DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,508
- 6,525
I finally had a decent day at the range. The wind died down (I think we arrange to send it south. How's the wind in Cheyenne, Fotis?) The temperature mid-morning was -0.5 C, and it warmed to 13 C by mid-afternoon. There was no wind. I took several rifles to the range. I had a 22-250 AI to shoot for load development, my "renewed" 35 Whelen, my 375 Winchester, my 6.5 Creedmoor and my newer 280 Remington (Remington Ltd.). I got some decent data to analyze. I'll try to give a more complete report by tomorrow. For now, it is sufficient to say that most of the rifles shot very well.
The 280 continues to perform very well. Here is a sample of the accuracy potential with 150 grain Sciroccos. The groups ran together. The bottom group was a minimum charge. The next charge was spread out over ~1.25 inches. Then, at maximum charge, it came together to give a nice, tight cloverleaf. Unfortunately, that cloverleaf appeared almost atop the previous group. I have a couple of pretty good loads for which I'll post some pictures later. One is shooting 139 grain GMX bullets at 3003 fps and giving tight groups. The other is shooting 140 grain E-Tip bullets at 2950 fps with good accuracy. My initial work with 140 grain PTs and SuperFormance was mixed. The accuracy wasn't there, but the velocity was approximately 3000 + fps and the SD was very low.
I've really wanted to make the 35 Whelen sing, and a new tube and pillar bedding may have worked. The rifle yielded no group larger than ~1.25 inches, and there were several that were sub-MOA. I think it will work out. This is what it is doing with the 250 grain PT. Loads built around 225 grain Swift A-Frames were only slightly larger, with velocities up to 2650, so things are coming together.
I had several groups built around 225 grain TSX that were very encouraging. The four-shot group at maximum charge of W748 was nice and tight.
The Creedmoor still needs a little work, though all the groups today were MOA or better. Ballistics data was very good. I believe that playing with seating depth will bring this rifle around and into the category of shooter. The 375 Win shot its first set of handloads built around 200 grain Sierra FN bullets. They were "minute of moose," which isn't bad. They are about 1.5 inch groups with decent velocity.
In all, a rather satisfying day.
The 280 continues to perform very well. Here is a sample of the accuracy potential with 150 grain Sciroccos. The groups ran together. The bottom group was a minimum charge. The next charge was spread out over ~1.25 inches. Then, at maximum charge, it came together to give a nice, tight cloverleaf. Unfortunately, that cloverleaf appeared almost atop the previous group. I have a couple of pretty good loads for which I'll post some pictures later. One is shooting 139 grain GMX bullets at 3003 fps and giving tight groups. The other is shooting 140 grain E-Tip bullets at 2950 fps with good accuracy. My initial work with 140 grain PTs and SuperFormance was mixed. The accuracy wasn't there, but the velocity was approximately 3000 + fps and the SD was very low.
I've really wanted to make the 35 Whelen sing, and a new tube and pillar bedding may have worked. The rifle yielded no group larger than ~1.25 inches, and there were several that were sub-MOA. I think it will work out. This is what it is doing with the 250 grain PT. Loads built around 225 grain Swift A-Frames were only slightly larger, with velocities up to 2650, so things are coming together.
I had several groups built around 225 grain TSX that were very encouraging. The four-shot group at maximum charge of W748 was nice and tight.
The Creedmoor still needs a little work, though all the groups today were MOA or better. Ballistics data was very good. I believe that playing with seating depth will bring this rifle around and into the category of shooter. The 375 Win shot its first set of handloads built around 200 grain Sierra FN bullets. They were "minute of moose," which isn't bad. They are about 1.5 inch groups with decent velocity.
In all, a rather satisfying day.
Glad to see your Whelen doing well.
