DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,314
- 5,982
Some days are just a bust. I head for the range with several rifles requiring work. The wind was gusting to 16 km/hr and averaging between 8 and 9 km/hr. These were not ideal conditions, but I could dope the wind and hopefully obtain some needed information. The temperature wasn't bad (-1 C and projected to reach +2 C by afternoon). I opted to shoot from the shooting shack rather than the open range because of the coolness and the wind. Shortly after reaching the shooting shack, things began to come apart. I managed to get set up without injuring myself, but that is about the only positive I can report at this stage of the shoot. These are the rifles I carried with me today.
They are, right to left. a 22-250 AI, a Model 94 .356 Win, a Model 94 .375 Win, a Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor, a Ruger 35 Whelen and a .280 Remington.
I managed to get everything into the shack and even manged to get everything set up. I walked downrange and posted targets. Then, I carried my chronograph outside and began to unwind the cord. It was cool (-1 C or so) and my chronograph had been setting in my truck overnight. As I unwound the cord, the chronograph toppled over, breaking the head of the tripod. Of course, this would be the day I had not bothered to bring along an extra tripod, so chronographing the loads was now out of the question. I wasn't particular disturbed, as I need to finish sighting in most of the rifles and needed to do the break-in on the 35 Whelen. I would pull the trigger on the Whelen first, and while it was soaking, pull the trigger on one of the other rifles. The first thing that happened was that I wasn't as watchful as I should have been. I grabbed a bore guide for 30 calibre rifles, immediately causing the jag, with the patch to become stuck. It should only require a moment to disassemble the guide and remove the jag. Fifteen minutes later, after resorting to a variety of tools carried for just such eventualities, I inserted the correct guide and completed the task that should have taken a few minutes.
I shot the .375 Win, and it was gratifying to see what it would do with a scope (Vortex 1-4X24 PST, MRAD reticle) mounted atop the rifle.
The group size is 0.74 inches. Not bad for a Model 94.
I finished cleaning the 35 Whelen, pulled the trigger again and started to clean. Five minutes getting a patch that was the wrong size out of the barrel where it had become jammed with the jag was only a minor distraction for the day. Taking the bore guide out of the rifle, the handle fell off, disappearing into the darkness of the nether world of several cabinets situated along the far wall of the shooting shack. The whole time I was wondering whether any of the local wildlife that scurries about on occasion might be lurking under there. I should mention that one of the neat little reminders of my days in medical research is a pronounced allergy to rodents. Conjunctivitis and immediate swelling of the contact site are the least problematic symptomatology; anaphylaxis is the greater concern. This exercise in exploration required only ten or so minutes, after which I was able to retrieve the handle again and get on with my day.
I next shot the .356, verifying that it was on target. The ammunition is not the hunting ammunition I will be using, but the group was still close to MOA.
Surely, I thought, nothing else could (or would) disrupt my day. Foolishly, I shot the 35 Whelen again, and behold! No problems. The ammunition was the last of an old load that I had prepared for the previous iteration of this particular rifle. I didn't expect much from it, and I wasn't disappointed in my expectations. Now, it was time for the .280.
I didn't want to shoot either the 6.5 Creedmoor or the 22-250 AI as the loads I had were all for testing, and I really needed a chronograph. They would just have to wait for another day. However, along with four sets of loads prepared for the .280, I had a number of older loads that I had worked up for my other .280. Without thinking that the Winchester has a long throat, allowing for much (muuuuuuch) longer COAL, I chambered a round prepared with a 140 grain BST. I'd just see what this does. One thing that I discovered is that this Remington has a shorter throat, and the longer cartridge will definitely jam a bullet into the lands. Then, when you have thoroughly engraved the bullet in the lands and finally knock the bolt open, the cartridge will extract, spilling its contents into the innards of the magazine whilst leaving the bullet behind, firmly ensconced in the lands. Consequently, it was sufficiently firm in its seating that I was unable to remove it with the tools at my disposal. This would require a stop at the shop to drift the bullet out. Of course, simply allowing the rifle to reside in the cab of the truck for a couple of hours cooled the bullet enough that by the time I arrived at the shop, one tap on a rod and it dropped out.
Well, it wasn't a total wash. I did finish initial break-in on the Whelen. I'll work up some loads (with the proper OAL) for this rifle and pull the trigger for groups next week. I did get the .375 and the .356 sighted in. I have some loads worked up for the .375 and I'll work up some new loads for the .356 in preparation for bear next spring. I have multiples loads to test for the 22-250 AI, the .280 Remington and the 6.5 Creedmoor. I have a .308 Norma, a 7-08 and a 7mm RUM awaiting attention, and this will give me opportunity to work up some loads for them between now and Monday.
