Polite Request: Help analyzing these targets

[snert]

@Dimner

How did it all work out?

I was pretty impressed with your groups and with your "huntin stik". With that load, that set up, if you were holding near as good off a backpack or bipod prone, I'd think a 300 yard deer is DRT.

 

[Dimner]

@Dimner

How did it all work out?

I was pretty impressed with your groups and with your "huntin stik". With that load, that set up, if you were holding near as good off a backpack or bipod prone, I'd think a 300 yard deer is DRT.

You know.... I was looking back at this thread earlier today. I had put this project on hold for the summer and I now am getting back to it. Over the weekend I bedded a new stock that is lighter and a bit slimmer than the B&C I had it in. So I was taking a look at the results I had with the old stock.

The Speer 145 gr continued to work well, after I posted this. I switched to shooters world long rifle because I was worried about Ramshot Hunter being more temperature sensitive. Turns out SWLR is just as sensitive as I worried RS Hunter would be. Where I'm now: just going to do a final tuning test with SWLR and RS Hunter. I'll be shooting in about 55 degree weather and that will have to do. Winner take all and I'll hunt with it come this November.

Also, I picked up some 162gr ELDx that I'm going to try out with VV N150 and VV N160. Might get lucky and get a load worked up before November.

And I agree with you. I'm pretty confident in what ever load I end up with being perfect out to 300 yards. Can't wait to hunt!

 

[Uncle Bruce]

I don't think you wannt cheek weld on a bench gun. It's just one more complicated variable. Don't wrap your thumb over the stock.

He is not shooting a bench gun. He is shooting a hunting rifle

 

[Webster]

Hi there everyone, I'm trying to work up a stable load for long range hunting. I have been following the instructions in this thread word for word.

Long range load development at 100 yards.

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...

forum.accurateshooter.com

So here are my target results. After plugging the numbers in quickload for the first test, I realized I had some room to increase the powder charges with respect to max pressure. So I ran a 2nd test, repeating two powder charges from 1st test to account for the 2nd test being performed a few days later. (50.4 and 50.8) I lucked out and had very similar shooting conditions for both tests excepting humidity.

The load particulars if anyone is interested.
7x57 mauser in a tikka action
Ramshot Hunter
Ppu brass, 2xfired annealed. 0.002 shoulder bump
Winchester large rifle primers
Speer Hotcore 145gr SP
All testing done at 100 yards.

Given that these are not match bullets, I used 4 shot groups. And to help with bullet consistency,I combined my 500 bullets all from the same lot, sorted by base to ogive, then culled any OAL outliers. With this subset of bullets I weight sorted the bullets and used the ones that came out to 144.64-144.71.

In the first test, here are the Labradar results
Powder charge--Avg Vel--StdDev--ExtSpread

48.4--2691--18.5--43
48.8--2701--09.5--23
49.2--2716--15.7--34
49.6--2738--16.6--36
50.0--2775--11.0--25
50.4--2781--07.6--17
50.8--2792--21.3--46

2nd test

50.4--2774--22.6--54
50.8--2788--09.7--19
51.2--2805--10.9--25
51.6--2828--12.4--27
52.0--2829--09.1--19

For the 2nd test there were two called shots/fliers that I did not feel like I maintained a solid POA.
1) 50.8 which I pulled low
2) 51.6 which I jerked and it went up to the 12 o'clock position.

With the attached targets, I'm having a hard time interpreting what powder charge to use for a comprehensive OAL test. Especially with the 2nd test, there is not alot of movement in POI. Also, I'm kind of lost on how to interpret the velocity and extreme spread information into any kind of meaningful conclusion.

So what do you all think?

You state that on some of the groups you didn't maintain POA, pulled and jerked. Don't know if any of the groups have value. A couple nice groups, see if you can repeat them. I don't like shooting at near max loads.

 

[Dimner]

You state that on some of the groups you didn't maintain POA, pulled and jerked. Don't know if any of the groups have value. A couple nice groups, see if you can repeat them. I don't like shooting at near max loads.

I've learned a lot and have much better bench skills than when I started.

These first targets in the original post showed me what I needed and where to go with the tune in subsequent testing. My goal isn't really the smallest groups, but small groups and a very stable tune. This is due to Michigan having the ability to have 50 degree temp swings through out the hunting season.

Right now I think I'll be at 3/4 moa at 300 yards when all is said and done. And if I'm being honest, unless wind is 5mph or less, I wouldn't take a shot past 300. I have had the option to shoot past 300 only once in my life. I scout and tend to set my blind locations much closer to the deer.

 

[Webster]

I've learned a lot and have much better bench skills than when I started.

These first targets in the original post showed me what I needed and where to go with the tune in subsequent testing. My goal isn't really the smallest groups, but small groups and a very stable tune. This is due to Michigan having the ability to have 50 degree temp swings through out the hunting season.

Right now I think I'll be at 3/4 moa at 300 yards when all is said and done. And if I'm being honest, unless wind is 5mph or less, I wouldn't take a shot past 300. I have had the option to shoot past 300 only once in my life. I scout and tend to set my blind locations much closer to the deer.

I hunted deer in PA. Most shots are 50-100 yards.

 

[Bob3700]

The velocity node u are working with looks accurate enough for the task at hand. I would be watching how the temps dropping affects my velocity. Do u have to adjust ur powder to maintain the velocity target u have been shooting in? That would be worth a test session I think.

 

[Websurfer]

The trusty 7x57 Mauser is my all-time favorite hunting caliber. With various iterations of the Speer 145 or Hornady 139, I'm happy with consistent 3-shot MOA groups from the bench. Only 1 animal that I've taken over many years needed more than 1 shot (a huge black bear that warranted a second, insurance shot). Otherwise, from various deer/antelope/elk to hogs to black bear to coyotes and more, it's been 1 and done (note: elk and bear get 175 grain Grand Slams). I can't imagine a better balanced, deadlier, mild-mannered cartridge than the 7x57 Mauser.
Once you get nice groups from the bench, move to realistic shooting positions and get proficient there. In the meantime, you made a wonderful cartridge choice. Enjoy shooting that oldie but goodie!!!

 

[Dimner]

The velocity node u are working with looks accurate enough for the task at hand. I would be watching how the temps dropping affects my velocity. Do u have to adjust ur powder to maintain the velocity target u have been shooting in? That would be worth a test session I think.

I always wait to do my final tune when it's closer to hunting temperatures. I am hoping this weekend It will drop below 50 and that will work for me. My usual method is leaving the loads to be tested overnight on my covered porch. Then in the morning, even if it's back up to 60 degrees, the loads are somewhere closer to hunting temps. Based on the results, I'll pick the best load. Then the single shot cold bore sessions begin.