DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,279
- 5,871
It was -2C and snowing hard today. However, the wind wasn't blowing, so I loaded up my rifles and headed to the range. I had a 338 Lapua I was working on. Since I was headed to the range, I decided I needed to work out a few of my own rifles.
On the left is the Sako 85 chambered in 338 Lapua. Next to it is my 280 Ross. Then comes the Remington chambered in .280 Remington, the Winchester 7X57 Mauser, the Winchester .284 Winchester and then the Winchester .30-06. I knew I wouldn't be able to pop the caps on all the loads I had made up, but I needed to pull the trigger on something.
The Sako was firing 225 grain Hornady SSTs. Ninety-four grains of RL25 gave a good velocity and a group of 0.5 inches at one hundred yards. I was asked to work up a couple of other loads and then gather data for burning turrets on the Huskemaw Scope. So, there is still some work to do.
This was the first time I had shot the .280 Ross. I had loaded a set of tests with 160 grain Woodleigh PPs and Retumbo. That .287 calibre bullet was launched at slightly more than 3000 fps, but the accuracy wasn't sterling. It was roughly 2 MOA, but the SD on the velocities was <0.1%. I'll play with seating depth and see what happens. I have been unable to find brass for this, so this brass was formed from 375 Ruger brass. It worked perfectly. So, there is some hope for the old gal.
I had dropped the .280 Remington and suspected the scope was off. Sure enough, the rifle was shooting about six inches to the right. A quick adjustment and the 150 grain ABLR pills were dimpling the target precisely where they were supposed to go.
The 7X57 was a pleasant surprise. It was, of course, a mild-mannered little cartridge that is a joy to shoot. I had loaded up several tests loads built around the 140 grain AB. Velocities ranged between 2600 and 2840 fps and across the spectrum of charges, the rifle produced near MOA groups. Not bad for the first time out. I only shot one set of loads, but they gave excellent standard deviations of <0.3%. I'll play with seating depth, and this rifle should be good to go pretty quickly.
The .284 Win teased me. Groups ranged from MOA to 1.5 MOA, but velocities were low on the first groups. I have lots of room to play with seating depth since I built the rifle on a long action. You may be certain it will get some attention over the coming weeks. I was shooting the 150 grain E-Tip in these loads, but I suspect the rifle will do much better with something like the 150 grain or 168 grain ABLR. I'll work them up and give it another go shortly.
I had loaded up a series of tests loads for the .30-06 using the 150 grain E-Tip. I can report that the rifle didn't like them all that much. Groups were terrible. However, velocities were decent and the SDs were <0.1%. So, I'll likely adjust seating depth and retest these loads. There appears to be quite a bit of promise in each of these rifles. So, back to the reloading bench with them.
On the left is the Sako 85 chambered in 338 Lapua. Next to it is my 280 Ross. Then comes the Remington chambered in .280 Remington, the Winchester 7X57 Mauser, the Winchester .284 Winchester and then the Winchester .30-06. I knew I wouldn't be able to pop the caps on all the loads I had made up, but I needed to pull the trigger on something.
The Sako was firing 225 grain Hornady SSTs. Ninety-four grains of RL25 gave a good velocity and a group of 0.5 inches at one hundred yards. I was asked to work up a couple of other loads and then gather data for burning turrets on the Huskemaw Scope. So, there is still some work to do.
This was the first time I had shot the .280 Ross. I had loaded a set of tests with 160 grain Woodleigh PPs and Retumbo. That .287 calibre bullet was launched at slightly more than 3000 fps, but the accuracy wasn't sterling. It was roughly 2 MOA, but the SD on the velocities was <0.1%. I'll play with seating depth and see what happens. I have been unable to find brass for this, so this brass was formed from 375 Ruger brass. It worked perfectly. So, there is some hope for the old gal.
I had dropped the .280 Remington and suspected the scope was off. Sure enough, the rifle was shooting about six inches to the right. A quick adjustment and the 150 grain ABLR pills were dimpling the target precisely where they were supposed to go.
The 7X57 was a pleasant surprise. It was, of course, a mild-mannered little cartridge that is a joy to shoot. I had loaded up several tests loads built around the 140 grain AB. Velocities ranged between 2600 and 2840 fps and across the spectrum of charges, the rifle produced near MOA groups. Not bad for the first time out. I only shot one set of loads, but they gave excellent standard deviations of <0.3%. I'll play with seating depth, and this rifle should be good to go pretty quickly.
The .284 Win teased me. Groups ranged from MOA to 1.5 MOA, but velocities were low on the first groups. I have lots of room to play with seating depth since I built the rifle on a long action. You may be certain it will get some attention over the coming weeks. I was shooting the 150 grain E-Tip in these loads, but I suspect the rifle will do much better with something like the 150 grain or 168 grain ABLR. I'll work them up and give it another go shortly.
I had loaded up a series of tests loads for the .30-06 using the 150 grain E-Tip. I can report that the rifle didn't like them all that much. Groups were terrible. However, velocities were decent and the SDs were <0.1%. So, I'll likely adjust seating depth and retest these loads. There appears to be quite a bit of promise in each of these rifles. So, back to the reloading bench with them.
