Out testing today,,6.5x47!!!

[foxing2night]

Just been out today testing some varget 38.6....
123 scenars,,,
Today i had the chance to use my friends oehler chrono,,,
I had a ittle bit of varget left over from my 308???
So i loaded 11 rounds,, now i ran them over the chrono,, four rounds
= 2899
= 2926
= 2916
= 2918 average 2914
ES 0027
SD 0011
The numbers are not to bad??? But the group was just one hole,,,, Awesome

Now for my normal load of 38.6 re 15,,,
Four rounds,,,
=2899
=2899
=2896
=2899 Average=2898
Es=0003
SD=0001
Now this realy had a few looks off the shooters present, i can tell you !!!

But the group was not as good as the varget????
Not to shaby, just over .280 for four shots,,,

now my old chrono says that my loads were running at 3000????? it is one off them tin fold up things,,,, could it be that far out ????

And what is the best load out of the two??

Now what i am trying to ask is if the varget load shoots little groups at 100 would the groups open
at longer range due to the sd of 11 and es of 27
??????
Or would the re15 be the best load at long range
With an sd of 1 and es of 3 ????????

Any advice please,,,

Darrel

 

[Steve Blair]

An ES/SD of 27/11 is not bad, but the numbers obtained from a 4-shot group do not mean much. I shoot at least five 5-shot groups before I consider a load validated. In one recent case, I had four 5-shot groups in the mid-teen ES range and one group of 9/4 ES/SD. You must look at results like this as an aggregate. If one group is exceptionally good or bad, there is probably a reason for it. Also, if the ES is more than 3X the SD, look for the possibility that one round may be an outlier and the group suspect.

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

foxing-

I don't think 4 rounds will give you an valid reading on your chrono loads. I alway shoot 10 rounds for the chrono, and 10 for the group size. THEN, if it looks promising, I will then load 20 rounds to see how it does on grouping.

Sometimes, I think we get too hung up about low ES and SD numbers. The important thing is how it groups at 200, 300, 600 yds and beyond. To me, that is the most important. In my .223 and 6.5 Grendel, my most accurate loads don't necessarily have the lowest ES and SD, but I can't argue with one ragged hole downrange. IMHO

Bill

 

[camac]

Note - your first load on varget was a fair bit lower. this is typical of cold bore shots after cleaning and should be ignored for chrono results. As stated by the other guys. Best to keep going under normal shooting conditions and do 10+ shots though chrono to see what happens as barrel warms up. One of my rifles will climb 50 fps after first shot and another 30 odd after that over the match. I gradually back my loads down over the string and can maintain a much better ES. (and accuracy) - but worth knowing how your rifle and powder performs through the match

 

[foxing2night]

Thank you Gents for your replys,,
I will do the same again, but over a longer string of shots as you have all pointed out,,,

I hope that the varget load turns out to be a good one,, But like you have all said,, if it groups then the sd and es will not bother me???

Good shooting to you all,, Darrel

 

[benjamin199]

I agree with what was stated above about shooting larger shot groups, if your larger groups end up being consistent with what you have above, I would start playing with the seating depth on the RL-15 load to see if I could tighten up the group. It might be interesting if you could shoot both loads head to head at the farthest range you plan on using them, that should give you a pretty good idea of which load to use.
good luck,
Ben