VarmLR

2730 too slow for what though?  It should be good enough for that high BC bullet to remain above transonic at 1000 yds.  I think I shoot mine closer to 2700fps and get some very acceptable results.  Others I shoot with have had equally good results at closer to 2800fps, but 2700 seems acceptable for informal target practice.  You get marginally less wind drift at 1000 by dropping MV from 2800fps to 2700fps which may or may not matter to you.

37.3gr N140 seems to be a good node....not much MV difference one charge up or down, low ES and low vertical dispersion.  That's the load I'd probably shoot.

Out of interest today, I included coriolis in my first shot on target at 600m, and looked at the difference without it being considered.  I'd allowed for an 8mph full wind which seemed to be spot on (it was very consistent most of the day).

For context, first shot on target on a "Macqueens 600m" target was on the outside of the 5 ring, elevation spot on (loads are consistent with lots of chrony data at various temps so confident with those and the BC has been trued by using drop at various distances).  That was with Coriolis added in. The difference without may have been just a few inches at that distance and a little higher, so in that instance with it turned off, I'd have just an inch or so further in and high which would have been closer to the V-bull in that instance.  It's probably not worth worrying about at those distances where trigger technique and wind count for a lot more.   Even if it's been an animal (and I wouldn't shoot one that distance) it would have made no difference to the outcome.

Coriolis might be something you account for within your shooting ballistic app where you're shooting long distance and are after a first shot on target...you'd include it because it is determinable  and not variable as such.  What is variable are some of the algorithms used to determine it (judging by the slight differences between various ones) and the bullet's velocity downrange.  I may be wrong, but as I understood it, the better ballistic apps allow for MV, and together with BC can determine a projectiles flight path and velocity at fixed points so some apps may well account for variations in velocity when calculating the Coriollis effect (I don't know for sure).

For target sports where you can get some sighters down-range,  it's doesn't really need considering as a few shots should see you on target, after which reading the wind has the biggest single effect (providing your loads are good and consistent).  I only include it because I use Strelock Pro has it and I've generally found that app to be spot on providing it's well enough calibrated.  I leave it on because at distance, with sighters allowed for, I've probably got more chance of mis-reading the wind effect as the app has of over-compensating for Coriolis so I don't lose sleep over it.  I have found Brian Litz to be an excellent reference and would trust his opinion over that of most on the subject unless he's proved wrong.

Another thumbs up for the Tic-Tac.  Some of this is down to personal choice and ergonomics differ between people. However, the comment about hinge strength has me scratching my head because that hinge seems rock solid and close up firmly with a pleasing "clunk".  Ergonomics I also find nigh on perfect for me.  I have a few gripes and it's the cost cutting in some areas.  For one, LOP could have been made a lot easier by having an adjustable butt plate altered with a thumb-wheel instead of those awkward shimmed plates.  The cheek piece whilst ok could have been better shaped.  Other than that I'm impressed with the quality, having had it apart a few times now, and it shoots well.

I did compare it with a few after-market chassis but tbh, they didn't offer anything much over the stock factory bar some nicer butt stock designs so I've kept mine standard and am pleased with it.

I also compared with Ruger and Sabatti.  Whilst initially impressed with Sabatti build quality, someone I know has got rid of his because it was a bit of a shocker build-wise.  Some parts didn't fit that well and corrosion set in quite rapidly.  Could have been a Friday afternoon one for sure but the T3x-TAC seemed far more polished and better made to me.  I preferred build over the Ruger too.  I'd rather have the Ruger's all-in-line design but it felt cheap compared with the T3.  Haven't yet handled the improved Ruger which by all accounts is much better.

S&B PMII 5-25 is what I've been using for LR alongside a Nightforce and Bushnell DMR.  All are good, the S&B is edge to edge sharp and with the fine PL4 ret, is very capable at 1300yds.  I looked at the higher mag ones but factoring in mirage and keeping the sight picture steady just didn't see the need for higher mags although I can well understand why bench-rest shooters might.

Using a Sinclair F-Class front bipod and no back rest for me, as I wanted to replicate loads fired in the field.  Fired about 600 rounds from this barrel and it's settled in nicely but my SD/ES has started opening up from where it was with earlier loads, so need now to re-establish an accuracy node.  Reasons may be lands going back a little or powder/primer batch variation, but whatever they are, my SD is now around 15 and ES has opened up considerably to close on 30, or double what they were for the same load. Brass batch is now 5 fired but careful attention to prep observed and FL sized every time.

On 1/18/2019 at 10:58 AM, That bald headed Geordie said:

Me strange?   Hmmmmmm,  well yes my sense of humour may not be to everyones taste.   But I don't give a monkeys left b(llock matey.

