Range Report AAC-SD 175gr Sierra MatchKing/RL-17 ladder testing (400yds)

[melloyello]

All cases were Remington RP, WLR primers, 2.860" OAL
Only ran one ascending ladder after firing 2 sighters. All shots fired from 400yds.
I did not see any pressure signs at all throughout this test.

44gr- 2300fps
44.5gr-2325fps
45gr- 2339fps
45.5gr-2385fps
46gr- 2408fps
46.5gr-2428fps
47gr- 2452fps
47.5gr-2565fps
48gr- 2584fps (pulled it)
48.5gr-2630fps
49gr- 2698fps

I am thinking somewhere between 46.5-47.5gr, maybe even include 48 but since I pulled it I don't know. What do you guys think?

 

[melloyello]

Going to try this again if I get chance this weekend. Just finished loading up 46-49.3gr in .3gr increments

 

[BigJohn141]

Really not sure of your target. My understanding was that a OCW test was fired at separate targets for each charge and cycling through them one shot per target per load then repeat with at least 3 shot per target but preferably more.

 

[melloyello]

This wasn't an OCW test. It was my first attempt at a ladder test at 400yds.

 

[melloyello]

All cases were Remington RP, WLR primers, 2.860" OAL
More wind yesterday. Wind was from a 5mph constant to 15mph gusts at times. Same 400yd range. Temperature was 48.

46gr-2340
46.3-2474
46.6-2417
46.9-2474
47.2-2487
47.5-2525
47.8-2504
48.1-2506
48.4-2568
48.7-2579
49-2613
49.3-2640
47.5-48.1 showed a spread of 21fps and vertical spread of 1"
48.4-49 showed a spread of 45fps and vertical spread of 5/8"
Glad I went back and tried this in .3gr increments. I am going to test 47.8 and 48.7 for accuracy and go from there.

 

[mr2thomas]

What was your final choice for load weight?

 

[reeljob]

I am running 41.0 gr of ARComp in my AAC with 175s and getting excellent accuracy and velocities above 2600. I realize this has nothing to do with your ladder test but I went down the same road with my AAC and 5R wanting the best accuracy and velocities I could get and in both rifles this powder was my answer.

 

[melloyello]

What was your final choice for load weight?

As of right now, 48.7gr is what I have shot to 500yds. It's done good so far just haven't had time to stretch it out. I also have some 47.8gr loaded up too. Maybe I will get to shoot them one of these days.

 

[melloyello]

So, I had a chance to shoot today. Got my load of 48.7gr sighted in at 100yds then worked out to 500yds. I don't claim to be the best shot in the world by any means so don't be hating. I have been shooting .8-.9" 5 shot groups at 100yds with this recently and have gotten down to .6-.7" 5 shot groups recently. I think some of this had to do with my brass prep which has also brought my ES down some too. 5 shots yesterday had an ES of 13fps and today 3 shots had an ES of 4fps. I have been getting ES numbers around 36 and 41. I don't know why I had been doing it but I was trimming my brass then neck sizing when I should have been doing it the other way. That is the only change and it has cut my ES way down. Another way to keep them down is to keep the ammo out of the sun(I shouldn't have to explain this one).
So far with a zero of 100yds my adjustments are:
200yds=.6mil
300yds=1.4mil
400yds=2.4mil
500yds=3.7mil
Average velocity with ammo at 50°F is 2612.5fps.

Here is my zero group and a 3 shot group from 500yds dialed .1mil left and .2mil off bullseye [MENTION=80736]500[/MENTION]yds.

