Think I found my load yesterday:
-Rifle:
Remington 700 (factory 300 RUM barrel w/ brake installed)
Vortex Viper 6-24x50 FFP/ XLR reticle
Boyds Tacticool stock (bedded with Acraglass)
-Load:
Rem brass trimmed to 2.850"
Federal 215 primers
104.2 grains of US869
185 grain Berger Hybrid VLD's seated at 3.900 OAL (.010" off)
-Conditions
Distance: 200 yards (shot from the club's loaner bench rest/rear bag)
Wind: 1-3 mph from 7 o'clock
Time: 12:30 pm
Altitude: 425'
Temperature: 72*
Humidity: 62%
Pressure: 30.02"
Notes:
Worked up a ladder test the other week, and headed back yesterday to play with different seating depths. The barrel was stripped clean, free of carbon and copper, prior to leaving the house. These are the first 3 shots from a squeaky clean barrel (cold bore shot included).
Called shot #1 as X and saw through the spotting scope that POI was towards the 10 o'clock edge of the target. Called shot #2 as X, but couldn't see the POI through the mirrage (even if I missed the Shoot 'N See, figured I could've seen the bullet hole in the paper). Called shot #3 as X with the same result as #2. Getting worried that soemthing might have rattled loose, I checked the rifle and found everything was solid. The next best thing to do would be to wait for a cold-range and walk to check the target.
Sure enough, the calls were spot on. Never figured that the rifle/load would produce results like that! Developement complete!