Range Day 2015 Ep. 5

Another day of perfect conditions for shooting.  Best part was almost no wind.  Temperatures started to warm as the day progress, but mirage was not an issue shooting at just 100 yards.

In an earlier post, I have developed seating depth gauges for 2 calibers that have been giving me problems.  So I decided to use the new case gauge along with a bullet comparator to check and reset the seating depth on my 6.5×06 loads.   It showed the bullet had been engraving the rifling.  So I reset the seating die to provide .005in of jump before the rifling. I also went back to basics with powder and used loads based on the Sierra accuracy and hunting load.

Off to the range.

• Good news right away from the 6.5×06.  Of the 4 loads tested, all were an improvement over previous results.  Two were under half an inch.  So the new case gauge was well worth the effort.  I look forward to retesting all these loads.
• More test with the Ruger American in 223 and the new Sierra 69gr tipped matchking.  Repeated a previous load and a new one a step hotter.  The heavier load showed no improvement.  But both shot well under 1 inch a 100 yards.  As I had extra rounds for both loads, I kept shooting beyond the normal 3 shots to see what would happen as the light barrel warmed.  Nothing remarkable happened.  The groups did not open or shift.  Both loads remained under 1 inch – one 6 shot, the other 5 shots.  I still have issues feeding from the magazine.  But other than that, I think the rifle is an excellent value.
• Decided to throw in another 223 while I had new loads ready – a CZ527 Varmint model.  This is a 1 in 9 twist so it should handle the 69gr loads with no problems.  Every load I shot performed worse in this gun than the Ruger. Which, if I need to remind anyone, cost about half the price of the CZ.  I have yet to find any load which shoots great in this gun.  Some times you do not get what you pay for.
• I went down a completely new road with the 7.62×40 Wilson this week.  Rather than working in between previous loads, hoping to find the right powder charge, I changed bullets.  I looked around at what I had on the shelf and found I had some Sierra 155gr Palma bullets.  While Wilson does not provide load data for this weight bullets, there are several companies proving load data for the 150/155 gr bullet in a 300 Blackout.  So I used the max load in the Blackout as my starting load.  Loaded just a few rounds to check for functioning and pressure.  Initial results are promising, so I will begin working up the powder charges over the next few trips to the range.
• Wasted a bunch more powder and bullets through the 6.5 Creedmoor.  Not seeing any signs that this gun will shoot consistently.

Range Day 2015 Ep.4

Weather provided for an excellent day for testing.  As noted earlier, my local range only goes to 200 yards.  But there was almost no wind when I arrived at the range.  So the initial testing was focused at 200 yards.  As the day progressed, winds did pick up.  But the temperatures stayed in the mid to upper 70’s.  Again a mixed bag of results

• Wrapped up testing of the 300 Win Mag prone rifle.  Shot 2 groups at 200 yards that were both impressive.  These 2 loads have preformed well on several occasions.  So I will load a few roads and just enjoy shooting this rifle.  Hopefully can do some longer range testing with this rifle later in the year.
• Other testing at 200 yards was not as successful.  Wind was not to blame.  Neither the 6mm/250 or the 260 AR platform rifles are performing consistently.  Last week the 6mm/250 shot 3 excellent groups at 100 yds.  Not one of those carried through to 200 yards.  I am using fire formed cases and am wondering if that may be causing a few issues.  At this point I may wait until I can get the cases annealed before doing any further testing.   Inconsistent neck tensions maybe causing part of my problems.  Over the winter, I changed the upper receiver on the 260 AR to a supposed better quality piece which matches the lower.  Since then, it has not shown the same performance.  So I may look at the barrel nut/tension on the new upper.  I should know better than to change something that is working!
• More rounds through the 7.62×40 Wilson.  No break through.  I keep working on a Nosler 125 gr/A1680 combination.  I am right around 1″ at 100 yards.  No bad, but I would like to find a little more accuracy.  Plus, every trip to the range gives me a chance to fire form more cases.
• Had time to load a few round using the new Sierra 69 gr TMK.  Shot these through a Ruger American Rifle just to see how they perform is a factory rifle (with 1 in 8 inch twist).  This rifle had actually done quite well  in the past with the Sierra 77gr MKHP.  So I knew I could expect groups well under 1 inch.  A base line load of Varget proved that these bullets will perform in the Ruger (one group about .800).  I will see what a hotter load will do.  But with the short magazine, not sure how much more powder I can fit in that case!

Range Day 2015 Ep.3

Had another day of good weather and headed to the range.  Took most of the guns I have been working on and a few I set in the corner at the end of last year.  I was second guessing some of last year’s results after I noticed my issue with the powder scale. So every load this week was measured on an electronic scale.  Here is a quick run down