 

[Shoots 700's]

I find much more velocity with AR-Comp as well

 

[melloyello]

I find much more velocity with AR-Comp as well

I guess this is for both of you shooting AR Comp. What ES numbers are you guys getting? Different powders are hard to come by nowadays and RL-17 seems to be pretty easy for me to get. But, I am happy with just over 2600fps and with more practice I am sure I can shoot better than what my groups show. Just curious if you are getting low ES numbers.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

So, I had a chance to shoot today. Got my load of 48.7gr sighted in at 100yds then worked out to 500yds. I don't claim to be the best shot in the world by any means so don't be hating. I have been shooting .8-.9" 5 shot groups at 100yds with this recently and have gotten down to .6-.7" 5 shot groups recently. I think some of this had to do with my brass prep which has also brought my ES down some too. 5 shots yesterday had an ES of 13fps and today 3 shots had an ES of 4fps. I have been getting ES numbers around 36 and 41. I don't know why I had been doing it but I was trimming my brass then neck sizing when I should have been doing it the other way. That is the only change and it has cut my ES way down. Another way to keep them down is to keep the ammo out of the sun(I shouldn't have to explain this one).
So far with a zero of 100yds my adjustments are:
200yds=.6mil
300yds=1.4mil
400yds=2.4mil
500yds=3.7mil
Average velocity with ammo at 50°F is 2612.5fps.

Here is my zero group and a 3 shot group from 500yds dialed .1mil left and .2mil off bullseye [MENTION=80736]500[/MENTION]yds.

Is that second group showing vertical spread---looks like you took pic with target oriented 90 degrees twisted?

I would have thought from your sight in group that it should have been less vertical spread. I thought your two ladders showed possibly better grouping from the 46.5-47.5 range---but then you have one real anomaly at 47.2 on the second pic.

 

[blurry6]

Is that second group showing vertical spread---looks like you took pic with target oriented 90 degrees twisted?

I would have thought from your sight in group that it should have been less vertical spread. I thought your two ladders showed possibly better grouping from the 46.5-47.5 range---but then you have one real anomaly at 47.2 on the second pic.

I agree with Sniper Uncle,... I'd concentrate on 47.0+/- a couple tenths of a grain and then tweak seating depth a little and see how it works,... Judging from the 1st pic you posted, that's the most forgiving (wide) node which is what I always look for - the middle of a node that will remain tolerant of variations in temp, pressure, and lot-to-lot variance in powder. Just a thought.

Ryan

 

[melloyello]

Is that second group showing vertical spread---looks like you took pic with target oriented 90 degrees twisted?

Both of those pics are turned 90° for some reason. That 500yd 3 shot group is 4.503". Most of that is vertical. Each square is 1". Velocities of the 3 shots were 2620, 2617, 2621. There was quite a bit of mirage today and I am definitely not the best shot in the world. I am not highly experienced when it comes to mirage. I would hope that if I could shoot another group early morning or late afternoon I could get that group size down.
I am going to continue to work with this load because it looks promising to me. I think I just need to progress as a shooter. Once I can get all 5 shots touching at 100yds I will be satisfied but it may not happen. I load to magazine length and my OAL is to bullet tip not ogive so I am going to have some variance and I understand that. Most times OAL doesn't vary more than .005" if I group my bullets by length before loading them. Bullets that don't make the cut will be used for fire forming new or FL sized brass later. I have set my die and left it there.
Here is a pic of the backing that was behind that zero target and the 500yd target. They should be oriented correctly.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

I understand you on the mirage. I can read it, but not interpret it. Sounds like we are both in the same boat---practice, practice, practice.
Good luck with your enterprise---and if you can't get this one to close fully, you do have some good possibilities just below that one.

 

[melloyello]

Shot 1 group this afternoon. Let my brother get some shooting in today for a change and didn't get much time behind mine. I tried a 5 shot group but fudged the 5th shot so I put a 6th in there. I think you can tell which one I pulled. The 5 that were on target measured .643"
Either this means I got lucky or I am getting better. If I am getting better, it took me over 200rds behind this stick to get there.

 

[blurry6]

I still think you should devote some time to working with a 47.0gr load,... Not impressed with your latest result,... looks like too much vertical to fuss with,...