A Warm Range Day

[DrMike]

I thought I'd share some of the handiwork from this day's shoot. It was a warm day (for northern BC) with temperatures topping out at 28 C. I was shooting in steady wind of about 0.5 m/s from about 190 degrees with gusts to 1.8 m/s. It was somewhat challenging, but not impossible. I was shooting a 7mm WSM built on a Defiance Action. It was a sweet rifle to shoot. The owner requested that a load be developed with 168 grain Berger VLDs. With a near maximum load of IMR 7828 SSC, this is what the rifle produced.

Pleasant as that was, imagine my surprise when the next rifle was a rather old 300 Weatherby. It had quite a patina, though the wood on the stock had beautiful character. I really didn't expect much, I confess. The owner had put a Huskemaw scope on the rifle, and requested development of a load built around 168 grain TSX. Here are two sample loads, representing three shots each.

There are days when things just go well. This was one of them. Tomorrow, I hope to work on a couple of my own rifles, as moose opens next Monday. On Friday, I'm working up loads in a 30-378 and in a 22-250 AI. Well, that should be fun.

 

[257 Ackley]

Man Mike...that is some nice shooting. Kinda funny the contrast of calibers that you will be working with next...so you start with the pea-shooter or big thunder? :lol:

 

[DrMike]

I dunno', Joel. I get the shakes just thinking 'bout it. Actually, I'm working up with 200 grain ABs in the 30-378. My first effort was good, but not great. It consistently game me 1.25 inch groups, but the owner is expecting more like 0.5 inch groups. I'll be working up 60 grain BTs in the 22-250 AI. It should be the more pleasant of the two to shoot. I pretty well remain focused on load development. Now, I'll load up about 50 rounds or so, and the boys working to generate the ballistic data for turrets will do their thing at 700 yards.

 

[JD338]

Mike,

Sounds like fun! Nice shooting with the 7mm WSM and the 300 Wby. You should have some happy customers for sure.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Jim,

They'd better be happy. These rifles shoot scary groups. The velocities were great. Not every rifle has been this cooperative, but they were today. It feels good to deliver a target like this. I'll get checked as the boys wring out the turrets with the loads I recommend. So far, I've generated pretty good data. These Defiance actions are very nice. All that I've shot are very accurate.

 

[257 Ackley]

Mike - you should throw up some pictures of those custom rifles that you work up loads for. Give us all something to drool over and get ideas for our builds.

 

[efw]

.5" from a 30-378? Wouldn't the deciding factor there be "the nut behind the butt"? I envy those groups you put up above, but NOT that next range session and DEFINATELY don't blame you for shaking at the thought.

A rifle like that is one that is cool for a friend to have so I can shoot it once in a while when I forget why I don't own one !

Incredible groups man. Did you build those rifles, or just do load work-up?

7 WSM has kinda got me thinkin' lately... a Ruger #1 w/ a 28" fast-twist barrel for those 168s... oh yeah... that'd scratch SOME itch!

 

[Greg Nolan]

DrMike,
28 degrees C may be pretty warm but I think the hottest thing on this day was your shooting. I'm interested in the load you settled on for the 300 Wby. I'd be rather proud to get groups like that from my 300. Of course I may have to let you do the shooting to get them. Great shooting.
Greg

 

[Oldtrader3]

Mike, nice shooting and good loads!

However, 82F is not that warm anywhere but in the Northwest.

 

[6mm Remington]

Awesome shooting Mike. Isn't it fun when it comes together like that even if it's just for a fleeting moment! Superstar in our midst!

 

[gerry]

Great shooting Mike, can't imagine what shooting the 30-378 would be like I imagine a guy might want to wear both earplugs and earmuffs when touching that one off :shock:

 

[DrMike]

Joel, didn't think to grab a couple of pictures of these rifles today. Normally, it is pretty intense while at the range. I dropped the rifles off at the shop on my way home.

Eric, I don't own a 30-378, nor a 7.82 Warbird, nor much of any bruiser. I can't say that I get real excited about shooting them, though I'm pleased to have the opportunity to handle a well-built rifle. On the other hand, the old Weatherby today was nothing special to look at. However, it would shoot. The 7mm WSM is one of my favourite cartridges. I have yet to load for one that hasn't been easy to work with. Each has given me surprisingly accurate loads.

