Where To Go From This Group????

[CaptnC]

Just getting time to sit down and throw this out there.

I've never done a ladder nor OWC test, but want to take my reloading/accuracy to the next level. In the past MOA of dead deer was good enough, but 99% of my shots have been 200yds or less.

I have shot several over 400yds, but I've missed a few too!

To be honest I don't shoot targets very well so I fear a ladder test will be hard to read. I hit steel without too much effort as long as it doesn't have a dot on it to aim at.

Even as nice as this group is I pulled one shot. The low hole in the group I called. It is a 5 shot group. This was shot during the break in of the barrel. I have cleaned up the trigger since by polishing it, plus it's around 2lbs right now. It has about 30 rounds down the pipe right now.

So I'm planning to do a OWC test from this load. Is there any reason to drop below the powder charge I used to shoot this group?

I'm using a cheap chronograph so I'm not going to have any exact FPS reading, but I will be looking for groups without vertical stringing. The 2986fps is low and I would like to see if I can get it up to 3100fps...so I will be loading H4831 at 75.3...75.6...75.9 looking for pressure sign...I'm thinking to shoot this at 200yds.

Also these were shot about .010 off. Would I be better off to working with seating depth and just be happy to be this close to 3000fps?

 

[bill123]

A couple of thoughts:

According to Dan Newberry (OCW) a great group may or may not be in the node. The way to know is to do an OCW test.

Barrels can speed up (80-100 fps) within the first 100-200 rounds. Going by that theory, you could be around 3100fps with the load you have now, when the barrel is broken in.
If it were me, I'd shoot around 200 rounds total (watching for pressure signs) and then do my OCW workup. That way your barrel should be settled in and you will have 200rds of fire formed brass.

 

[CaptnC]

Forgot to mention this is a 300WM...you can see it's 168gr bullet.

Thanks bill,

To be honest I never have seen anything about the "timing" of doing load development.

According to Dan Newberry (OCW) a great group may or may not be in the node. The way to know is to do an OCW test.

Your right! I have read his article a couple times and forgot that he stated that. I was so excited at the way the gun shoots I ready to fine tune it already. If I had really tried during break in I think I could have had all 15 shots nearly touching. 8 of the 15 actually were touching. The 5 shot group above was shots 16 through 20.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Out of idle curiosity, why a 168 in a .300 mag? I'd think you were throwing yourself a handicap right off the bat... But hey, if you want to rock it, roll on, that's cool.

Here's my .002. You're group looks to have serious potential. Keeping everything the same, put 5 more on steel at 500 or 400 or something over 200-300. That should tell you "The Rest of The Story" as Paul Harvey would say.

Far too many times have I fallen victim to the good ole' adage of "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is...".



t

 

[CaptnC]

Ol6.0...lol...I get what you're saying...it looks like I'm trying to walk down that path...lol

168...I doubt I will ever get a shot over 500yds in a hunting situation. The range I shoot at when it's not under hurricane flood water has steel and targets out to 600yds. I'm not sure the extra BC would make that much difference or not at that range.

Back to bills post...I've been thinking about this all morning. Dan Newberry did mention that most nodes are close to max loads. The hornady load data states that I'm .5gr short of max load. My velocity average is with in 70fps of their load data.

So like Ol6.0 said;

That should tell you "The Rest of The Story" as Paul Harvey would say.

Far too many times have I fallen victim to the good ole' adage of "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is...".



t

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Actually, the hunting situation is where my curiosity came from. I don't know if a 168 will hold together on impact at 300 win velocity... Just trying to look out for ya.

I've always been able to find nodes up in the max area somewhere; it looks like yours is right there.


t

 

[CaptnC]

Ol6.0...I plan to hunt with a 165 Accubond so I will have to work with the load a little because I'm changing bullets.

FYI- During break in...I shot two different match bullet and a factory loaded 155 and they all shot pretty much like that group. Everything was touching. Both match bullets were 168 with the same powider charge.

This gun likes bullets the way I like women when I been drinking...can't find one I don't like!

 

[CaptnC]

Out of idle curiosity, why a 168 in a .300 mag?
t

How can I forget...I went to order some 200 berger bullets and reading some reviews when it hit...mag box length...I'm using a VZ-24 98 mauser action.

The action is just barely long enough for the 168 Hornady match bullets to feed.

 

[dsculley]

For deer sized game, the 168 will do just fine. My son has taken quite a few deer with his 300 WM and 168's.

Sometimes we do accidentally pick a good load. I had that happen once with my 7 RM. Nosler's "best powder tested" and "best load tested" gave me 1/4" groups.

If it were me, I would test seating depth to see if I could tighten it up a bit, test it at the longest range I intended to shoot and if all goes well call it good. Your velocity is good and at the ranges you are talking about, another 100 fps won't make a difference.

 

[CaptnC]

Thanks sculley...

I was ready to try something bigger...I didn't mention it earlier but I had to cut a notch out of the feed ramp to get the 168 match bullets to feed.

I am running a CDI bottom metal but the action so my limiting factor.

 

[Capt RB]

Your running 08-06 velocities so shouldn't be an issue on game at that velocity. That's a fantastic 300yd bullet but after that there are many far better suited. If your length limited so be it. You'll lose some velocity but still a 215 at 26-2700 will still be far better in the wind than any 168 beyond 500yds.