I'm patiently waiting for my custom 284 Shehane F Class / varminter to arrive. I have easy access to a local well sheltered 100yd range for load development - the 600yard range is normally closed through to October and weather anyway is not normally conductive for load testing in these months at long ranges. With club competition starting in October I only really have access to the local 100yd range. What test method / process would you use to indentify the "load" for competition shooting out to 1000yds if you only had access to a 100yd range?
Will load testing at 100yds indentify a 1000yds combo worth shooting?
- Thread starter Fordnutter
- Start date
My thought would have to be that at 100 yards,you will need to put them all in one hole...I did this a few times and I was happy with the results..Here is what I did..I knew my velocity..Call sierra and told them of my 100 yard shooting plan...He figured it all out for me and it worked fine...
I took a piece of cardboard 3 1/2 feet high....Put a bulls eye at the bottom...With my MV I had to be hitting 27 1/2 inch high at that distance..So another bulls eye was pasted at the 27 inch high mark...Aiming at the bottom and having it hit at 27 inch high..Put me dead on at 1000 yards.....I did not need any sighter rounds at all...I was there..But my 30-338 was shooting 5 shot 3/8 inch at 300 hundered...Good luck John
I took a piece of cardboard 3 1/2 feet high....Put a bulls eye at the bottom...With my MV I had to be hitting 27 1/2 inch high at that distance..So another bulls eye was pasted at the 27 inch high mark...Aiming at the bottom and having it hit at 27 inch high..Put me dead on at 1000 yards.....I did not need any sighter rounds at all...I was there..But my 30-338 was shooting 5 shot 3/8 inch at 300 hundered...Good luck John
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
My belief is that yes, you can get a good indication of 1000 yard suitability for a load while testing at 100 yards. If it does not group properly at 100, it's not going to magically group well at 1000 yards. Also, if you do not get the muzzle velocity required to get to 1000 yards supersonically, you better look elsewhere.
The way I do it is calculate the minimum muzzle velocity required to have that bullet be at Mach 1.25 at 1000 yards in the coldest, dryest conditions that I may encounter, then I go up from there over a chrono looking for an accuracy node at 100 yards, while staying above that minimum MV.
The use of the thermometer target described above is a time tested method to ensure the riflescope will allow for the required comeups. In fact for my LR match rifles, I adjust my riflescope so the zero at 1000 yards (right around 30 inches high on the thermometer) will have the riflescope in the middle of the adjustment range where the glass is best. It's also a great method to shoot for groups because I concentrate on the dot at the bottom of the target and do not even see the bullet holes in the scope until the group is finished.
Finally, all this testing at 100 yards needs to be proven at 1000 yards and there is simply no substitute for that, but not everyone has ready access to a 1000 yard range and target pullers outside of matches, so you do the best you can with what you have before hand and learn.
The way I do it is calculate the minimum muzzle velocity required to have that bullet be at Mach 1.25 at 1000 yards in the coldest, dryest conditions that I may encounter, then I go up from there over a chrono looking for an accuracy node at 100 yards, while staying above that minimum MV.
The use of the thermometer target described above is a time tested method to ensure the riflescope will allow for the required comeups. In fact for my LR match rifles, I adjust my riflescope so the zero at 1000 yards (right around 30 inches high on the thermometer) will have the riflescope in the middle of the adjustment range where the glass is best. It's also a great method to shoot for groups because I concentrate on the dot at the bottom of the target and do not even see the bullet holes in the scope until the group is finished.
Finally, all this testing at 100 yards needs to be proven at 1000 yards and there is simply no substitute for that, but not everyone has ready access to a 1000 yard range and target pullers outside of matches, so you do the best you can with what you have before hand and learn.
Try a ladder test at 1000 yds.
Maybe 5 different loads, 5% apart in weight over the weight range you are looking for. If you have a chroney, monitor and record MV as well.
I use 50 yd small bore targets with 5 targets per paper. One target per load. Measure height and windage from point of aim to center of holes. If you have On Target software this is easy.
Then,plot the point of impact height and pick the load right on the saddle, either up or down.
THEN, if you monitored MV, use a ballistic program and find the drop with respect to 100yd and simply dial in the elevation for what ever range you shoot.
Maybe 5 different loads, 5% apart in weight over the weight range you are looking for. If you have a chroney, monitor and record MV as well.
