So, I finally got around to shooting my .243 AI after putting it in the new McMillan A5. I just dropped it in the stock and tightened her down.
Here's my baby...
The specs are: Smithed by Dan Dowling. REM M700, Krieger 1:8 27 1/2", Berger 105's... Conditions 35 to 40 degress. Light wind at 5 o'clock. Harris bipod. Portable bench at 200 and prone off a hay stack at 600yards.
Here's the result...
After getting on paper at 100, I shot it at 200 yards. The first two groups at 200 yards were .730" and .568". The next group went out to 1.86". Not sure why. The next day I loaded some more ammo and shot a 1.25" and 1.36". All three shot groups. Average is 1.16" at 200.
I chronographed the loads on the first three groups and JBM'd the trajectory before shooting today. Velocity is 3162 fps at 12' from the muzzle.
I went out to 600 yards and set up prone off my bipod and rear bag on our hay stack. I dialed 8.5 MOA but only got two on the bottom of the box. I dialed up another 1.5 MOA and started finishing dialing in on the target. The groups (all three shots still) were 2.55", 4.86", 1.10" and 2.58". Average of 2.78".
So, should I bed it or not? Can I expect much more from her accuracy-wise? I'd rather not start over on load developement. Will that be necessary in your experience? Will bedding make it more repeatable when taking it in and out of the stock? Am I risking messing up my load if I bed the stock? What is y'alls experience? Thanks.
tt
Here's my baby...
The specs are: Smithed by Dan Dowling. REM M700, Krieger 1:8 27 1/2", Berger 105's... Conditions 35 to 40 degress. Light wind at 5 o'clock. Harris bipod. Portable bench at 200 and prone off a hay stack at 600yards.
Here's the result...
After getting on paper at 100, I shot it at 200 yards. The first two groups at 200 yards were .730" and .568". The next group went out to 1.86". Not sure why. The next day I loaded some more ammo and shot a 1.25" and 1.36". All three shot groups. Average is 1.16" at 200.
I chronographed the loads on the first three groups and JBM'd the trajectory before shooting today. Velocity is 3162 fps at 12' from the muzzle.
I went out to 600 yards and set up prone off my bipod and rear bag on our hay stack. I dialed 8.5 MOA but only got two on the bottom of the box. I dialed up another 1.5 MOA and started finishing dialing in on the target. The groups (all three shots still) were 2.55", 4.86", 1.10" and 2.58". Average of 2.78".
So, should I bed it or not? Can I expect much more from her accuracy-wise? I'd rather not start over on load developement. Will that be necessary in your experience? Will bedding make it more repeatable when taking it in and out of the stock? Am I risking messing up my load if I bed the stock? What is y'alls experience? Thanks.
tt