At least my Mum loved me and said I was her 'Special little boy' before leaving me on a doorstep when I was 3 months old with a letter addressed to 'to who it may concern'.    Happy days!

You are Paddington, and I claim my £5.  Got any marmalade sandwiches?

1 hour ago, That bald headed Geordie said:

I have tried to be nice and to get everyone to get along.   But no more Mr Nice Guy.

The vast majority on here are a bunch of knobs,  puffs,  pansies,  freaks,  know it alls,  tossers,  gits,  when I was in the ........,  don't you know who I am,  I can shoot the arse off a bug at ....... yards,   hit an egg at 700yds with no sighters,  spiral staircasewits,  no idea of English grammar,  cannot fekkin spell,  boring bastards,  look at me in my camo gear don't I look real tough with my rifle,  I was on the balcony honest,  look at my shiny rifle oooooh how pretty it is,   what you shoot off a front rest,  real men only need a wall and a bi pod,   If I have offended anybody......  quite frankly my dear,  I don't give a damn.      If I am banned,  quite frankly my dear I don't give a damn.     Needed to get that off my chest.   Time for a cuppa and a ginger nut.

So what are you trying to say...come on man, spit it out!? 🤣🤣🤣

You got Chris Evans round for tea then?

Dear Dr Bradders

Yes, I always had my suspicions about Bradford.  I knew a Jessie once.  He was ex navy and had just thrown someone through a pub window.  When he asked me for a fag (in the days I smoked) I naturally obliged.  I take it that I did the right thing and what he really meant wasn't somehow tied up with navy traditions and bell bottoms?

Revert!!!!!!!   I resemble that remark!

I don't really know what I want to revert to.  You see, my old man was from Sheffield, and I was born and brought up during the troubles in Enniskillen.  When we moved (ahem...a forced move strongly advised by men in suits from the ministry of funny walks in whitehall) we went daaaaan saffff....well actually we went Safff West where strong in the arm, fik in de hed was something that southern jessies from Landan accused us of being....that and drinking fermented applejuice.  My dad basically hated anyone not from Yorkshire and encouraged me not to trust anyone who didn't own a whippet and flatcap.  I grew up thinking that Yorkshire was a principality and still did until this morning.

Diggle sounds very much like my local rifle club so I'm sure I'd fit right in.  Oh....I see what I just did there...😚

World peace and dolphins 

A few too many taking themselves far too seriously.  If you can't laugh at yourselves, then we'll laugh at you for you.

I read the comments as Bradders just being his usual dry self (carry on sir ).

Come on, if this is all people have to get upset about then take it from me, you lead a bloody privileged life!

Back on thread....I rarely attend Bisely these days as its 3 hours there if traffic is kind and the same back. I always enjoy it if I'm there and it's great to see people out in numbers be that 100 yard plinking or 1000 yard comp.

 I only shoot one or two comps a year and am lucky enough to have land to shoot on, plus a local club for load dev and craic, and love shooting around the MOD ranges for longer range stuff.  Personally, I get my kicks from LR shooting by competing against  myself, trying to bring what I've learned in ballistics, load dev, technique, judging conditions etc.  I'll never be to the standards of some on here and know I have a lot to learn yet but I enjoy it in my own humble way.

Sadly, my shooting has been on hold for a few months as I've had health issues with kidney trouble and arthritis has been crippling me but I intend on getting back to it this month.

I honestly feel sometimes that what's needed is to bang heads together here, get some of you lot to kiss and make up and just get on with your lives without the need to preach and quote at each other 

I even used an emojie so you know that I'm not being serious or making rude hand jestures at you....

Dr Bradders, I need some advice from you....I'm a Northern git living in the SouthWest....is that bad?  If so, what can I do about it?

Your velocities are much greater than I  am getting with the same load but using different primers. Using the same bulet, I'm getting 2700fps with a 43.9gr load (24" barrel, Lapua SRP brass, KVB-223M primers).  My accuracy nodes were 43.4 & 43.9gr.

It does make me wonder about batch variation...that or my chrony is under-cooking the figures!  (Digital pro-chrony....all velocities measured about 2.5m in front of the muzzle).

Large primer brass?  Not sure on QL predictions for the 260...but sounds like they could be fairly hot loads given the velocities. 

I'm afraid I don't know know the answer to that but 3 months seems long enough to be chasing someone up!   The fact that a few that I know had problems with their Crusaders steered me towards the PMII when I was looking for a reliable top tier LR scope and was enough to put me off the idea of an IOR no-matter what I thought of the glass (which is excellent).

On 11/15/2018 at 12:23 PM, biged85 said:

I have been in the lucky position to test a lot of scopes recently including the IOR crusader and more recently a PM2 with LRR-Mil ret. I think I could waffle on for hours talking about them both.

