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LTH

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Target pics of my first run at hand loading.
The hand loads are for deer hunting.

Which one should I choose ?
 

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This is with w760
 

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Good shooting! I would now load 10 each using IMR 4350 in 53, 54, 55, & 56 grains. Shoot these in groups of 5 and see which of the 4 provides the tightest group. After this, I would make a box of 50 and use them for deer hunting. Anytime I can shoot groups like that with my 30-06, 270 or 7mm Mag. I am very happy.
 
Your range went from 53 to 57. Just guessing somewhere around 150-200 fps more for the 57gr loads.
Looking at the first target 53 seemed to shoot the tightest group. 2nd pic 52.
It also looks like 56.5 did not shoot as well as some others.
I might be tempted to test 53, 56 and 57 again, and maybe try 55.7, 56.2 or 56.3, 56.7 or 56.8
Sometimes .2 can make a difference.
It would also be interesting to see if you get the same results the second time around.
Just depends on how much testing you want to do.
If you don't need the extra velocity and don't want to test more I would be tempted to load 53 or 56 and go hunting.:)
 
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Thanks Parker 51
I guess I should go through those mentioned to see if I can reproduce the groups.
 
Thanks Dudedog

I sighted in with nosler accubonds ( factory ) on the bull at 100 y.
And then shot the loads.

I have about 50 rounds through the barrel since I got it 2years ago.

When I measured for my coal it was 3.342" , after 53 rounds of hand loads I'm now at 3.348"
I shot in the shade and let the barrel cool between each target.

I was thinking of 56 too , I can't remember which manual I read that up to 30 rounds a rifle can loose 2 to 3 thou of throat.

My furthest shot might be 200 y.
 
54, 55, 56, and 57 grain charges all look just fine for deer hunting. But the 53 gr. charge looks to be the tightest of them, with the 55.0 gr. charge a close second.

Some of my most accurate loads in 30-06 and .270 win were with IMR-4350 back in my early reloading beginnings. I would bet there have been more 30-06 cartridges loaded with IMR-4350, than with any other powder.

GS
 
In the first set, (4350), 55gr and 55.5gr had virtually identical Point-of-Impact and group size.

I would load 5-10 at 55.3gr and test again.

In the second set, (760), 52.5gr, 53gr and 53.5gr , also had virtually identical POI and group size.

I would load 5-10 at 53gr and try again.

I usually look for a range of charges that give same POI and same size, then take the middle.
 
I don't have a chronograph but maybe by your experiences you guys could
tell me what to expect with temp change , probably a 50 * change from 70* and would this change group size ?

I will have to shoot again before deer season when temps are closer .

Thanks for all the replies !
 
You can do a quick temp change test with your load (depending on outside temp, still high were I am 90-100 some days)by putting some in a plastic bag and sticking them in an ice chest for a bit. Keep some in the shade and put some in direct sunlight. That might give you an idea of any POI changes, but I doubt you will see a lot.
 
It's always hard to tell without chrony data and without knowing about the cleanliness of the barrel, but it looks like a good solid node around 53.5 gr. 54 begins to get tight and climb slowly upwards from left to right, presumably dropping a few fps with each shot. When I start with a clean barrel my first shot almost always lands dead center but it's the following shots that separate the good charges from the mediocre ones. Being a target shooter I always use the lowest node to give me the maximum number of shots before having to swab the barrel, but for hunting it looks like you've got another node up around 56-56.5 that might be useful, at least for several shots at longer range or windier conditions. Nice shooting
 
Thank you Bushmaster.
Yeah I'm just now learning to do a better job at shooting.
I know it's just deer hunting but........
 
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Thanks Spitballer,
I shot factory nosler 165 AB to sight my scope in at the bull at 100 y and then shot those loads without cleaning (53 rounds total ) .

I figured it was doing good without cleaning, when I did clean it afterwards I had a tight spot in the barrel about half way.

The 57 load went high on the third round, when the barrel cooled the fourth one clustered with the first two.
 
LTH said:
afterwards I had a tight spot in the barrel about half way...
Click to expand...

...yeah, you can definitely feel drag on the fouling. If the copper fouling isn't cleaned off the next rounds will just ride up over it instead of contacting the barrel fully, at least that's my theory. Others disagree and say you should have a layer of fouling sticking to the bore, but I never shoot more than 5-10 rounds without swabbing with sweet's. I still have a copper glazing on the bore but it's very thin.
 
spitballer said:
...yeah, you can definitely feel drag on the fouling. If the copper fouling isn't cleaned off the next rounds will just ride up over it instead of contacting the barrel fully, at least that's my theory. Others disagree and say you should have a layer of fouling sticking to the bore, but I never shoot more than 5-10 rounds without swabbing with sweet's. I still have a copper glazing on the bore but it's very thin.
Click to expand...
My rifle groups just a little over an inch when it's clean , starts holding tight after about 4 rounds.
When the barrel gets warm poi wants to shift up an inch.
 
Maybe my old eyes are missing it, but is there a distance (yards) these were shot at??
 
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