So I re-examined the groups from my firing yesterday and did find that the annealed groups were statistically more consistent and accurate than the non-annealed; However they were still close to the average group that I fire with this rifle ( I consider 3/4 MOA a good group, 1MOA an acceptable group; 1.5 moa bad group). My fouling/warm up group (not pictured) was 1.094 inches for first 5 shots from gun using a extra set of the annealed rounds, so that would technically increase the average of the annealed group to about 0.811" . Mirage was a bit hefty during the first 4 groups but still managed to shoot well.
Let add that I accidentally left 4.5 moa vertical on the rifle when shooting the third Annealed group, so I simply left it there for the string and set back to zero for the non-annealed group, hence the reason for flipping the annealed/non-annealed in the third set. Here is picture of test groups:
Non-Annealed Groups Sizes:
1.408" Monopod
0.773" Monopod
1.127" Rear Bag
Avg: 1.103" Annealed Group Sizes:
0.688" Monopod
0.871" Monopod
0.592" Rear Bag
Avg. 0.717" Reduction in group average was 34% from Non-Annealed brass without warmup group and 15% with the warmup group and without first high shot. Even with the worst shot removed, the group sizes are consistently better with annealed brass. YMMV...
However, the interesting note is that statistically the annealed groups had a better (lower) vertical dispersion, even after tossing the high shot in the first group. But practically, the .18" difference in average is not going to be seen in the field unless shooting at least 1000k. it would amount to ~1/5 MOA variation at 1000 yds which if split between high and low, is only 1/8 min higher/lower from group center. The high shot in first group may have been me using inconsistent pressure on bipod/stock. Without the high shot, group centers would have been in the same location for all shots fired from monopod. Rear bag groups were also very similar to each other in terms of vertical and horizontal POI.
I do think annealing in a consistent manner will help brass life and possibly group size but frankly, its probably better to work on getting more consistent holds, recoil management, breathing cycle and NPA. If you shoot more tactical/steel like targets with a factory barrel, this may be the difference between hitting and missting that 1MOA steel. if your a benchrest shooter or have a custom/match barrel, you likely wouldn't see the same improvement as results would be more consistent due to better barrel like James experienced with only a 1/6 MOA difference in the opposite direction.
Anyway, numbers are just that... numbers... Im gonna get out and shoot. thats what counts, right?
Thanks to James, Rduckwor and everyone else for input on this thread!