 

The IOR I tested functioned flawlessly and had its features were very impressive - i.e. mag range, the amount of internal adjustment, the simplicity of the turrets etc etc. However, it was a prime example of a scope that will forever split opinion it as simple as that. (optical clarity, position of the parralax adjustment etc) but it is feature rich and performs to a high level which is where IOR gain their following.

 

On the flip side, the S&B PMII for example quite simply appeals to the masses. Everything is done in a way that satisfies peoples desires (renowned glass, functionality, heritage/reputation, huge range of options etc etc) Does this make it a better scope?

 

Not necessarily! I think this is where people get in a muddle when comparing/reviewing scopes. After all SO much is about personal preference.

 

I shall stop waffling now

We don't review scopes though...we use them.  I don't think personal preference counts for much with scopes...they're either fit for purpose or they're not.   They either measure up to your requirements, or they don't.   I have used them professionally as well as for leisure sport shooting and have always reverted to a scope that does the job in hand reliably and with the optical quality that cuts the mustard.  Feature rich scopes are like feature rich cars....mostly redundant flippery. The PM2 is popular for a reason...it has nothing that doesn't need to be there,  isn't perfect but has proved reliable the world over and with superb glass and turrets with possibly the simplest zero-stop system in existence.  It's reliable, rugged and fit for purpose.   "Better" needs definition.  Better at what?  Optical resolution?  Reliability?  Tracking error?  It's pretty good at all of those things, if not the best at any of them. The IORs divide opinion precisely because of their model specific odd colour cast (done for a reason to aid contrast in low light perhaps?) because of the thick rets and because of the so-so reliability record.  Get a good 'un and it's probably going to be the mutt's nuts.  Personally I love the way they handle and like the glass.    Get the odd Friday afternoon one and you may wish you hadn't bothered.  There seems to be a fair few conflicting opinions and that in itself puts a lot of people off especially at the price.

Mixed reports.  Glass is excellent although to my eyes it had a slightly odd colour cast (Recon).  In terms of reliability I know several shooters who had to send their Crusader scopes back following turret failures.  Personally, I found them a little chunky, fab glass though, but for me the dealbreaker was the ret thickness (Don't know if IOR now offer a fine ret but I haven't seen one).  I ended up going down the PMII  route instead with no regrets.  The other scope in the same bracket well worth a look is the new Vortex Razor Gen 2.

7 hours ago, perkin steel said:

Okkkkkkk. Use of a knife is different for different person.If someone want a for hunting, he will never buy or even think to buy a kitchen knives, so the store Perkin Knives also provide  the facility to design a knife as we want. That is the only reason for being my faviourite store.

So basically, you haven't answered s single point raised

Bye bye

On 9/24/2018 at 4:54 PM, JabaliHunter said:

 

 

 

Not even close...  ?

 

Quote

 

JabaliHunter

 

What do you want to say?

 

OK...I'll bite ?

That is the very last shape and size of knife (Looks big) that I'd choose for deerstalking.  I would also not use a nice smooth (slippery when wet) wooden (unhygenic?) handle.  Where do we start?  Blade shape is wrong...blade is too long imho for skinning duties and that deep belly may be handy for cutting up hefty lumps of meat but you woudn't insert that into an animal as a draw to part the skin without slicing up half the insides...perhaps it would be better on heffalumps? Blade thickness way too thick and heavy for my liking.

I use Moras, have a Hella Harding and a custom blade similar to the Mora but in much better steel that holds an edge far longer.

Also, there is no mention of the steel used for that knife, what the hardening and tempering process is (many Chrome Vanadium steels these days use very specialist heat treatment).

If you're attempting to sell a knife, where is the information on the knife?  Size?  Steel?  sharpening angle(s)?  Tempering process?  Handle material?  Handle fitment?  Price?

You'll need to try a little harder my friend...after all you're posting on a site with more than its fair share of seasoned hunters who know a thing or two when it comes to knife selection and use.  Also, can you state categorically, for the record, that despite what your company info states, that knife shown is made here from start to finish in the UK?

Little point in posting further really until these things have been addressed without drawing less than favourable comments.  We're a fair minded bunch as long as no-one is trying to pull the wool over our eyes and respect is given where respect is due.

T3x varmint in GRS laminate stock suits some very well indeed.  I have an older T3 in a GRS and without bedding it has resulted in an extremely comfortable LR shooting platform.

I many ways, it's more comfortable and has better ergonomics than the TAC A1, but if I had to choose just one of my rifles for LR work, it would be the TAC A1 in 6.5CM all day long.

Some previous comments on bluing etc I guess stand for most rifles.  Take care of it and it'll likely outlast you.  I wipe mine down with acf50 every now and then and it still looks brand new, all bar some minor bluing rubbing off on the mag which is what I'd exp[ect to happen with a contact point anyway.