• Had several powder charges for the 6mm/250 based on previous load development.  All shot well, under 1 in at 100 yds, except the maximum load.  So I will reload all of them an test at two hundred.  Also did fire form a few more cases after the accuracy test.  There may not be much more testing on this gun.  I am really pleased with the results.  But the load is hot and I don’t want to wear out the throat in testing loads.
• Still no exciting results from the 7.62×40 Wilson.  Expected much more from the cartridge and the quality of the barrel.  I only have a single load, using A1680, that is under 1 inch at 100 yds.  If I start backing the loads down to find accuracy, I might as well use a 300 Blackout (no need to modify magazine & can easily shoo subsonic) or the 6.8 SPC as much energy and great accuracy (see below)
• Had 3 bullets with various loads to test though the 6.8 SPC 16 inch gun.  I first shot the 110gr Hornady without good results.  To relieve my stress, I shot a group with my baseline Sierra 115 MKHP load.  The results speak – this load will be hard to beat.  Next I shot the 120gr Hornady and this provided much better results.  The Nolser 85 Gr E-tip was the worst of the lost.  Looking back, the best groups were shot when I loaded the rounds to the maximum length for the PRI magazine.  This is slightly longer than the recommended length in the reloading manuals.  So I will retry both Hornady bullets, seated at the maximum magazine length.
• Retested the loads for both the 260 win (AR-10 platform) and 300 Win bolt gun at 200 yds.  Was hoping some of the grouping issues had been due to the inaccuracy of the powder scales.  But no luck.
• One of the calibers I revisited was the 6.5 Creedmoor (DPMS factory barrel).  Last year saw a series of inconsistent groups.  By using the electronic scales for weighing all the powder charges, I was hoping to eliminate the occasional flyer. New year, same results.  The barrel is a 1 – 8.5 inch twist and I am shooting 142 Sierra MKHP.  I run the numbers and it should stabilize.  But I think I am too close to the edge.  Next trip to the range I will try some 123 gr bullets and see what happens.  Of course I could be expecting a little to much out of a regular factory barrel.

Range Day 2015 Ep.2

Extra warm weather for this time of the year, mid 70s.  Wind was variable which made shooting a timing game.  Was much a repeat of the previous episode.

• Fire forming – Will be doing this for some time.  Was a bit of a drain by the end of today.  But it is good filler to let barrels cool.  Now I have a nice batch of formed cases to begin load development for both the  7.62×40 Wilson and the 6mm/250.
• Small load and accuracy test with the 7.62×40 Wilson.  Just max loads with 2 powders.  Did not see anything to get excited about.  Still in the early phases with the round and this barrel.  I now have a good amount of fire formed cases and can load a better assortment for the next test.
• No better results from the 6×223 with the 75 gr bullet.  I even took of the muzzle break off just to rule it out.  I had one group the was right around 1 inch at 100 yds.  Everything else was not even worth documenting.  I have plenty of velocity to stabilize these bullets.  I think I need to check the throat and see if I have too much bullet jump.  Otherwise, I may try a few lighter loads and see what happens.
• Took several loads to confirm them before loading a large batch.  Neither of them performed as well as they have in the past.  So  I am looking through my loading process.  I am beginning to question my beam scale.  I think I will run some tests to ensure I get consistent results from the scale before I do more range testing.  I may weigh loads on two scales and see if there is any variation in readings.
• Declared one gun a basket case. Followed every one of my steps.  It will not shoot anything resembling a group.  Just all over the place.  So at some point, a new barrel will be installed.  Any suggestions for a Magnum Bolt face?  Already have a 300 Win Mag and have no interest in getting any 7mm Mags.

Well it is now time to clean some guns and get a new set of loads ready to test.  I am suspect of the fliers I saw in the groups I shot today.  All loads will be repeated, with the powder charges weighed on an electronic scale as verification.  Want to see if I can blame those pesky fliers on inconsistent powder charges.

Opening day at the range

Weather was finally warm enough to pack up a few guns and head to the range. I have a large backlog of ideas to test and new guns to break in. While warmer, the wind kept it from being comfortable at the bench. The day was not idea for final load development. Overall the objectives for the day were met. Better weather is ahead.

Some highlights

• Fireforming – that was the real reason for heading to the range in less than ideal conditions. Had two new calibers to fireform cases: 7.62×40 Wilson and a 6mm/250 improved( both on the AR platform). With the cool weather, barrel temps were not an issue. So,I was able to get 50 cases formed for each gun. I hope to do another batch for each gun before I start any load development. Next weekend if the weather cooperates.
• Leftovers – Winter came before I had completed load development for a 300 Win mag prone rifle. So I had been sitting all winter with several loads to test. I was not very hopeful given the wind, but pushing a 190gr Sierra MK at almost 2600 fps I figured I would not see any major effects. I was right. Two load showed promise – 3 shots under 1/2 inch at 100 yds. So I will reload those and test at 200 yards and see what happens.
• New caliber 6×223 or 6×45. I have always been fascinated by this early alternative to the 223 in the AR platform. I have a 20 in barrel with a 1×8 twist and want to see what I can do with heavier bullets. I am starting with the Hornady 87 gr Vmax. With two powders I have obtained velocities over 2500 fps. Both are compressed loads. I run the stats through the Berger twist calculator and I should be good. But my initial tests today were not good. They were more than the wind. So I may drop back to a lighter bullet to get an idea of the accuracy potential in the barrel. Then, once I have a base line, retry the 87 Gr bullet. To allow for magaine loading I really had to set the bullet back in the case, this may be contributing to the problems I saw today. All part of the learning process.
• New parts testing. The one thing I like about the AR platform is the selection of parts to build the style, caliber and configuration you want. Had two AR10 platforms that went through a series of parts swaps over the winter. So, this was a run to make sure things were working and get the scopes on paper. I had hoped to do a little load verification, but the weather conditions prevented that.
• New parts failure – No trip to the range can ever go smoothly. Over the winter I purchased a new complete BCG for an AR10 from one of the low price manufacturers. Guess to reduce costs, they decided not to drill out the firing pin hole! There is a hole, but the firing pin binds before even protruding from the bolt face. No way that will ever work. Will get out the calipers and compare to other bolts I have. May just need to open up the final section of the firing pin hole. If not, I guess it is back to the manufacture.

Tomorrow is match day, so the local range is closed. That gives me time to get some outdoor cleanup before the grass starts growing. It is always a balance between keeping the yard nice and finding time to shoot. I probably cheat in the wrong direction.