Opinions needed again!

[Quackaddict]

Alright guys, an update to my 243/ varmint bullet saga, below is a photo of a target shot at 100 and 200 yards using the best bullet/powder combo I have found to date.

Load is as follows, Nosler 70 grn BT, CCI lg primers, Lapua brass, 42.8 grains of IMR 4064 with a COAL of 2.275 (just kissing lands). Targets were three shots each and were shot from top left corner clockwise, The center target was shot at 200 yards.

I think this load shows lots of promise, do you guys agree or not? It appears from this target and others that barrel heat affects group size.

A couple questions or more comments than anything, first, my rifle basix trigger has been woefully inconsistent, sometimes it breaks great, othertimes I have to fight through the creep.

Secondly, the 200yd target has 3/4 dialed into the scope from my 70 blitzking/varget load@3505 fps, as you can see it shoots high, without chronoing it, I believe this is a faster load. Do you all agree? The 100 yard targets had no zero alteration.

There was little to no wind tonight when I shot, I would assume the horizontal dispersion in the 200 yard group is from poor form? Any tricks to help me with that?

The remington barrel I have is finally starting to show consistency, it still copper fouls quickly and requires cleaning every 50-60 rounds to get it to shoot. I am around 200 for round count. Is this normal? My Savage was shooting great 100 rounds into it.

While im here, I am going with 3 shot groups because the load/caliber choice heats very quickly, by 20 or 25 shots even with cooling periods it was way to warm, and waiting for it to cool isnt an option all the time. 20 shots is taking me about an hour with cooling.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: Opinions needed again!

I forgot to add, I blew the high left shot in the lower right target.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Opinions needed again!

I think you might need more trigger time before you can work up an effective load. Now I don't know for sure but even with very bad loads, my groups are at least touching. I had this problem too so no biggie, we all do. Grab up some FGMM ammo and shoot it until your groups are touching and then you'll be able to truely work up loads and know that the variation is in the loads and not you. Another thing I do out of habit is that I will shoot a good group and then on another day I'll shoot the same load just to verify that it was the load and not error from me. You might try shooting 5 shot groups instead of three too. Just some thoughts..

 

[vman]

Re: Opinions needed again!

The vertical at 200 seems ok, im gathering about 1/4" difference in height from top to bottom. This to me suggests you may be onto something. If you can stretch it out to 300 or 400 I would say go for it.

Besides that, get some more trigger time and build on your form to reduce and horizontal caused by yourself.

 

[gcoulsey]

Re: Opinions needed again!

If you can, get rid of that trigger.

(didn't we discuss this a couple of weeks ago?)

My riflebasix trigger was horrible, broke anywhere between 2-4 pounds.

I swapped it out for a jewel, and it transforms the way you shoot.
Well worth the extra money IMHO

 

[usmcsniperone]

Re: Opinions needed again!

Give H4350 a try, I am using it in my TC Icon with a 87 grain v-max and it shot a .440 5 shot group at 100 yrds right out of the box. I think I had 43 grains in it.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: Opinions needed again!

We did discuss this rifle basix thing a couple weeks ago, I just dont have the 250 bucks for a new jewell like I want.

As for 5 shot groups, the gun warms far more quickly than a 308. 3 shot is working out for me, as long as I can show consistency with multiple groups Im ok with 3 shot samples.

There is no FGMM available for 243. And for that point, I have a 308 load worked up with Varget and Scenars that will shoot very well all the time at 100 yards.

I don't claim to be a good rifleman, I am getting better at what I do, I can't afford a bunch of FGMM, this is why I reload, I can't afford to shoot a bunch with factory ammo. I normally shoot paper at 100 and then shoot clay targets and steel past that, this could explain part of why I have so much horizontal at 200, all three of those rounds would have killed a clay target. I will be shooting at 200 on paper more.

 

[i_Adam_i18]

Re: Opinions needed again!

How much time do you have behind the gun? You feel confident about your shooting technique, trigger/breathing control? It's probably a pretty good load, but I have a feeling you could shrink those groups with more practice behind the gun.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: Opinions needed again!

Ive got 200 rounds down the tube of this one, ive always stuggled with group shooting, im sure I can improve, I have no doubt about that, I got a bit frusterated when people say my shooting skills are not good enough to accuracy test, I have been shooting for a dozen years now, I have grown up shooting stuff, I have confirmed hits of PD's to 500 yards, I killed one at 325 with a damn 17 HMR, I shoot clays at 400 yards for fun, and dont miss a whole lot, clays at 250 are nothing, its boring to me anymore, but to shoot a respectable group, that has always troubled me.

Don't take my rant as a "your advice isnt right" rant, but I do have some skill with a rifle.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: Opinions needed again!

And to note, every time I pull the trigger I strive to get better at it......

 

[i_Adam_i18]

Re: Opinions needed again!

I hope you don't think I was in some way bashing your shooting skills.

I think we all strive to get better every time we shoot.

the reason I was saying that you should work on trigger and breath control is because of that group in the upper right. It proves that the load you are shooting has potential to be a very accurate load, it just takes a lot of work from the shooter as well.

And like you say, groups aren't everyones bag, and in some peoples opinions aren't even a good indicator of a good marksman. Try the dot target thats on this board. It's something like 10 dots, one shot per dot, all one an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. I'm sure someone here has the link.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Opinions needed again!

QA, I don't think anyone was saying you can't shoot. Different disciplines have different strentghs. I shoot Service Rifle and can shoot an 1 1/2 group from prone (open sights, no rests). I can put my Savage on a rest and shoot a half inch group then shoot an inch and a half group next. I can sling in the Savage and shoot an inch pretty consistant. The story is that off a rest I'm still inconsistant. It's a different style, group shooting on a rest is not just about trigger and breathing, but keeping consistant pressure on all contact points on the rifle.