Long range tuning

[JFrank]

Wow over 5000 thread views’

I have several test loads made up for next weekends 1000 yard event 4/ 9-10, I have two charge ladders each at separate seating depths so that should give plenty of information to go on.

This season is starting off with a sad note that a BR friend has passed away and will be missed,
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/billy-copelin-has-left-the-range.4062498/
His catch phrase was ( all it takes is money )

 

[JFrank]

Let’s see y’all figure this puzzle out.
There are two seating depth reviews along with two charge ladders at separate depths.

Which one do I shoot tomorrow ? Good grief..

 

[Nature Boy]

Pick the one with the least amount of vertical deviation and if the variation is inside your wind reading ability, quit tinkering with it and go shoot the match.

 

[JFrank]

We woke up to blowing side ways and snowing at 3300 ft.
I shot both loads and still had shots leak out’ all I can say is I survived the day where others did not.
Tomorrows load is 30.4 at + .018 jam

 

[Nature Boy]

Nice shooting!

 

[JFrank]

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/t...d-match-3-lg-hg-results-april-9-2022.4063382/
Todays results

 

[JFrank]

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/t...-match-4-lg-hg-results-april-10-2022.4063472/
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/t...-match-4-lg-hg-results-april-10-2022.4063472/
todays amazing results.

 

[JFrank]

After three shots in the X ring ( top target) I had a couple shots get away during a condition change, other than that I believe my tune is pretty good.

until next time.
Stay tuned
J

 

[JFrank]

After some time to reflect I would add a few thoughts towards a couple of goals I set earlier.
1- clean up my ignition, which by setting my primer pocket depth all the same and uniformed followed by weight sorting the primers and shooting those similar.
Does it help ? Seems I can see less flyers
2- tracking is another area I am working on with sand management in the bags, Well I’ve come across an interesting situation with my rear bag.
I have what’s called a dead bottom ( leather bag/ ring ) that helps level out a bench top, however I find that also adds a layer of complexity due to the center void area causing my sand level to vary or drop during recoil rounding or let’s say bulging out the bottom so on the second day I removed the ring only find the less vertical induced at 1000 yards.
I have since ordered a replacement bag and much larger also very flat bottom without flex. This thing feels great.
If you need good equipment and don’t mind one owner I recommend https://www.stanleyclark.live/

 

[JFrank]

I’m not sure how many HR members knew Stan Taylor but I thought I would pass this along.
He was a good guy and a friend I will miss.https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/in-memory-of-stan.4065346/

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/in-
memory-of-stan.4065346/

 

[MarshallDodge]

I didn't know him but I am sorry to hear of your loss of a good friend.

 

[LoonWulf]

My condolences as well.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’m not sure how many HR members knew Stan Taylor but I thought I would pass this along.
He was a good guy and a friend I will miss.

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/in-
memory-of-stan.4065346/

I was starting to wonder. I bought a barrel from Stan 2 weeks ago and he hasn’t responded to my PMs.

I was afraid something was wrong

My prayers to his family

ETA: I went back and looked my my PMs with him. I guess it was more than a couple of weeks ago. I sent him a PM that the money was on the way on April 30th and he passed on May 5th. Tragic.

 

[horsemen61]

RIP

 

[JFrank]

Not feeling well, Stan left work early that day suffering a heart attack later that night.

 

[JFrank]

Well guys, I’m off to the next match with a clean rifle and a pre loaded ladder test. On arrival I always try and get set up with a fix on conditions and send rounds down range in a round robin format, one thing I struggle with interpreting results and really hate vertical , hopefully I can get this new bag to settle down, anyway 30.4 keeps shooting reasonably small and steady noting that I have overlooked that charge before loading it in April and again last night.. so maybe I’ll get lucky who knows …here’s the bench assignments for saturdays match

 

[MarshallDodge]

That's a beautiful rifle.

The hotel room is one place that I have never reloaded

 

[JFrank]

Todays results are some what of a mixed bag, at least for myself with gun handling errors in my heavy gun relays with one shot way out plus I missed a condition change that really hurt my scores on both targets. LG I fared a bit better..

 

[JFrank]

I made a few adjustments to my rear bag and checked the nut behind the trigger followed by another tenth grain of powder to the load, I definitely felt I shot better and the groups and score reflected the changes. Gun handling skills seem to deteriorate if a fella doesn’t shoot often enough so hopefully I’ll find the time to step it up a tad bit as the championship match in August is closing in.

 

[JFrank]

That's a beautiful rifle.

The hotel room is one place that I have never reloaded

Thx, a few short years ago that rifle was top of the line, there has been advancements for sure but I don’t mind because I’m kinda old myself.
Ah yes’ when choosing reloading stuff I like portable and simple, I have one roll out box that has range stuff and another that goes to the room. I also have a Bigfoot wagon ( little red kids wagon) that works well but if my granddaughter see’s it she’ll claim it for herself so it stays hidden. Lol ..

 

[JFrank]

This weekends weather was a bit tricky with so much rain and humidity, some of the guys rifles were building pressure quickly with heavy bolt lift.
Perhaps I’ll turn up the horse power a bit more as the weather drys out another tenth of a grain should help tighten up the groups without getting erratic.

 

[Nature Boy]

Nice shooting Jim.

Have you considered getting a barrel tuner to give you the ability to adjust for changing conditions?

 

[JFrank]

Nice shooting Jim.

Have you considered getting a barrel tuner to give you the ability to adjust for changing conditions?

Thx Bill
I have not and we don’t get much time between relays for adjustments, it may be something to look at moving forward though and everything is up for discussion .
I do believe I can turn the power up a bit more as with the data I’ve noted so far the groups will tighten up, at some point they break out of the node going vertical.
Interesting is that my sighters are always in or near the box yet somewhere during my string I’ll get a flyer beyond the sighters, now here’s a question- even though I use a heat shield on the barrel heat eventually or at some point the mirage builds around my sight picture and I wonder if that may be skewing my view enough to send that one flyer?

 

[JFrank]

With a month before the final match of the Deek Creek season, I’ve brought out a stash of bullets to tune up. Starting with a 2 shot per increment ladder then review the seating depth from the lands.
I’ve also decided that the round robin testing is just difficult to interpret so I’ve shot groups color per color.
These bullets are from an older batch and measure slightly different I have enough to really get into testing and tuning whereas the previous batch I am almost out and not satisfied with the results of minimum testing.
Anyway I’ve narrowed down my powder charge to 30.6 -30.7 and hopefully have a direction for seating depth ( blue) and ( red)

 

[JFrank]

I’m going back over these rounds this morning before the wind kicked up, what I’m seeing here is that 30.6 at varying seating depths can look good, but 30.7 is consistently shooting a bit tighter. Even though I’m adding powder my speeds are down and I’m not sure why but as long as it shoots small I don’t really care at the moment.
My direction is ;
30.7> and explore .025 &.011 jam windows to hopefully get some nice clean grouping and no spitting shots.