Reading group shape and bullet holes

[EGBrown]

On to Saturday for LV and Sporter
I wasn’t happy with how the gun did with the last two targets Friday afternoon
For me seating depth is KING and then powder charge. I decided to go on out about .002 in seating depth. Loaded ten rounds of 29.3 a 29.7 and a 30 grain for that morning
The 29.7 stuck them again

Target number 1 let’s back up to an early comment from @JEFFPPC about so many other things can be going on not always the load or the rifle. I said I planned to show the good the bad and the ugly so here is some BAD
I couldn’t have goofed up the first target of the day any worse. There was that headwind again but not as strong as the day before the first three shots went in a tiny hole just under the moth ball then I missed the let up and number 4 went a bullet hole high I went on to then shoot number 5 missing a pickup coming from the right To start off the day with a big .326 NOT good
So Jeff is correct it is not always the tune. I actually felt really good about the tune the bullet holes were nice and round dark black. The first three went into an ice pick group. I knew I just had flat screwed it up. So I decided to leave the load alone

Target 2 the conditions were just rough switching back and forth quicker than you could keep up
A lot of cussing from down the line. I waited all the way to 30 seconds and the flags just died went completely still As quick as I could aim and control the shot I managed to get them off in time. The gun shot well with a little .060 I’m confident in the tune for the next match

Target 3 Happy with the load and left it alone. I didn’t have to wait long for a decent condition. A slight left to right wind but fairly easy I did have to hold a quarter bullet hole on the last two shots
Came out with a nice .115 the gun is doing good

Target 4 the conditions have changed now the wind is from the right. I got the first two off and started pretty good missed a pickup and it knocked the third bullet low. Managed to get the last two shots into the group But the damage is done another fat .322

Target 5 just as soon as the commence fire came I jumped on a nice condition and came out with a nice .162

That’s some of the good and bad. I’m pretty happy with the load and got ready for the Sporter match after lunch

Won the LV100 with a nice .1970 thanks to the 060

On Target 3, slight left to right wind. Did you hold at 9:00 or at 10:00?
This is a nice thread. Thanks for taking time to post targets with discriptions.

 

[Tim Singleton]

On Target 3, slight left to right wind. Did you hold at 9:00 or at 10:00?
This is a nice thread. Thanks for taking time to post targets with discriptions.

I held at 9 didnt think it was much push
Should have held at 10 tho the hold over was good but the shot went a bit low

 

[EGBrown]

I held at 9 didnt think it was much push
Should have held at 10 tho the hold over was good but the shot went a bit low

Thank you. I'm trying to learn to hold my shots. I the heat of a match, I can’t seem to think quick enough. I have a hard time holding 10:00 and 4:00, I still hold 9:00 and 3:00. Your actual targets, along with your comments, have been very helpful for me. I would love to see more threads like this.

 

[ricco1949]

Tim,
Is your first shot POA 6:00 mothball?

 

[Tim Singleton]

Tim,
Is your first shot POA 6:00 mothball?

yep

 

[Tim Singleton]

Try to get in the habit of using your sighter the same every time.
when testing loads I always shoot the lighter load on the left then hold on the box in the middle of the middle load then the hotter load on the right sighter
Save the main sighter bull for the record.
Then when you review targets later you wont struggle to remember what is what

 

[Ccrider]

yep

So, is your expected point of impact the mothball at 6, the same as your point of aim?

 

[Tim Singleton]

So, is your expected point of impact the mothball at 6, the same as your point of aim?

Well, I set it up so that it does with neutral conditions
But you just have to see where it hits

 

[Tim Singleton]

Back to looking at the size and shape of the bullet holes. Here are some pics from a match yesterday
Look at target number 1 and 2 size and shape of the holes compared to target 3 and 4

 

[ShtrRdy]

Interesting. Did you change the load between those?

 

[KMW 1954]

Late to this thread but find it of great interest. Especially this last report with the UBR targets. Had to go back to the 1st post and start fresh.

Your post at #32 really struck home as I have been in contact with Danny and am in the process of hopefully arranging these matches at a range I work pt at as an RO. It has 100, 200, 300yd ranges available and there is nothing else being offered anywhere within a 6hr drive.

Thanks for sharing all this along with feeding the desire to compete!

 

[Tim Singleton]

Interesting. Did you change the load between those?

Look at the shape and size of the holes in the first two matches compared to match 3 and 4
Can you see anything different?

 

[ShtrRdy]

Look at the shape and size of the holes in the first two matches compared to match 3 and 4
Can you see anything different?

Yes, I can see a difference.

 

[Ccrider]

Back to looking at the size and shape of the bullet holes. Here are some pics from a match yesterday
Look at target number 2 size and shape of the holes compared to target 3 and 4

Somewhat oblong and bullet more unstable looking at the powder ring vs smaller more circular. My WAG would be you increased powder charge or maybe turn tuner out?

 

[Tim Singleton]

Somewhat oblong and bullet more unstable looking at the powder ring vs smaller more circular. My guess would be you increased powder charge or maybe turn tuner out?

Yep
On the first target it shot pretty good as far as being able to steer the bullet it hit where I aimed for the most part.
I missed the #5 bull on match one for no reason tho it just didn’t go where it should have
The holes are big somewhat oblong and tearing the paper I left the load alone and shot match two and more of the same I missed the #6 bull for no reason.
I went up from 30grains to 30.2 on match 3 and it shot better I only shot one sighted and ran the whole target the #2 bull I missed was just barely the load was noticeably to me better
It’s not tearing the paper the holes are smaller and more symmetrical
I decided to go on up to 30.4 for match 4 and it got a little better. Again only shot one sighter. The holes are even smaller and cutting the paper much better. I could actually steer the bullet now
I’ve sworn off tuners for this year

 

[Ccrider]

Yep
On the first target it shot pretty good as far as being able to steer the bullet it hit where I aimed for the most part.
I missed the #5 bull on match one for no reason tho it just didn’t go where it should have
The holes are big somewhat oblong and tearing the paper I left the load alone and shot match two and more of the same I missed the #6 bull for no reason.
I went up from 30grains to 30.2 on match 3 and it shot better I only shot one sighted and ran the whole target the #2 bull I missed was just barely the load was noticeably to me better
It’s not tearing the paper the holes are smaller and more symmetrical
I decided to go on up to 30.4 for match 4 and it got a little better. Again only shot one sighter. The holes are even smaller and cutting the paper much better. I could actually steer the bullet now
I’ve sworn off tuners for this year

Dang. Lucky guess!

 

[Tim Singleton]

Look closely at the center sighter bull on target two compared to the holes in target four

See how big and torn the paper is on target one
On target two at bottom of the sighter box that is still two shots in the same hole so it’s not a terribly tune. It’s still just not as sharp as it needs to be to shoot 66s

 

[Kevin d]

Glad to see you giving it some powder, bullet holes tell all. My opinion tuner is just an ornament on the bbl. powder does the tuning

 

[Ccrider]

Look closely at the center sighter bull on target two compared to the holes in target four

See how big and torn the paper is on target one
On target two at bottom of the sighter box that is still two shots in the same hole so it’s not a terribly tune. It’s still just not as sharp as it needs to be to shoot 66s

Problem is knowing when to stop.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Glad to see you giving it some powder, bullet holes tell all. My opinion tuner is just an ornament on the bbl. powder does the tuning

I agree on the ornament just add seating depth and powder