The TAC A1 in CM had issues surrounding the lack of under-cutting of the mod thread (thread finished a few mm from the shoulder which was an unforgivable oversight by Tikka) resulting in some mods not screwing on concentrically.  I had this issues and rather than use the GMK supplied solution (compression washers) I had the thread properly undercut and to make doubly sure of zero issues, use a 30 cal mod.  Sound reduction isn't significantly affected...some slight decrease in reduction but not noticeable really,and no discernable difference in recoil.

I use the TAC for occasional field work too (not deer stalking) and its light enough imho to carry without any real issues.  I have used the T3 varmint in GRS laminate for deer stalking, heavy that it is, and as long as you're not tabbing miles back with a deer in tow, it's perfectly fine.

Quite simply, it could well be that the load doesn't suit your rifle as I'm assuming that Matt can't really load develop for customers due to practicalities.  There is one other trick left to try.  Find out who shoots this bullet with your barrel length and twist and find what load they developed for it.  Then ask Matt to try the same providing it is within safe parameters.  The bullet is very jump tolerant so keeping it to mag length will be fine.  FWIW my accuracy load is 24.6gr RS50 and the same for N140 both seated to mag length for a 26 inch 1/8 twist 223..

Other than that, try other factory loads at 200 and 300 yds.  If you get one that out performs the one you have then it rules out kit issues and confirms load issues.

10 hours ago, bradders said:

Correct, although I will add that match grade bullets will always shoot better than open base FMJ types, you do need good quality heavy bullets to get the best out of your rifle at the longer distances and some of my best performances with .223 from 600-1000yds have always been shot with 80gn JLk VLDs

Yes.  People often beat themselves up about group sizes and chase tiny ES figures getting really anal about reloading, paying scant attention to bullet choice.  It's not just important, it's critical, especially where shooting in competition, to pick the right bullet.

We were shooting 600m today and several were using 20 inch .223's with 77gr smks.  No shortage of Vee bulls.  Light winds helped, but so did using the right twist with 77gr smks driven reasonably hard which was all that was needed to place a good percentage in the "4" ring.  By contrast, those of us using 6.5s were landing about the same proportion in the veebull( and that is exactly what should be expected from 6.5s!).  223 is more than capable at 600yds...it's pushing out much beyond that where it can get very sketchy, very quickly, with slower twist rifles and lighter, shorter bullets, especially when wind is thrown into the equation.

As Mark says above, at 600, on a reasonable day on a flat range, to scatter 223's across the target would suggest that something, somewhere, is not right.  I would argue that perhaps the 69smk is not ideal at that range...the 77gr HPBT being by far the better choice.  I would suggest that rather than a kit issue it could perhaps be a combination bullet and trigger technique where the spotlight should fall.  As an example, when dropping a large proportion of 6.5s into the centre, I wondered what effects at that range that slight trigger technique changes would make. I deliberately altered my trigger pull a little, and reckon that whilst still concentrating on the sight picture, breathing and body position, by adapting a technique change such as gripping a little firmer with the thumb on the grip or pulling the trigger with a slightly fuller reach, in both cases it opened up groups from around 4 or 5 inches to around 8 (ie from centre ring to 4 ring).  It also pulled them off a little to one side.  That was deliberate but still trying to keep things steady.  Don't under estimate the importance of both bullet choice and technique...both play a huge part in consistency and precision.

Compressed loads?  Seems like quite a high charge.  I know that 260 rem has a little more case capacity than Creedmoor but effective case capacity is similar as the bullets tend to be seated deeper.  At 44.6gr I'm into quite compressed loads with the Creedmoor.  I'd expect 2800fps at between 42,5 and 43gr RS62 in the CM with large primer brass so not at all surprised that you're getting those velocities...seems like quite high pressure loadings? If so, I'd be backing right off!

I'd agree with the above.  Try it again at 300 yds after cleaning as this should dispel any worries about the scope, but maybe worth also doing a scope tracking test as well.  I've had something similar at Century when shooting 69TMKs.  Slight weather change threw what started as reasonable grouping from my sub 2800fps load all over the shop despite terminal velocity being theoretically well above transonic.

You don't mention whether you had a mod fitted or not (assume not?).  If you did, had this come loose?

Yes, that's a fair point.  I tried some when the stuff first came out was quite impressed but I think that ACF just has the edge and it cleans up slightly rusted areas better.  

No snakes were used in the making of this ?

ACF50 (as you should know as a biker) is also very good indeed, if pricey.

Here's a link to a controlled test where many such products were evaluated. https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/the-best-motorcycle-corrosion-protectants/tested-xcp-rust-blocker-corrosion-protectant-review