264 WM 140 gr Partition range results.

[gerry]

A few of you may remember I was having all sorts of problems with fliers with 140 gr Partitions a while back, my load was Hodgdon's max load of 63.5 gr Retumbo and CCI 250's. Initially it grouped quite well so I bought 100 and a bunch of Retumbo then the fliers started to show up and I never could get rid of them. In 2009 I took a very nice goat with this gun and 130 gr Swift Scirocco's, while coming down the mountain I had a fall with my very heavy pack with me going AOT a few times, thankfully I wasn't hurt too bad only a few scratches on my face, what I didn't realize at the time was that I had broken one of the screws holding my Talley lightweights to the receiver and damaged the scope. After this the gun just never quite grouped as well as before so with other guns needing to be used it wasn't used very much. I sent the scope away to Leupold to be fixed recently. I put my faithful Burris 3-9x40 FFII on a couple of days ago with Weaver rings on Redfield bases and went shooting today. I tried the same load as before but loaded them up at depth ranging from 3.375 - 3.450" which is just off the lands.

3.375" grouped 1.675" with one of those fliers showing up two 1/2" apart and then the flier opening it up :x

3.400" grouped 3 rounds into .580"

3.425" grouped 3 rounds into .498" :grin:

3.450" I decided not to shoot at this time.

Things are looking encouraging with the new box of bullets and getting my scope/ring issues sorted out. I plan on loading 6 each of the ones that grouped well and see what happens next time out.

My shooting station complete with a sand bag and bipod, target is on the little berm to the right of the logging road 100 yards a way according to my rangefinder.

The groups 3.400" on the right and 3.425" on the left.

Stay tuned for more results hopefully later this week sometime.

 

[JD338]

Gerry

Way to hang in there. Looks like you are there.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

That is some great shooting. :wink:

 

[widgeon]

It is this type of thing that really makes hand loading so rewarding.

Great job!

 

[Guy Miner]

Good, but I think there is improvement available.

The horizontal stringing possibly indicates:

crosswind - obvious perhaps, but it doesn't take much, even with a fast stepping rifle. Not a likely candidate in that wooded area.

trigger control - even favoring the trigger just a bit to one side or the other can ever-so-slightly swing the rifle a bit in the horizontal plane. Plenty enough to produce the horizontal stringing seen - especially since you were bipod & snow instead of a truly solid benchrest setup.

Yeah, I know about that, as I seldom shoot from a real squared away benchrest setup. Almost never.

Check to see if you're pressing absolutely straight to the rear with your trigger finger.

Could also be varying pressure exerted by the thumb of your shooting hand. Putting it alongside the stock, instead of wrapping it over the stock can reduce horizontal stringing.

Shoulder pressure can change from shot to shot. Try to keep it the same, all the time. Very easy to nudge the rifle a tad, left or right with your shoulder.

If it was vertical stringing, I'd suggest looking at your breathing sequence, but the vertical looks tight.

Cool beans. I think you've got a very good load there.

Guy

 

[gerry]

Thanks guys, hopefully it can be reproduced again. I really want to use the 140 gr Partition for an all around load, I have taken a few animals with it in both the 260 and 6.5x55 but really want to see what it will do in the 264 WM Guy, thanks for the tips I try to hold it a bit better next time, there was a bit of wind but more likely is the side to side with the bipod, it is fun to shoot prone with the bipod from field positions although in this case I did have a sandbag for the butt stock.

Edit,
Just checked Guy, when I pull the trigger the crosshairs are rock solid, probably just need to buckle down a bit more, I'm quite encouraged with todays results.

 

[FOTIS]

You can not beat the 140 PT for everything in the 264. It is a killer!

 

[cloverleaf]

Good, but I think there is improvement available.

The horizontal stringing possibly indicates:

crosswind - obvious perhaps, but it doesn't take much, even with a fast stepping rifle. Not a likely candidate in that wooded area.

trigger control - even favoring the trigger just a bit to one side or the other can ever-so-slightly swing the rifle a bit in the horizontal plane. Plenty enough to produce the horizontal stringing seen - especially since you were bipod & snow instead of a truly solid benchrest setup.

Yeah, I know about that, as I seldom shoot from a real squared away benchrest setup. Almost never.

Check to see if you're pressing absolutely straight to the rear with your trigger finger.

Could also be varying pressure exerted by the thumb of your shooting hand. Putting it alongside the stock, instead of wrapping it over the stock can reduce horizontal stringing.

Shoulder pressure can change from shot to shot. Try to keep it the same, all the time. Very easy to nudge the rifle a tad, left or right with your shoulder.

If it was vertical stringing, I'd suggest looking at your breathing sequence, but the vertical looks tight.

Cool beans. I think you've got a very good load there.

Guy

Yeah, a Guy.... I think I need you looking over my shoulder next time I go to the range. So many variables.... good reminders and advice. Gerry, very impressive. I couldnt shoot those groups from a concrete implacement, let alone on my belly in a snow bank. Cool. CL

 

[DrMike]

Some very encouraging work there, Gerry. You're moving closer to the goal of a perfect load.

 

[6mm Remington]

Nice work Gerry. That 140 gr. in the 264 is just like milk and honey! It's just a perfect sheep load, and many other critters, but my mind is swooning with sheep! Love those partitions also!
David

 

[bbearhntr]

Glad to hear you didn't roll all the way down the mountain. It appears you and your rifle are doing very well as of late. Very nice results!

 

[SJB358]

Gerry, any idea on your speeds?

Great shooting, my rifle really likes the 140 PT as well. Seems like I'm going to have to make a choice between it and the 140 AB as they are shooting about the same. I think i will let SPS decide for me! Whichever one shows up first will win!

 

[FOTIS]

Gerry, any idea on your speeds?

I would say about 2950 fps

 

[SJB358]

Gerry, any idea on your speeds?

I would say about 2950 fps

That is what I was thinking as well. I had to get into the 65-67 range in order to get around 3100-3200 out of mine. Nothing wrong with that long 140 at 2950 though. Cases will last just about forever and the animals will never notice!

 

[gerry]

I never chronographed this time but in the past I got 3021 and 3053 fps on different occasions for 63 gr of powder, the 140 gr Sierra's clocked 2913 and 2921 fps. This is a custom gun with a tight chamber which is likely why it it clocks faster, will have to take the chronograph along next time. If I can get 3000+ fps and good accuracy that will be great if it clocks in the 2900+ fps range it would still be good.