walker2713
My Boy Hap....
I finally got my new 17-204 to the range last Friday....
It's a Tikka 595 with a Shilen 1 in 9 26" SS barrel, and I started with rounds of Norma brass, Rem 7 1/2BR primers, Berger 30gr bullets, and charges from 27.8 to 28.8gr of Big Game. It was a hot day, and with cleaning the new barrel and letting it cool a bit, I only put 24 rounds down range. The velocity averages ranged from 4024 to 4164, but I only fired two of the 28.8gr charges....pressure signs. The ES ran about 40, and the SD averaged 15. The accuracy was very poor......more like shotgun pattern than rifle groups....this was true consistently for all charges.
Over the weekend, I loaded another series of cartridges, with everything else the same but using 30gr Kindler Golds. I got out early, and it was only in the mid-80's. The loads today ranged from 27.8gr (4016avg) to 28.4(4086avg).
The accuracy results were similar, but I noticed more obvious vertical stringing. Here's a photo of six shots @ 100yrd.
I also made up a few rounds with 25gr Bergers just to see how it handled them....better results....not so much scatter shot, and I managed this 1/2" group at 28.6gr (4333avg).
I'm going to try some H380, and also vary seating depth.....all of these, on both days, were at 2.350, fitting the Tikka magazine.
I did test the twist on the barrel, and it checks out at 1 in 9".
Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
George
It's a Tikka 595 with a Shilen 1 in 9 26" SS barrel, and I started with rounds of Norma brass, Rem 7 1/2BR primers, Berger 30gr bullets, and charges from 27.8 to 28.8gr of Big Game. It was a hot day, and with cleaning the new barrel and letting it cool a bit, I only put 24 rounds down range. The velocity averages ranged from 4024 to 4164, but I only fired two of the 28.8gr charges....pressure signs. The ES ran about 40, and the SD averaged 15. The accuracy was very poor......more like shotgun pattern than rifle groups....this was true consistently for all charges.
Over the weekend, I loaded another series of cartridges, with everything else the same but using 30gr Kindler Golds. I got out early, and it was only in the mid-80's. The loads today ranged from 27.8gr (4016avg) to 28.4(4086avg).
The accuracy results were similar, but I noticed more obvious vertical stringing. Here's a photo of six shots @ 100yrd.
I also made up a few rounds with 25gr Bergers just to see how it handled them....better results....not so much scatter shot, and I managed this 1/2" group at 28.6gr (4333avg).
I'm going to try some H380, and also vary seating depth.....all of these, on both days, were at 2.350, fitting the Tikka magazine.
I did test the twist on the barrel, and it checks out at 1 in 9".
Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
George
