Trouble reading target

[kmw1954]

Folks I seem to be having difficulties reading a recent target that was shot for a ladder. This is a new to me bullet but all other load components I have been using a long time in this same rifle.

There are eight total loads in this group all in .3gr increments. Each load was shot one at a time round robin to form a 3 shot composite group at 100yds.. The loadings of 23.9 and 24.2 were just two rounds left over from a previous test session that was interrupted. The target in center bottom was used as a sight-in.

This load development is 223Rem with Hornady VMAX 60gr flat base using Ramshot TAC powder.

What has me confused is load 22.4 with the one flier and then the 23.3 which is almost one hole. I just don't know what to make of this other than to just repeat this 6 loadings and see if it repeats.

 

[AJC1]

Folks I seem to be having difficulties reading a recent target that was shot for a ladder. This is a new to me bullet but all other load components I have been using a long time in this same rifle.

There are eight total loads in this group all in .3gr increments. Each load was shot one at a time round robin to form a 3 shot composite group at 100yds.. The loadings of 23.9 and 24.2 were just two rounds left over from a previous test session that was interrupted. The target in center bottom was used as a sight-in.

This load development is 223Rem with Hornady VMAX 60gr flat base using Ramshot TAC powder.

What has me confused is load 22.4 with the one flier and then the 23.3 which is almost one hole. I just don't know what to make of this other than to just repeat this 6 loadings and see if it repeats.

View attachment 1167547

24.2 of tac is what my savage likes with the 69 rmr. I find tac usually has several spits that shoot well. That 23.9 doesn't look any higher or lower so maybe test that area.... I'm inclined to like it based on my own success there though.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Folks I seem to be having difficulties reading a recent target that was shot for a ladder. This is a new to me bullet but all other load components I have been using a long time in this same rifle.

There are eight total loads in this group all in .3gr increments. Each load was shot one at a time round robin to form a 3 shot composite group at 100yds.. The loadings of 23.9 and 24.2 were just two rounds left over from a previous test session that was interrupted. The target in center bottom was used as a sight-in.

This load development is 223Rem with Hornady VMAX 60gr flat base using Ramshot TAC powder.

What has me confused is load 22.4 with the one flier and then the 23.3 which is almost one hole. I just don't know what to make of this other than to just repeat this 6 loadings and see if it repeats.

View attachment 1167547

24.0ish grains seems like a good load to me. I'd load up 50 more at 24gr and test them and if they all group well, call it good.

 

[Kwaynem]

I would just shoot another group of 23.3 maybe 5 shot group or more

 

[kmw1954]

This tight/lose/tight/lose/tight. Not the usual progression I see. At this point I am thinking the first three again to see if it repeats. This is the first time I have used these bullets so I don't know what to expect.

 

[kmw1954]

24.2 of tac is what my savage likes with the 69 rmr.

This Savage absolutely detests the 69gr RMR. Have tried it with 4 different powders. Loves 69gr Barnes Match Burners.

 

[AJC1]

This Savage absolutely detests the 69gr RMR. Have tried it with 4 different powders. Loves 69gr Barnes Match Burners.

Wow that sucks. It's not fair to call mine a savage as it wears a 30" shilen. The 68 Hornaday was surprisingly good. Keep pushing, your far more consistent than I at staying with one project...

 

[ms6852]

If unsure you might want to have someone shoot the same loads to eliminate shooter error. Personally I would just use the 22.7 or the 23.3 loads. I stopped using the ladder test and just do the similar test you did with the only difference being that I shoot 5 rounds at 200 yards, and the load with the smallest group wins. Afterwards, for confirmation I let the rifle cool off a few minutes before I shoot two more groups of 5 and if the groups are similar this is the load I use for that rifle. For me if the groups of 5 can be covered by a quarter at 200 yards, I consider it a great load for deer and elk and this becomes my hunting load.

 

[MarshallDodge]

This Savage absolutely detests the 69gr RMR. Have tried it with 4 different powders. Loves 69gr Barnes Match Burners.

The Barnes 69 MB is a good bullet.

I think I have the secret to getting the 69 3GH to shoot. Lots of trial and error with 1.5-2" groups, then I threw some neck tension at it with a Lee FCD. 0.21" 3-shot group was the result. I have another batch loaded and am testing them tomorrow, will post results.

I'm running a R700 with a 1:8 Bartlein

Everything was the same with the two groups except the the right group was a longer 2.260 OAL, and the FCD was used. 24.0 TAC, LC cases, BR4 primer. I had tried 2.260 before without success so I'm leaning toward the FCD being the secret.

Left group was typical of what I was seeing before.



RMR said that they are running a lot of neck tension as well, and sent me some sub MOA 10 shot groups from an AR.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

The Barnes 69 MB is a good bullet.

