Reloading a 6PPC at the range

[SS427]

I packed up all my gear last weekend and headed to the range with the intention of reloading at the range for the first time. I had 25 6PPC rounds pre-loaded and 15 cases all prepped and ready to go, other than powder and bullets.

I ended up shooting all the pre-loaded rounds. As you can see in the attachment, the results were not bad. After the second group, I thought about going down in powder charge, but thought for sure the one shot out of the group was due to wind rather than tune. So I fired another pre-loaded group and you can see the results, so I didn’t bother changing the load. The next two groups were shot in much worse wind conditions, but I was able to read the wind and contain them to a tight group. You can see how the forth group is shifted to the left a little due to the wind.

I recorded a temperature of 55 degrees on my target, but in reality the temp at first was 45 and when I was done it was 55. Humidity was constant at about 50%.

If anyone has any advice or can read these groups and make any suggestions, I’m all ears. My goal is to shoot an agg in the teens before the end of the year, but I know how hard that is to do.

 

[potatoe]

I packed up all my gear last weekend and headed to the range with the intention of reloading at the range for the first time. I had 25 6PPC rounds pre-loaded and 15 cases all prepped and ready to go, other than powder and bullets.

I ended up shooting all the pre-loaded rounds. As you can see in the attachment, the results were not bad. After the second group, I thought about going down in powder charge, but thought for sure the one shot out of the group was due to wind rather than tune. So I fired another pre-loaded group and you can see the results, so I didn’t bother changing the load. The next two groups were shot in much worse wind conditions, but I was able to read the wind and contain them to a tight group. You can see how the forth group is shifted to the left a little due to the wind.

I recorded a temperature of 55 degrees on my target, but in reality the temp at first was 45 and when I was done it was 55. Humidity was constant at about 50%.

If anyone has any advice or can read these groups and make any suggestions, I’m all ears. My goal is to shoot an agg in the teens before the end of the year, but I know how hard that is to do.

 

[LHSmith]

How much neck tension? If pressure signs permit, go up in charge incrementally. My Bat LV performed much better above 29.3. YMMV

 

[SS427]

.002 to .003, depending on how much spring back from the bushing I'm getting.

 

[LHSmith]

N133 likes a lot of neck tension......003 should work best. N133 hates low humidity.....it just goes goofy on you near 30% RH.

 

[BoydAllen]

How are you measuring your groups....suggest pick up Neil Jones caliper attachment. I think that you will find that the numbers are different. Nevertheless your groups show real promise. Next time, skip the preload. Tune the load, when you get to the range, and then shoot your agg. You should remember that in the real world of match measured groups, teen aggs are not all that common, and are heavily dependent on conditions.

One thing that I have rediscovered recently is that bags can have you trying to tune out fliers that the load has not produced. We tend to focus on flags and loads, but the whole system produces the agg. Just because you shoot a good group does not mean that your equipment is reliable for every group in an agg. Some setups are more dependable than others, and if you aren't aware of this, it can lead you around in circles. Yesterday I took three rear bags to the range, after I had the load working well with one bag, I tried the others. Luckily, I had started with the best bag. the others were not as good..at the target.

 

[SS427]

Was hoping you would comment Boyd.

I measure with caliper only...outside to outside and subtract .234 from the total. With the paper I make my targets on a single hole measures on average .234. Someone else said my measurements looked small, so I double checked them and of course I didn't get the exact same measurements, but the agg still was about the same. I'm sure if they were officially measured they would be larger.

I use fairly primitive equipment compared to most - a Caldwell front rest and a simple Protector rear rest. I set up four ribbons on dowls...no real wind flags. And other than the fouling shots, I don't shoot any sighters. Interesting you got the results you did by changing bags. I never thought it would make that much difference.

I just looked at some match results posted on Benchrest Central. I guess I'm not doing too bad with what I have and how I'm doing it. But I have to feed my addiction and want to shoot smaller.

 

[BoydAllen]

Does the Caldwell rest have a windage top? The reason that I ask is that I looked at one once and was able to easily rock it from side to side. If may be that you would enjoy an upgrade to a better windage top, something like the current version from Sinclair would be good. Your rest post would have to be drilled and tapped for what ever size the attachment machine serew is. On the rear bag, there is noting wrong with a Protektor. You might order an Otto ring for it. I think that you are doing just fine. Keep us posted as to your continuing results and changes that you make in your equipment.

 

[Frankr]

How are you measuring your groups....suggest pick up Neil Jones caliper attachment. I think that you will find that the numbers are different. Nevertheless your groups show real promise. Next time, skip the preload. Tune the load, when you get to the range, and then shoot your agg. You should remember that in the real world of match measured groups, teen aggs are not all that common, and are heavily dependent on conditions.

One thing that I have rediscovered recently is that bags can have you trying to tune out fliers that the load has not produced. We tend to focus on flags and loads, but the whole system produces the agg. Just because you shoot a good group does not mean that your equipment is reliable for every group in an agg. Some setups are more dependable than others, and if you aren't aware of this, it can lead you around in circles. Yesterday I took three rear bags to the range, after I had the load working well with one bag, I tried the others. Luckily, I had started with the best bag. the others were not as good..at the target.

I would go + one on everything boyd said.. I have been playing with different bag's and set up's for years. some work well some dont..some you shoot good off of one day and not the next.

otter i'm not trying to beat you up at all here..good shooting , but the group's do look bigger than what they read and i know from doing this for awhile it may just be the picture we are looking at.
here are some targets measured at a match.

now the bottom target is my favorite and also my best group in a match. but i feel i'm ready for the spring and would like to put five of them down in a reg match..

 

[SS427]

Boyd, yes, my top does have a windage adjustment, but I've heard about the rocking you describe and mine does not do that. I have replaced the Caldwell front bag with a Protector #3 cordura bag. That made a big improvement in how the gun rode the bags. Next time I do an order with Sinclair I will include an Otto ring. If I start to compete I will eventually spring for a better rest, but for now I figure that money is better spent on bullets, powder and more practice.

FJIM, I don't take your advice as a beating. I wouldn't be asking if I couldn't handle the suggestions. My goal is to get better and there are lots of people who have done this before and I'm going to listen to them. I'm going to go back and measure the groups again just to double check. When you get some good groups, that is a good deal of the fun anyway. I think the scan might be part of the reason they look bigger. When I compare my notebook to the scan I posted, the originals do look smaller. Either way I'm pretty darn happy with my progress. Good luck next year...I enjoyed your private message. Keep the women at bay and you can afford to go!

 

[Frankr]

Thanks otter. yep i have seen that a few times where the target i was looking at was very small but after i scaned it and posted, it looked big.. kind of like looking through your scope thinking you shot a small one only to find out it was a .250