I recently had an FN rebarreled by our very own <span style="color: #FF6600">bugholes</span> here and set out trying to get a load or two nailed down with her. Me and Hide member <span style="font-weight: bold">deh223</span> struck out to the range for load work up on her and got some decent numbers while we were at the range. I did all my load work-up shooting from bags on the bench, which is common practice for me. Didn't want to sail a round thru the front of the chronograph shooting prone! 
For spits-n-grins, I headed down to our departmental range the other day to verify my zero on one of the rounds that was showing promise. I had a scad of 168 Amax's loaded at the generic 2.800" with 44.0gr of Varget on R-P brass with Federal 210's. Mind you, this was a load I had been running in another rifle and the load <span style="font-weight: bold">deh223</span> is running in his Tikka. I hadn't earnestly considered this load (at the OAL they were loaded) to do the best from the FN. Granted, it looked good on the chrono for the rifle, I figured the seating depth wouldn't be optimal as the Amax is jumping about .032".
At any rate, I fired my first three shot string at 100 yards prone, off the bipod with a sand sock. Here was the initial group......
Immediately, I thought to myself, "Holy Crap!". I made a slight adjustment, anchored in and sailed three more down range. Here was the outcome of the second volley......
Needless to say, I'd have been better off initially trying this load in the FN! This round has been a proven load in four different rifles and dare say the fifth one I have shot it thru likes it just as well.
In short, this is the easiest load development I have had to date. I think it's a keeper!
For spits-n-grins, I headed down to our departmental range the other day to verify my zero on one of the rounds that was showing promise. I had a scad of 168 Amax's loaded at the generic 2.800" with 44.0gr of Varget on R-P brass with Federal 210's. Mind you, this was a load I had been running in another rifle and the load <span style="font-weight: bold">deh223</span> is running in his Tikka. I hadn't earnestly considered this load (at the OAL they were loaded) to do the best from the FN. Granted, it looked good on the chrono for the rifle, I figured the seating depth wouldn't be optimal as the Amax is jumping about .032".
At any rate, I fired my first three shot string at 100 yards prone, off the bipod with a sand sock. Here was the initial group......
Immediately, I thought to myself, "Holy Crap!". I made a slight adjustment, anchored in and sailed three more down range. Here was the outcome of the second volley......
Needless to say, I'd have been better off initially trying this load in the FN! This round has been a proven load in four different rifles and dare say the fifth one I have shot it thru likes it just as well.
In short, this is the easiest load development I have had to date. I think it's a keeper!
