kmw1954
Member
Purchased this rifle used from GunBroker and honestly the history is a bit shady. Was told it was a low round count but I have my doubts. After firing it the first time with some generic 80gr SP hand loads to set the scope I then later cleaned it. This took 20+ wet patches to get to where they would come out relatively clean. Didn't have a 243 brush yet as no one local had one on the shelf. Still got the scope set and it shot OK with these junk loads.
Next outing shot 12 rounds of factory Hornady Black. Had a major ooopps this time as I forgot which scope was on it. Thinking it was my 1/8 MOA scope I adjusted it as such and the first two shot again went into never-never land. So did a quick bore sight check and found it was now aimed way over the top of the target. There's the ooopps. The scope I have on this right now is a 1/10 MRAD and not the 1/8 MOA. Made a quick adjustment and was right back on target. BTW this was at 200yds. Again the rifle shot well but not what I expected. So when I got back home I scrubbed it again. This time with a brush and some Carbon Cleaner.
Yesterday while working the 200/300yd range I finally got a chance to shoot again after the crowd left. So I set up once again at 200yds. I also had 7 rounds of those junk loads left over so I decided to shoot those off first and make scope adjustments. Here now I had a clean, cold bore on a rifle I had not shot much. Those 7 rounds looked like a shotgun pattern. I then had a load I am starting development with. It's a 87gr VMAX loaded over BL-C2. With these I had short ladder loaded starting at the beginning load and working up by .3gr until I had 5 charge weight loads. First 5 looked like the junk loads as did the first 3 of the next. Then it started to group.
Really did not believe it would take that long to foul up the barrel and warm it enough to get stable but it is something I will pay attention to next time. In all I was not impressed with this load. I was told to disregard the BL-C2 but I have about 3/4lb left that I have no real use for. Though maybe it will work better with a heavier bullet. I also still have this bullet loaded up with Benchmark, A2460 and TAC. Hoping to shoot those on Tuesday.
Next outing shot 12 rounds of factory Hornady Black. Had a major ooopps this time as I forgot which scope was on it. Thinking it was my 1/8 MOA scope I adjusted it as such and the first two shot again went into never-never land. So did a quick bore sight check and found it was now aimed way over the top of the target. There's the ooopps. The scope I have on this right now is a 1/10 MRAD and not the 1/8 MOA. Made a quick adjustment and was right back on target. BTW this was at 200yds. Again the rifle shot well but not what I expected. So when I got back home I scrubbed it again. This time with a brush and some Carbon Cleaner.
Yesterday while working the 200/300yd range I finally got a chance to shoot again after the crowd left. So I set up once again at 200yds. I also had 7 rounds of those junk loads left over so I decided to shoot those off first and make scope adjustments. Here now I had a clean, cold bore on a rifle I had not shot much. Those 7 rounds looked like a shotgun pattern. I then had a load I am starting development with. It's a 87gr VMAX loaded over BL-C2. With these I had short ladder loaded starting at the beginning load and working up by .3gr until I had 5 charge weight loads. First 5 looked like the junk loads as did the first 3 of the next. Then it started to group.
Really did not believe it would take that long to foul up the barrel and warm it enough to get stable but it is something I will pay attention to next time. In all I was not impressed with this load. I was told to disregard the BL-C2 but I have about 3/4lb left that I have no real use for. Though maybe it will work better with a heavier bullet. I also still have this bullet loaded up with Benchmark, A2460 and TAC. Hoping to shoot those on Tuesday.
