I went out again to (re)test my handloads on Sunday. I changed brass from Winchester to CBC for reasons I won't explain here again...but let's just say my findings were mundane and left me wondering what I should do.
Once again, my loads are:
150gr Hornady 3031 SP's
CBC brass
Varget powder
CCI primers
COL 2.800 (had a couple at 2.799 - probably due to soft lead points)
As for case prep - I deprime, clean the primer pockets with the little Lee tool, pass the appropriately sized drill bit thru the flash hole (don't remeber the size...but it's hand turned only and does not remove metal, just carbon and "gunk"), then I cut all brass using the Lee Case Trimmer - 2.180" - while the brass is in the drill chuck, i hit the inside of the neck with a bronze brush to clean the neck out, and I polish the neck area with fine steel wool. no tumbling yet.
Once again, I started with 44.0 grains and worked up to 46.5 in half grain inc's. I also tried a group just using the standard 3.1cc dipper Lee provides with their kit. As you will see, the 42.4 gr charge is not well liked.
First target - 44.0 gr - 5 shots, inconclusive. although 3 rounds touched - 2 were way out there and this was not a flinchy load. Very low recoil, and shot 1 was cold bore fouler shot. It landed in the group of 3 touching. So it means nothing...other than cold bore and 5 shots down the road are alll the same. the spread shots were 2 and 4. 1,3,5 all in the center grouping.
Second target 42.4gr, 5 shots...don't like the load, this is the 3.1cc load with the supplied Lee dipper just to satisfy curiosity. If nothing else I learned that I can attain consistent results with the dippers provided i keep my technique the same. I was really surprised how well you can do with just using the dipper and your drivers license. i was +/- 0.1 gr on every load. I loaded them as is, did not adjust, but I did measure each one on the scale prior to loading the round.
Up next is 44.5 gr, a load that showed promise with the winchester brass and this time does well again. one called flier high and left (hearbeat was horrible with all the caffeine before hitting the range) and I will either load this up with the rest of my bullets and powder and call it a day...or may get froggy and try to bracket the next load up. Not sure yet. I can handle .5-.75" groups for hunting.
this next one was the best load out of the winchester brass...and it did HORRIBLE with the CBC brass. I will not be using this load - 45.0 gr varget.
this next one has me scratching my head too. First shot was high center. I dropped down six clicks fearing I might send one off the paper, and then the POI shifted to the left as well. could be wind, shooter error, God, Satan, ...who knows. Could be an interesting load...but wait...there's more!
This next group has the first sign of true consistency i have seen from any of my handloads. Coupled with the smaller group on the previous load, I think I need to work on the 45.5 - 46.0 loads. Recoil is a bit higher, but there are no signs of pressure and if the group tightens up, we may have found a honey spot. I also like that this group is more horizontaly strung than vertically. Shows that the barrel is close to its OCW IMO.
Last up is 46.5 gr, and though it's not IMPRESSIVE, it's not unimpressive either. Viable PA hunting load, a bit more recoil than I'd like, but USEABLE...which is helpful, because this is where the Lee 3.4cc dipper puts me. Again, I'll get a 3.4 dipper and sand it down until i get to the ~46gr honey spot.
anyone else see anything that stands out? Think i should load up a bunch more at 44.5gr and call it a day until i'm out of bullets or powder or both? Or should I work on the 46.0 load? Plenty accurate enough for deer and 6" plates up to and including 500 yards. *I* am not that good, but at least the rifle shows promise. hell, I don't even think i could SEE a 6" plate that far away. I have total confidence that I could hit a 12" square though, and my begin doing this locally just to keep the confidence up for deer season.
Once again, my loads are:
150gr Hornady 3031 SP's
CBC brass
Varget powder
CCI primers
COL 2.800 (had a couple at 2.799 - probably due to soft lead points)
As for case prep - I deprime, clean the primer pockets with the little Lee tool, pass the appropriately sized drill bit thru the flash hole (don't remeber the size...but it's hand turned only and does not remove metal, just carbon and "gunk"), then I cut all brass using the Lee Case Trimmer - 2.180" - while the brass is in the drill chuck, i hit the inside of the neck with a bronze brush to clean the neck out, and I polish the neck area with fine steel wool. no tumbling yet.
Once again, I started with 44.0 grains and worked up to 46.5 in half grain inc's. I also tried a group just using the standard 3.1cc dipper Lee provides with their kit. As you will see, the 42.4 gr charge is not well liked.
First target - 44.0 gr - 5 shots, inconclusive. although 3 rounds touched - 2 were way out there and this was not a flinchy load. Very low recoil, and shot 1 was cold bore fouler shot. It landed in the group of 3 touching. So it means nothing...other than cold bore and 5 shots down the road are alll the same. the spread shots were 2 and 4. 1,3,5 all in the center grouping.
Second target 42.4gr, 5 shots...don't like the load, this is the 3.1cc load with the supplied Lee dipper just to satisfy curiosity. If nothing else I learned that I can attain consistent results with the dippers provided i keep my technique the same. I was really surprised how well you can do with just using the dipper and your drivers license. i was +/- 0.1 gr on every load. I loaded them as is, did not adjust, but I did measure each one on the scale prior to loading the round.
Up next is 44.5 gr, a load that showed promise with the winchester brass and this time does well again. one called flier high and left (hearbeat was horrible with all the caffeine before hitting the range) and I will either load this up with the rest of my bullets and powder and call it a day...or may get froggy and try to bracket the next load up. Not sure yet. I can handle .5-.75" groups for hunting.
this next one was the best load out of the winchester brass...and it did HORRIBLE with the CBC brass. I will not be using this load - 45.0 gr varget.
this next one has me scratching my head too. First shot was high center. I dropped down six clicks fearing I might send one off the paper, and then the POI shifted to the left as well. could be wind, shooter error, God, Satan, ...who knows. Could be an interesting load...but wait...there's more!
This next group has the first sign of true consistency i have seen from any of my handloads. Coupled with the smaller group on the previous load, I think I need to work on the 45.5 - 46.0 loads. Recoil is a bit higher, but there are no signs of pressure and if the group tightens up, we may have found a honey spot. I also like that this group is more horizontaly strung than vertically. Shows that the barrel is close to its OCW IMO.
Last up is 46.5 gr, and though it's not IMPRESSIVE, it's not unimpressive either. Viable PA hunting load, a bit more recoil than I'd like, but USEABLE...which is helpful, because this is where the Lee 3.4cc dipper puts me. Again, I'll get a 3.4 dipper and sand it down until i get to the ~46gr honey spot.
anyone else see anything that stands out? Think i should load up a bunch more at 44.5gr and call it a day until i'm out of bullets or powder or both? Or should I work on the 46.0 load? Plenty accurate enough for deer and 6" plates up to and including 500 yards. *I* am not that good, but at least the rifle shows promise. hell, I don't even think i could SEE a 6" plate that far away. I have total confidence that I could hit a 12" square though, and my begin doing this locally just to keep the confidence up for deer season.
