 for third.
As the temperature will likely climb a little as the day goes on I could click up 0.1 MIL for each relay and combine load development and match shooting. It's only a game.

Looks like I will have my work cut out for me to beat the wife (Do you still beat your wife )
This is her @ 300 (6 inch dots) on the same day. Adjusted 0.1 MIL down and 0.1 MIL left when done.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Took the wife and her new home assembled Savage 22 Nosler to the range for a 100 yd practice session.
Set up a Buras XRS 2 and shot 22 Nosgar and some 22 Nosler new brass.

She shot some dots, then the point of an old target instead of walking down to add a dot.

Loading up 50 new cases (to make once fired) so she'll have 70 for a match.
10 each of 31.9, 31.8, 31.7, 31.6, and 31.5 grains.
Ought to be able to confirm a node.
Once fired might do a little different than new brass so it may take another trip before we start on seating depth. Then stock screw tuning
Never ends.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Haven't posted in this thread for a while.
Made another 600yd Midrange match at the Bogalusa range.
Flo and her Savage 22N bolt gun have been whupping my butt.
Last month (600yd) she shot 192-2X, 196-7X, 197-9X, for a 585-18X, 97.5%
Today she shot 196-8, 196-6, and her first ever 200-8, 98.67%.
Had her stop in the 3rd relay and look at her group of 2 sighters and 6 record shots.

She adjusted up 2 clicks (1/4MOA) took a few shots and adjusted up 2 more.