Range Work 2012 09 05

[DrMike]

I thought I'd share some of the work I performed today. It was a miserable day for shooting. Though the sun was shining as I began my day at 8:30, the wind was blowing an average of 7 km/hr and gusting to 16 km/hr. Then, it got windy. It began to snow at 2:30. It makes for an interesting day. One fellow showed up to see what I was doing. "I hope you're not shooting for groups," he opined. Well, yes, I was indeed shooting for groups. Whereas my new .307 didn't perform as I could have wished, the older one is giving me decent groups. On the other hand, the newer one is giving me excellent velocities. Now, if I can just get them together. I'll continue working on these. However, I had several rifles belonging to customers that have been a bit finicky. Here's one, a 240 Weatherby. It didn't like the first series of loads built around Bergers, but the owner agreed to let me work with 100 grain Partitions. This is what resulted first rattle out of the box this morning.

The same person owns a 270 Weatherby that likewise didn't give me decent groups with 150 grain Bergers. After consulting with him, he asked me to work with 150 grain TSX. The rifle is not a tack driver at this point, but it is coming along. Here are a couple of different groups with a couple of powders.

Another rifle that was shooting reasonably well really performed well this morning. It is a Winchester 7STW shooing 160 grain ABs. Here was today's effort. An AB at 3060 fps will work in most jurisdictions.

Well, back to the drawing board for a few new loads. The owner of the STW was so pleased that he was over here in less than ten minutes after I phoned him. Yeah, he'll take that. I haven't heard back from the owner of the Weatherbys; they are still a bit problematic in that as velocities increase, groups open up markedly. In the interim, I picked up a 7mm WSM and a 338 RUM for load development next. Plus, there are a few other rifles waiting on me at the shop.

 

[runtohunt]

Nice work Dr. Mike! Especially with all that wind.
On the 270 Roy, I noticed two shots touching and one shot 1" out. To what do you attribute the one shot 1" out? Wind? I have a couple of rifles that to that even when it is not windy.

I like the load for the 240! What powder, how many grains, and what velocity are you getting?

How much do you charge for load development?? :grin: I might need to send you a few rifles

Thank you.
--Tony

 

[ridgewalker]

Wow! DrMike I think you can stop unless you are target shooting. Those all will take big game further than I can see them.

 

[DrMike]

Good observation, Tony. I actually had nine sets of loads for that rifle, and the pattern was reasonably consistent across the spectrum. However, there was no discernible rhythm to the pattern. It does make me think that the rifle has a high spot in the stock. However, if the owner wants that explored, it will take extra. I'll recommend that he pull the barrel and examine the stock. I was taking ample time between shots, so it should not have demonstrated that particular pattern. The fact that it did across the spectrum is likely indicative of pressure somewhere.

 

[DrMike]

Ridgewalker,

Almost every owner of a rifle that comes into my loading room imagines that his rifle will shoot bug holes. Believe it or not, the last rifle that I worked on (a 7mm 08) delivered similar groups to the STW I pictured, and the owner decided that he wanted me to work up a load using Sierras rather than accepting the load worked up with ABs. He would not be dissuaded. I'm still shaking my head. He'll be going after moose and elk in addition to deer. Of course, I'll do what he asked, despite my misgivings.

I'm under considerable pressure, so I don't always have the time I would like to spend, and most people aren't willing to pay for my time to get the groups the rifle probably could deliver. I pretty well restrict myself to loading to SAAMI dimensional specs, for instance, because I don't have time to play with OAL for the customers. The owners almost always determine the bullet they want to use, and that is frequently chosen because of something seen on television and/or read in magazine articles. Consequently, the bullets selected and the weights specified are not always what I would recommend. Nevertheless, given the decision of the owners, I do the best I can. Much of what I do is based on experience from thousands of rounds rather than doing what I would want to do. My own rifles, however, receive a more deliberate level of care as I can take the time necessary to look at a wider range of factors dictating accuracy.

 

[SJB358]

Looks like a good day out on the range Mike. That STW and 240 are getting it done. Seems like a 100 PT smoking out of a 240 would be alot of fun. Pretty tough combo as well.

 

[Songdog]

Canadians are awesome..... they can shoot into the future. Those will be nice groups on September 5th of this year.... when they become a reality. :lol:

 

[gerry]

Canadians are awesome.....

Thanks

 

[jmad_81]

Nice work mike! Some day when i retire i hope to have something like you have lined out to keep me from going crazy.

What powder were you using in the 270 weatherby? Sure seemed to do the trick.

 

[Guy Miner]

Nice group with those 100 gr Partitions from the .240 Weatherby.

I was pleasantly surprised a few years back when I tried those bullets from the 6mm Remington and found them to be very accurate.

 

[FOTIS]

Good work Doc!

 

[joelkdouglas]

Some nice groups there Mike, and maybe you can get the Weatherby to come 'round!

 

[DrMike]

Thank you, gentlemen. Jake, I was testing RL19 in the 270WSM. I had similar results with IMR7828SSC earlier in the week. Previously, with Bergers, I had used VN570 and Magnum. The results with VN570 were acceptable, though not spectacular, necessitating a different set of tests. The ability of the 240WBY was a pleasant surprise after earlier work with 95 grain Bergers. I had not had a group under three inches with that bullet. Joel, I have to wait on instructions from the owner before I go any farther on the 270 or the 240. I'd be happy with them, but he may have other expectations.