7WSM goes BOOM! and no scope eye :-)

[Ksmirk]

Well boys and girls today was the day that my first SP I've ever build went to the range. It was a terrible day! fought the wind, had to hang my range bag from the chrony just to keep it upright, and I found out I need a better rest than a 100 round 223 box with a t-shirt on top! oh and lighten the trigger.

I'm not going to lie to ya's it took me a good 10 minutes after I got set up to sqeeze the trigger! I kinda looked thru the scope but pretty sure had my eyes closed when it went off but after that was over with I must say a HUGE thank you to Jim See for making such an awesome muzzle break!

I tried out a few loads but was a touch upset with the velocity I got! I loaded with Retumbo powder since I had 8# already but loaded up 4 different charge weights and got;

69.0gr = 2722fps
69.5gr = 2759fps
70.0gr = 2782fps
70.5gr = 2784fps

I think the Retumbo is just too slow for a 20" barrel so might need to look at a faster burn rate powder as I'd like to get at least 2900fps with the 162 A-Max 3000fps I would bang near do backflips!

The first couple of tries the groups looked more like I was patterning 00 buckshot but after a little trigger time and figuring out the scope was not going to bust me square in the forehead the groups started to shrink, hell I even got several holes that were touching @ 100 yards YEAH ME! The 4 loads I tested actually shot very well or probably the best they could with me driving the 70.5 charge opened up to a little over an inch by a solid 1/8" but the others stayed under an inch.

I think when I lighten the trigger down some and get a quality rear rest things should get better and a little more time behind this SP I have a good feeling I'll be pi$$ing my buddies off this summer when we go shoot steel! I freakin' like this pistol fella's! I like it enough I'm going to have to come up with a name for her!

See what you guys did to me you guys are just EVIL I say EVIL! Later,

Kirk

[hammertyme]

Kirk, I am thinking that even on a perfectly warm quiet peaceful day your shooting rest leaves something to be desired.
Just my opinion but I am pretty sure a bi-pod on the front and a nice light bag under the grip and your" jewel of the Nile", will shoot all bullets in the same hole.

I really like Reloader 17 and the 168 grain bullets in my 300WSM! A lot more velocity that you are showing.

Glad you got home with all your blood.

Neal

[Ksmirk]

Well boys and girls took the pistol out for another day at the range but this time I had out to 400 yards to play, had a 12", 8", 4", and 3" plates hung at 425 yards. Picked up some RL17 powder also to try out. Got to the range and had to do the socialize thing for a bit and explain the pistol to some folks. Paul wanted to shoot it so out we went, dialed in 7MOA guessing put the crosshair on the 12" plate BOOM! TINK! yes sir first try at 400 and a hit! 2nd shot BOOM, TINK! hell yeah I'm happy.

Paul got behind it and was a touch concerned but after watching he knew the recoil was about nothing so he touched off his first and we heard that TINK! this guy was happy! he ask if he could shot another and BOOM, TINK! this pistol is AWESOME. Paul was really looking this thing over and he admitted he had ideas running around in his head LOL

Of 5 trys at the 4" plate I connected once so I have some more time behind the trigger before I can start to brag but I still have this stupid smile on my face from that first hit at 1:00 this afternoon.

I really don't think I'm going to see much more velocity or I've not found that magical powder yet! what I loaded was:

59.0gr 2784fps
59.5gr 2775fps
60.0gr 2811fps
60.5gr 2792fps

The 60.5gr load the bolt was getting a touch stiff to open? I have one more powder to try which is RL25 and we'll see what happens! I did find it funny that some loads with less load weight gained faster MV. I guess I need to just find a load that shoots lights out and stick with it, I can always range the target and heck I can hit with my 308 a long was out and it's only running a MV of 2650fps.

I'm still getting used to the muzzle blast but this is fun! Later,

Kirk

[royinidaho]

"See what you guys did to me you guys are just EVIL I say"

you "guys". Me thinks youse oneadoze guys. You're tearing me up

How 'bout some pics of that rig? Huh?

[zuba]

A good muzzle brake makes these pistols great! I was using r17 and wasn't happy with the spread in speed(just couldn't get them all inside of 20fps of eachother). I just got a local shop to order me more of the 162amax so I'll be working with h1000 and some of the other reloader powders. I'm glad your happy. You might give r17 a try though, I hit just under 2900 out of my 17" barrel wit a 168smk...

[Ksmirk]

Well I went out yesterday with some RL17 loads and I got better velocity but nothing where I though I might be, I was from 2784fps up to 2811fps but when I hit the 60.5gr load my velocity dropped back to 2792fps and the bolt was a touch sticky to open.

The 60.0gr load the spread was 4fps! yeah I about fell overbut dang -it guys this thing should be able to hit the 2900fps mark with no problem! the loads I was using were from a 24" barrel and stating 3009fps in the loading book. Oh well the search continues.

I did get it out to a range with some more acres yesterday popped the 12" plate @ 400 yards, the 8" plate not a problem either the 4" plate well it gave me some grief I only got 1 of 5 to connect. This is the second time out with the pistol so when I get some more trigger tiem I'm sure it'll get better I just wish the velocity would get up there a little more, I like the 5.5MOA like my 284 over the 7MOA of my 7WSM :-( just ain't right. Later,

Kirk

[zuba]

I think I was at 61.5 or so. But with mine the velocity was climbing with a sticky bolt above that... I'm glad your liking it though! I wonder what caliber your next SP will be in