I think I have the secret to getting the 69 3GH to shoot. Lots of trial and error with 1.5-2" groups, then I threw some neck tension at it with a Lee FCD. 0.21" 3-shot group was the result. I have another batch loaded and am testing them tomorrow, will post results.

I'm running a R700 with a 1:8 Bartlein

Everything was the same with the two groups except the the right group was a longer 2.260 OAL, and the FCD was used. 24.0 TAC, LC cases, BR4 primer. I had tried 2.260 before without success so I'm leaning toward the FCD being the secret.

Left group was typical of what I was seeing before.

View attachment 1167556

RMR said that they are running a lot of neck tension as well, and sent me some sub MOA 10 shot groups from an AR.

Nice!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would just shoot another group of 23.3 maybe 5 shot group or more

I agree, If you can repeat that 23.3gr load results I highly doubt you will need to do any more testing. I would do a few 5 shot groups and then even a 10 shot group. If those are still showing that very good accuracy see if you can repeat @200 yards.

If you can't repeat @200 yards I would give that 23.9gr load a try.at distance since it looks promising too and will probably remain more stable out to the longer distances.

I have a .223 load I shoot in a bolt.action rifle that does 1/4 MOA @100 yards and 1/2 MOA @200 yards when I do my job. It is made with a Sierra 55gr bullet and Varget. The AV is 2,861 fps.

Don't over complicate this, you did very well finding a very good load. Stick with it and verify the results. Well done...

 

[kmw1954]

Sure, 23.3... Must be a very small node when .3gr above and below fall apart.

I am believing the node is at 22.4 and 22.7 with that one outlier being me.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I am with AJC, stay on that higher node if you can, around 24.0

 

[kmw1954]

Just to make everyone that has replied aware, this possible bullet is to be used for a informal modified bench league shooting varied targets at 100/200/300yds for scores and competing against 19 other shooters. Last years league shooting the same rifle using a different bullet/load I finished 15 out of 20. So I need a load more stable and repeatable than the one I used last year which was almost as good as this bullet. 5 out of 8 of these loads are not good enough to be competitive.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I like more case fill so that is why I picked the higher node. You can play with seating depth up there as well.

What is the reasoning behind using a 60 Vmax over a 52/53 match bullet? BC?

 

[JerkyFreak]

I'm with MarshallDodge on this one. 24.0-24.1

23.9 and 24.2 seem great. Those were the only two consecutive loads with reasonable groups. Load between the two should be ideal and would mitigate temperature differences and load variability in the near future

 

[sparkyv]

Looks to me there's a very stable, wide node (or nodes) between 22.7 and 23.9gr a little low and left. I'd pick a load in the middle, tweak the scope and shoot some confirmational rounds.

 

[Walkalong]

with the one flier

Is it?

and see if it repeats.

We should be doing this anyway, maybe not all six........

 

[Kwaynem]

Just to make everyone that has replied aware, this possible bullet is to be used for a informal modified bench league shooting varied targets at 100/200/300yds for scores and competing against 19 other shooters. Last years league shooting the same rifle using a different bullet/load I finished 15 out of 20. So I need a load more stable and repeatable than the one I used last year which was almost as good as this bullet. 5 out of 8 of these loads are not good enough to be competitive.

Carry on then lol I thought it was a hunting load my method for hunting is same as ARCHANGELCD

 

[kmw1954]

Is it?

We should be doing this anyway, maybe not all six........

Hence my comment in post #12. That errant shot very well could have been me as after recalling the sequence that outlier was the last shot on that target. Now I am also having trouble understanding the choices of those last two when there are 3 targets that have all 3 shots touching each other.

So thinking I should load 22.4, 22.5, 22.6 22.7 and for those wondering the beginning load according to Hornady is 21.6

 

[rdnktrkr]

When I was working up a load for my Grendel I found that at 1, 2, and 300yrds with the 129gr bullets it liked the lower loads better, so I loaded up a couple hundred and thought I was good to go. Next trip to the CMP I was shooting it out to 600 and ouch not what I was expecting, I was having trouble holding the 9 ring so something happens to that load between 300 and 600yrds. I started over and stayed on the upper load range and found a load I was happy with and found it stayed together at 600yrds, not all X ring shots but all 10 ring. I still have some more work to see if seating depth and neck tension makes a difference. I wouldn't give up on the upper load you found 23.9-24.2 if you plan on trying anything at longer range.

 

[kmw1954]

When I was working up a load for my Grendel I found that at 1, 2, and 300yrds with the 129gr bullets it liked the lower loads better, so I loaded up a couple hundred and thought I was good to go.

In this instance accuracy trumps all else. One of the reasons for trying this lighter bullet is because we are only shooting to a Max of 300yds. otherwise I would have stayed with the 69gr bullets I have been using.

Have worked on a lot of different loads for this rifle and never seen one react this way. Normally a node is wider than just .3gr.. Which again brings into question that errant shot at 22.4gr.