I use 50 yd small bore targets with 5 targets per paper. One target per load. Measure height and windage from point of aim to center of holes. If you have On Target software this is easy.
Then,plot the point of impact height and pick the load right on the saddle, either up or down.
THEN, if you monitored MV, use a ballistic program and find the drop with respect to 100yd and simply dial in the elevation for what ever range you shoot.
YES! I did mean
"Try a ladder test at 100yd!"
"Try a ladder test at 100yd!"
Thanks guys - Will see what sucess I have at 100yds. Hopefully I don't wear out the barrel before I come up with a load that I'm happy with.
Don't get so bent out of shape shooting at 100 yards doing a complex load development.
This is how I have shot in my current 284 fo rifle, and a few others.
First match is 4 days away. I know from last year shooting my other 284, and talking to guys about what their gun likes that; 180 hy over 55-56 grains of H4831sc is where it is at. So i load up 3 each of 54.5, 55, 55.5, 56, 56.5 .030" off.
I then load up 10 rounds with a base load of 55 grains and a seating depth that is .030" off, i use those 10 rounds to do an initial group test and foul the barrel and warm it up. I then record velocities on the 6 different loads I loaded looking for pressure signs and initial groups.
From there I pick the one load that shot well enough to be competitive and was at or slightly below the target velocity I'm after. I load up 100 of them and go to a match.
Why do this? for one it seems many barrels take 50-100 rounds to shoot in and stabilize the velocities.
For two, I normally use the first match to learn how to "hold" the gun for best performance, and to get used to how it handles.
With the bullets that remain after that match you can re-evaluate the velocity, accuracy and tweak the powder charge weight and seating depth for best tune if it's needed.
That particular rifle ended up shooting sub 1/4" c to c at 100 yards with the 55.5 grain load. and is capable of keeping them all in x ring vertical at 1000. Load development was less than 15 rounds.
So If your unfamiliar with your new cartridge your shooting get some GOOD advice from someone who has real experience with it, for the base load.
This is how I have shot in my current 284 fo rifle, and a few others.
First match is 4 days away. I know from last year shooting my other 284, and talking to guys about what their gun likes that; 180 hy over 55-56 grains of H4831sc is where it is at. So i load up 3 each of 54.5, 55, 55.5, 56, 56.5 .030" off.
I then load up 10 rounds with a base load of 55 grains and a seating depth that is .030" off, i use those 10 rounds to do an initial group test and foul the barrel and warm it up. I then record velocities on the 6 different loads I loaded looking for pressure signs and initial groups.
From there I pick the one load that shot well enough to be competitive and was at or slightly below the target velocity I'm after. I load up 100 of them and go to a match.
Why do this? for one it seems many barrels take 50-100 rounds to shoot in and stabilize the velocities.
For two, I normally use the first match to learn how to "hold" the gun for best performance, and to get used to how it handles.
With the bullets that remain after that match you can re-evaluate the velocity, accuracy and tweak the powder charge weight and seating depth for best tune if it's needed.
That particular rifle ended up shooting sub 1/4" c to c at 100 yards with the 55.5 grain load. and is capable of keeping them all in x ring vertical at 1000. Load development was less than 15 rounds.
So If your unfamiliar with your new cartridge your shooting get some GOOD advice from someone who has real experience with it, for the base load.
Raythemanroe
Bullet Whisperer
Tune at a thousand
Ray
Ray
For my 1000yd bench rest rifles, I did all my testing at 300 yards. It made it easier to see what shot thru the wind, and you could see more of what the ladder testing was telling you. Ray, Matt, Alex and others will tell you to test at the yardage you will be shooting at. I just did not like driving 90 miles to test.
Shynloco
You can lead a horse to water, but ........
Because of your range restrictions, I would get to know and acquaint yourself with your new rifle at whatever range is available. But for fine tuning, it doesn't make sense to fine tune at 100 yds when you intend to shoot 1K for score. Besides, in all likelihood, your bullets/powder will change depending on the distance you will ultimately be shooting at. That's what I would be doing.
Alex
Alex
Tune at 100 Test at 1000 . Larry
dmoran
Donovan Moran
Old thread (5-years old).... but agree 100% with your present input.
Good Luck next weekend !.!.!
Donovan
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