Range Report 2019 M118LR shooting 2" lower than 2016 batch

[little_scrapper]

My rifle is sighted at 100 yrds with M118LR from 2016. Today I shot a couple groups of M118LR from my new batch of 2019. The 2019 is shooting about 2" lower at 100 yds. The 4 group sheet is 1" grid shot last weekend. Typical results for me. Aimpoint for the 2019 is center of blue tape.

Also a question. How much difference would 0.4 grains of powder make in a M118LR? I pulled two bullets from the 2016 batch and weighed the powder. .4 gr difference between loads.

 

[308Gunner]

The 2019 ammo is probably gender fluid if the 2016 ammo has .4 grains more powder you answered your own question

 

[little_scrapper]

Both charges were from the 2016 batch. I was just wondering what kind of difference .4 gr of powder would make on POI. I seem to get periodic fliers that seems unusual even for MY lack of skill.

 

[lte82]

.4 gr difference? Welcome to machine loaded ammo. Also the three years difference for sure means at least a different lot of powder if not a totally different powder, and the bullets, primers, and brass are different lots too. Lake City ammo plant is also operated by different companies if/when contracts change, so there’s that too.

 

[Masked]

So, M118LR has a long history of being changed without actually being noted via Crane or the DOJ.

The 2016 batches were slower burning because of the lot run they got and they dropped the charge about 1gr with a +/- 0.6 variation.

So it LOOKS like it's a 0.4 difference - It's really about a grain.

Anything past 03/04 is "anemic" compared to the originals and it just kind of goes downhill from there.

The 2011/2012 lots of powder they used are fast - So, they FEEL close to the originals, but it's just a faster burning powder.

For my classes right now, we're going through 14/15/17 - And it's basically a 1", 2", 4" difference.

 

[Mike_Pancake]

The 2016 lot of 118 i have sucks... ive shot sub lot a-d and D was by far the best. 118 is mass produced and can vary between sub lots not to mention the lots themselves.

 

[little_scrapper]

All that being said, at $0.45/rnd I'll keep buying it every chance I can. Hell I should just buy it, disassemble it and reload it better.