Greg, the 300 WBY loads were built with Weatherby brass, CCI250 primers and 168 grain TSX. The first load used 78.5 grains of IMR 4350, yielding a velocity of 3212 +/- 6 fps. The second load used 85.0 grains of RL22, giving me a velocity of 3301 +/- 10 fps. I have recently switched to a Sartorius scale on my loading bench. It is quite sensitive, giving me the capacity to weigh to +/- 0.01 grains. I've noticed that my SDs are becoming much tighter. I'd like to say that my technique has improved, but I suspect it is better equipment that is making some difference.

Charlie, what can I say? 82F feels hot up here. I was pleased to have a bit of a breeze, though it was a bit of a challenge to dope the wind as it wasn't very steady.

Thank you for the compliment, David. Occasionally, things just go right. I don't post many pictures of my failures, but I have plenty just trying to find success.

Gerry, I habitually put in plugs before I ever get out of the truck. Then, I put on the muffs while on the range. Only when a cease fire has been called do I remove the muffs, leaving the plugs in until the end of the day. That way, there are no nasty surprises when someone torches off while I am cleaning or turned away. Also, if neighbouring ranges are hot, I don't need the extra noise to destroy what is left of my hearing.

In all, it was a good day. Tomorrow should be another good day. I'm taking five grandchildren, my eldest daughter and wife to the range. We'll have a picnic at the club house and the children can play on the playground.

 

[Desert Fox]

Wow DrMike. . Those Barnes sure are capable of Benchrest accuracy. It's unbelievable that a Weatherby sporter can be so accurate.

 

[DrMike]

Rommel,

I am astounded at what I witnessed out of that old Weatherby. I am used to MOA out of these rifles, but this one was astounding. And to provide that sort of accuracy with two separate powders was humbling. Consequently, the charges on either side of those were each between 0.60 and 1.00 inches. Clearly, the rifle doesn't like a full max charge, but it does have legs and likes to run. The fellow that owns this particular rifle doesn't appear to be a rifleman. He just wanted a load that he could use to take a moose or a sheep if he had opportunity. I believe we can accommodate his desire.

 

[Desert Fox]

This clearly shows you that accurate rifle doesn't necessarily exclusive to those with match grade, heavy barreled and custom chambered rifles. This also reinforced my belief that the TSX is the most accurate bullet in the Barnes line up, capable of benchrest accuracy.

 

[DrMike]

I have certainly witnessed some off the shelf rifles that are capable of wonderful accuracy. Dare I say that the modern rifle is generally capable of what would have been considered almost unachievable just a few years back. Again, Rommel, you are correct about the TSX bullet. They have never treated me poorly; they are capable of producing great groups. There is another point that I should make. When I construct a load, I almost always accept the information provided by the ballisticians who produced the data printed in the various manuals. The loads reported were copied from the "most accurate" loads reported in the current Barnes Manual. When working with Nosler bullets, I look first to see if the technicians have reported the most accurate load. Ditto with Sierra. This makes for a good starting place.

 

[SJB358]

Great shooting Mike. Very impressive stuff.

You are really making me believe in the 7WSM everytime I get out with it. It has turned in some excellent groups right off the bat with almost no trouble in loading it. Just a great cartridge with alot of steam. Matter of fact, the way the 7 performs, makes me question the need for a 300 Magnum anymore (not too much though... Just a little voice I am able to quell).

Again, looks like a great day of shooting and I WISH I could get a lower 80* day to shoot in! Maybe in December? Scotty

 

[DrMike]

I'm not a great fan of the Bergers, but they are accurate. There are, however, some rifles that simply won't shoot them well. However, this 7 WSM shot them reasonably well, and finally produced an excellent group for me.

 

[SJB358]

Never loaded a Berger yet. I have some .264 140's to try, but just haven't found the time to mess with them just yet. They are certainly some missile looking bullets though. Not too hard to see where the BC comes from. Scotty

 

[OU812]

Mike that is awesome shooting and great load developement.

Bill