I finally got a chance to get out and shoot my ladder test rounds. I am expirimenting with my 6.5 x284 norma chambered savage in a model 116 weather warrior. Im using nosler brass 140 gr amax h1000 and federal gold match primers.
I shot my ladder test on friday which was a bit windier then i like for testing groups but i am running out of time. I started out at 50 gr and went to 54.5 gr in .5 gr increments. I had a target set at 300 yds with a 8-10 mph breeze blowing from 2 oclock position. I dialed in the scope on my estimated fps. I started low and went to 52 gr and stopped. I had semi flattened primers at that point. I did not have any other signs of hot loads just the flat primers. Here is whats weird is the lighter charges is what was flatter. I did not get these loads mixed up either i weigh every charge as well. Why did i get flatter primers at a lower charge weight? Also is this the norm for federal primers?
Also i got conflicting results with the ladder test. I shot from low to high which only was 52 gr. i ten drove out to the target and then went back and waited till the barrel was cool. Which it wast really hot to begin with because of the wind. I then shot from high to low and went down to collect my target. The lowest charge was the worst. 50.5, 51, and 52 landed within 2.5" of vertical of each other. 51.5 landed 1" higher then the highest hit within that 2.5" vertical cluster. But they are 1/2" apart. Picture attached. Why did 52 gr charge land lower then the 51.5 gr charge? It was partly cloudy and there was mirage. Could that have thrown it off some? Also i plan on using tis load for long range deer/bear and g hogs so temps can be from 20 deg to 100 deg. Which load would you choose to work over all ranges?
I shot my ladder test on friday which was a bit windier then i like for testing groups but i am running out of time. I started out at 50 gr and went to 54.5 gr in .5 gr increments. I had a target set at 300 yds with a 8-10 mph breeze blowing from 2 oclock position. I dialed in the scope on my estimated fps. I started low and went to 52 gr and stopped. I had semi flattened primers at that point. I did not have any other signs of hot loads just the flat primers. Here is whats weird is the lighter charges is what was flatter. I did not get these loads mixed up either i weigh every charge as well. Why did i get flatter primers at a lower charge weight? Also is this the norm for federal primers?
Also i got conflicting results with the ladder test. I shot from low to high which only was 52 gr. i ten drove out to the target and then went back and waited till the barrel was cool. Which it wast really hot to begin with because of the wind. I then shot from high to low and went down to collect my target. The lowest charge was the worst. 50.5, 51, and 52 landed within 2.5" of vertical of each other. 51.5 landed 1" higher then the highest hit within that 2.5" vertical cluster. But they are 1/2" apart. Picture attached. Why did 52 gr charge land lower then the 51.5 gr charge? It was partly cloudy and there was mirage. Could that have thrown it off some? Also i plan on using tis load for long range deer/bear and g hogs so temps can be from 20 deg to 100 deg. Which load would you choose to work over all ranges?