They are, right to left. a 22-250 AI, a Model 94 .356 Win, a Model 94 .375 Win, a Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor, a Ruger 35 Whelen and a .280 Remington.
I managed to get everything into the shack and even manged to get everything set up. I walked downrange and posted targets. Then, I carried my chronograph outside and began to unwind the cord. It was cool (-1 C or so) and my chronograph had been setting in my truck overnight. As I unwound the cord, the chronograph toppled over, breaking the head of the tripod. Of course, this would be the day I had not bothered to bring along an extra tripod, so chronographing the loads was now out of the question. I wasn't particular disturbed, as I need to finish sighting in most of the rifles and needed to do the break-in on the 35 Whelen. I would pull the trigger on the Whelen first, and while it was soaking, pull the trigger on one of the other rifles. The first thing that happened was that I wasn't as watchful as I should have been. I grabbed a bore guide for 30 calibre rifles, immediately causing the jag, with the patch to become stuck. It should only require a moment to disassemble the guide and remove the jag. Fifteen minutes later, after resorting to a variety of tools carried for just such eventualities, I inserted the correct guide and completed the task that should have taken a few minutes.
I shot the .375 Win, and it was gratifying to see what it would do with a scope (Vortex 1-4X24 PST, MRAD reticle) mounted atop the rifle.
The group size is 0.74 inches. Not bad for a Model 94.
I finished cleaning the 35 Whelen, pulled the trigger again and started to clean. Five minutes getting a patch that was the wrong size out of the barrel where it had become jammed with the jag was only a minor distraction for the day. Taking the bore guide out of the rifle, the handle fell off, disappearing into the darkness of the nether world of several cabinets situated along the far wall of the shooting shack. The whole time I was wondering whether any of the local wildlife that scurries about on occasion might be lurking under there. I should mention that one of the neat little reminders of my days in medical research is a pronounced allergy to rodents. Conjunctivitis and immediate swelling of the contact site are the least problematic symptomatology; anaphylaxis is the greater concern. This exercise in exploration required only ten or so minutes, after which I was able to retrieve the handle again and get on with my day.
I next shot the .356, verifying that it was on target. The ammunition is not the hunting ammunition I will be using, but the group was still close to MOA.
Surely, I thought, nothing else could (or would) disrupt my day. Foolishly, I shot the 35 Whelen again, and behold! No problems. The ammunition was the last of an old load that I had prepared for the previous iteration of this particular rifle. I didn't expect much from it, and I wasn't disappointed in my expectations. Now, it was time for the .280.
I didn't want to shoot either the 6.5 Creedmoor or the 22-250 AI as the loads I had were all for testing, and I really needed a chronograph. They would just have to wait for another day. However, along with four sets of loads prepared for the .280, I had a number of older loads that I had worked up for my other .280. Without thinking that the Winchester has a long throat, allowing for much (muuuuuuch) longer COAL, I chambered a round prepared with a 140 grain BST. I'd just see what this does. One thing that I discovered is that this Remington has a shorter throat, and the longer cartridge will definitely jam a bullet into the lands. Then, when you have thoroughly engraved the bullet in the lands and finally knock the bolt open, the cartridge will extract, spilling its contents into the innards of the magazine whilst leaving the bullet behind, firmly ensconced in the lands. Consequently, it was sufficiently firm in its seating that I was unable to remove it with the tools at my disposal. This would require a stop at the shop to drift the bullet out. Of course, simply allowing the rifle to reside in the cab of the truck for a couple of hours cooled the bullet enough that by the time I arrived at the shop, one tap on a rod and it dropped out.
Well, it wasn't a total wash. I did finish initial break-in on the Whelen. I'll work up some loads (with the proper OAL) for this rifle and pull the trigger for groups next week. I did get the .375 and the .356 sighted in. I have some loads worked up for the .375 and I'll work up some new loads for the .356 in preparation for bear next spring. I have multiples loads to test for the 22-250 AI, the .280 Remington and the 6.5 Creedmoor. I have a .308 Norma, a 7-08 and a 7mm RUM awaiting attention, and this will give me opportunity to work up some loads for them between now and Monday.
Those kind of days are always an exercise in futility. However; If you had "stood" in bed you would not have accomplished anything and you might have bumped your head on the ceiling to boot :shock: . I hope your next range day is a perfect one! Those looked like nickel cases for the 280 - how do they hold up for you? Do you think they do OK if I tried to AI them?
