I just got a new rifle and went to the range this weekend to get it broken in and to see what I could get for groups and velocities from several loads that gentlemen on this site as well as Gunwerks had shared with me.
First I started with some 143 ELD-X ammo that I had from a previous rifle so I could get it on target and get the barrel fouled. Shot five, cleaned the barrel etc. Keeping all the velocities recorded. Averaged around 2935 FPS for the first ten shots, factory published velocity is 2960FPS. I then went to a reload that Gunwerks had given me, 147 ELD-M with 58.5 Grains of Retumbo and shot five of those, recorded velocity. Average right around 2900 FPS as was expected. I shot one more load with 156 Grain Bergers and was just under 2900 FPS so was pretty happy overall with the speed the new gun was getting with these loads. The groups for trhe 143's, 147 reloads and the 156's were all les than 1 MOA. I then went to the Hornady Factory 147 Grain ELD-M and shot five rounds and the average was around 2710 FPS for five shots and the group was terrible about 2-1/2". The factory list them at 2910FPS. I shot five more with the same results. Has anyone ever experienced velocity swings like this before?
All of the other loads actually were faster than I thought they would be given the shorter length of the barrel but it was a pleasant surprise. I bought the 147 ELD-M factory ammo as it is what my guide recommended for a hunt next year in New Zealand. I was hoping that I could shoot the factory stuff since they have it available in New Zealand and you never know what is going to happen to your gun and ammo when flying on a plane but based on the velocities and the groups I think I will have to pass. I was just curious if anyone else had ever seen a 200 FPS inaccuracy of velocities on factory ammo? I was told may 20 FPS per 2" of barrel length so 200 FPS is quite a stretch.
My setup is a Gunwerks ClymR rifle with 22" 1 in 8 twist barrel.
Temperature was right around 74-75 degrees.
Altitude was 3200'
Thanks for any insight you can share.
First I started with some 143 ELD-X ammo that I had from a previous rifle so I could get it on target and get the barrel fouled. Shot five, cleaned the barrel etc. Keeping all the velocities recorded. Averaged around 2935 FPS for the first ten shots, factory published velocity is 2960FPS. I then went to a reload that Gunwerks had given me, 147 ELD-M with 58.5 Grains of Retumbo and shot five of those, recorded velocity. Average right around 2900 FPS as was expected. I shot one more load with 156 Grain Bergers and was just under 2900 FPS so was pretty happy overall with the speed the new gun was getting with these loads. The groups for trhe 143's, 147 reloads and the 156's were all les than 1 MOA. I then went to the Hornady Factory 147 Grain ELD-M and shot five rounds and the average was around 2710 FPS for five shots and the group was terrible about 2-1/2". The factory list them at 2910FPS. I shot five more with the same results. Has anyone ever experienced velocity swings like this before?
All of the other loads actually were faster than I thought they would be given the shorter length of the barrel but it was a pleasant surprise. I bought the 147 ELD-M factory ammo as it is what my guide recommended for a hunt next year in New Zealand. I was hoping that I could shoot the factory stuff since they have it available in New Zealand and you never know what is going to happen to your gun and ammo when flying on a plane but based on the velocities and the groups I think I will have to pass. I was just curious if anyone else had ever seen a 200 FPS inaccuracy of velocities on factory ammo? I was told may 20 FPS per 2" of barrel length so 200 FPS is quite a stretch.
My setup is a Gunwerks ClymR rifle with 22" 1 in 8 twist barrel.
Temperature was right around 74-75 degrees.
Altitude was 3200'
Thanks for any insight you can share.
