Ombre noire
Member
Hey there...
I'd wonder if your scopes don't track the same.... My ballistics app tells me that a 300gr berger @2700fps would need about 5 moa more at a mile than one going 2800 all other variables being equal... Maybe you scope is giving you a small fraction more than 0.25 moa/click and your buddy's scope is giving a small fraction less than 0.25 moa per click... I guess it Doesn't really matter, as long as you are hitting consistently and have your dope verified you're good to go.
you could always run your scopes through a elevation test at 100 yards to verify they are in fact adjusting true .... Just get a big piece of of card board or ply wood (6 or 8 feet tall) at 100 yrds and put an aiming point at the bottom then shoot a group' then crank your elevation knob up 60 moa and shoot another group using the same aiming point measure the distance between the center of the two groups. If your scope clicks are a true 0.25 moa you should get about 62.8" between the centres of yor groups.
Don't think it would be anything to do with your neck tension causing increased pressure, because that would just translate into higher muzzle velocity... Unless of course your chronograph was off you really could be getting 2800... I'm assuming you guys used the same chronograph on the same day to get your speeds...
Other things that could be going on: your buddy's barrel is engraving the bullets more causing slightly more drag on his bullet, new lot of powder or batch of reloads since u chrono'd and you are maybe getting a bit more speed... Can't think of anything else right now... But I'd be most suspicious that it may be tracking of your scope....
Anyways.... Not that it matters, sounds like u guys are having a blast stretching the legs on your 338's! ... Making me a little jealous actually... Ive only got mine out to about 1300 yards...
Orch
Hi Orch
I am no expert, so learning as it goes and you mention several aspects we didn't think of lightbulb. The neck tension difference came to my mind, as I made two different kind of reloads. One was made using my Redding FL serie "S" with a bushing giving a .362 at the neck. It should be .364, as the bushing is a .364 but for whatever reason, it re-sizes at .362. The bushing is clean, still relatively new and theoretically .362 should be too tight but this is the FL die I have been using all along and accuracy has been more than good at all distances, so not complaining. The other FL die I used is a Forster custom made to my TRG's specs, after I sent Forster 5 once fired cases; the neck is at a true .364. So the Redding die squeezes the bullets a bit more at the neck. When I shot the 2 different kind today, I noticed I needed a few more clicks with the reloads made with the Forster die (the true .364); I did not notice a difference in accuracy and, as I only thought of making these 2 different batch yesterday, I do not have speed on the reloads made with the Forster die (2680 fps is with the Redding die).
In any case, checking out the scopes tracking makes sens, as well as using the same chronograph on the same day; we did not do any of that. As you say, we are having a blast, enjoying shooting, as well as appreciating the peace and serenity of the Nevada mountains and listening to the sound of ringing steel several second after the shots The elevation difference somewhat triggered our curiosity but as we were hitting our targets, it didn't really matter that much.
I hope you'll find a place to stretch your 338; I am not teaching you nothing here, you obviously know more than I do. I am more talking for myself; these extra few hundred yards do make a big difference, not just because of the look of it but how our loads behave and I was glad to finally have a good load for the TRG, it took me quite a while. I "almost" had something good a while ago with the 300 SMK but for whatever reason, accuracy was going bad after 1200 yards; something in my load wasn't working out. I also tried the 285 Hornady, the 250 Berger OTM, as well as the 300 Lapua but was not overwhelmed with the results, even though they work great for plenty of shooters.
We probably will keep on stretching our sticks a bit further, just because we can but to tell you the truth, I am perfectly happy with shooting a mile, as it is hard enough, especially when, unlike today, the wind starts blowing. That is a game changer and knowing how to be accurate and consistent in windy conditions shows the true quality of a shooter. I am not there yet, nor is my buddy but we will for sure have fun working on it
Thanks for your help, thoughts and comments, I will check the tracking on all my scopes; I thought about it a while ago but got side tracked and forgot about it.
Good luck and good shooting with your 338 gun)