On accurate load development

[Howa 9700]

When working on load development, have been forced to accept the sobering reality that the single largest limiting factor in all this.....is me. Loads and gun are only as good as the guy on the trigger.

Latest results......and I should point out these are hunting loads from a hunting rifle.......and these were shot under hunting conditions. Standing up, resting rifle on a large round hay bale. Target walked out to distance, which I paced off walking back as 125 yards.

One flyer (on far right)......but the other three measured about 0.8" at 125 yards (third hole in black....inside circle). Had that been an actual deer, would have been in big trouble.

But in shooting those......I found it nearly impossible to keep crosshairs of 3 x 9 scope inside the red dot, which also measures .75". Not only keeping it inside the circle when sighting, but it also has to be inside the circle when gun goes off.

Gun and ammo may be capable of one ragged hole......but unless shooter is up to the task, how would you know?

 

[Charlie98]

I've never really been a big scope guy... but a few years ago, I bought a Savage bolt gun in .308, with the intention of putting glass on it. I found I had a pretty steep learning curve... shooting a scope is different, for sure... and requires a bit more from the operator. I also found that minute things... like how I grip the rifle, and head height in relation to the scope has a LOT to do with how well I shoot it.

 

[AK Hunter]

When testing loads for accuracy I put my gun on a cradle rest to eliminate me for messing it up.
The gun and round will do the best it can, me on the other hand has problems coming up to the challenge. LOL

 

[Bfh_auto]

You found the reason why I do load development prone or seated on sand bags.
BTW you wouldn't have been in trouble with any of those shots on a deer at 125 paces.
You're doing pretty decent compared to a lot of people.

 

[Howa 9700]

I guess that is my point. Ideally, I'd like to be able to find a way to limit movement so that crosshairs were hovering on one of those smaller red dots on the corners. Do that and you could find out what gun and ammo are doing. But at that distance, with that equipment, under those conditions, could not get the movement to settle down to do better. Not unhappy with it, and it is what it is.

But a good lesson learned. Either find a way to get it to settle down......or accept that level of accuracy and load development just stops there. May not be perfect, but good enough?

 

[Skgreen]

The haybale musta flinched,,,

 

[bullseye308]

well it's a hunting rifle in hunting conditions and grouping mostly under an inch at 125 yards to be used on a deer(?) with an 8" target, I think you will do just fine. The deer wont know the difference, but im sure would appreciate the work you put into getting a clean kill. Just practice your breathing, natural point of aim, and dont feel bad, most of us limit our rifles from doing better.