New Competition Rifle

[Ronin]

Andy,

 

Straight outta box from factory 5r Border?

 

JR

 

 

JR

 

Now counted lands - I appear to be one short!

 

 

Nothing I can do now, anyway, it still shoots...

[Redfox]

There is a promotional video showing the AW barrel change, I put a link to it in an earlier post on here. They go right through it changing barrels etc, then he shows you the target hes been shooting, that is impressive, cant rmrmber the group size but it is very small.!!

Redfox

[Guest Black Dog]

The main difference is the AE is a round action, the AW a square action.

 

The AE uses a V block center spine chassis (like the AI Rem 700 conversions) the AW has purpose fitted aluminium chassis that is permanently bonded and bolted to it.

 

Barrel changes with the AW are a matter of twist on and twist off, barrels for the AE are a gunsmith fit.

 

No difference in accuracy, but durability,,, well the AW wins hands down.

 

Thanks Andy, the price difference makes more sense now.

 

Pete

[Ronin]

Weather forecast good for tomorrow,

 

Ladder test at 300yds for H380, H414 and Varget, also have ten rounds of Vit 140 (45g and 46g loads) to try - all with 155g Silver Scenars.

 

 

He he he !

[6mmBR]

Hi Andy cracking rifle. As I answered in another post to you N550 is the way to go with the scenars to get 2900fps. I think you may struggle to hit these figures with N150, you will encounter pressure problems first.

Let us know how you get on with your tests.

Cheers

Dave

[Ronin]

Dave Vit 150 and 550 V difficult to get hold of, have Afthab on the case at present (Reloading Solutions)

[6mmBR]

Hi Andy, thankfully we've had no problems down here getting hold of powder.

Are you going to the midland game fair? You may pick some up there from Norman Clarkes.

01766579651

N550 is great it is a high energy powder based around N150 it produces higher velocities with lower chamber pressure than N150.

I use it with great results in .308,6.5x47Lapua and my .22-250 Ackley Improved.

Cheers

Dave

[Ronin]

Right then, Ladder Test results.

 

Firstly, however, I would like to say a BIG thankyou to all who contacted me about Vit 150 and 550 as I am unable to source any locally - guys, I may not need it now

 

It was a blustery afternoon on the range, the sun was warm, the flies aplenty and the craich good.

 

I was joined by a fellow forum member with a 6.5x284 of German origin that shot very well indeed.....

 

 

Anyway to business,

 

I set up the test using 3 main powders, H380, H414 and Varget. I chose 414 and 380 as they are as close to Vit 150 and 550 as I could find although that powder is like the Holy Grail "upt'north"

 

I also took with me 5 rounds of 45g Vit 140 and 5 rounds of 46g Vit 140, a load which a friend in the US gave me, who aslo has an AI.

 

Now the H380 loads were made in .3grain increments from 47.0g up to 49.7g - all being compressed loads. (Max load in Sierra is 48.7g)

The H414 were made from 48.2g up to 50.9g again mostly compressed loads. (Max load in Sierra is 49.5g)

 

Varget - 45.1g through to 48.1g, just about not compressed! (Max load in Sierra is 44.8g)

 

 

I had already cleaned up the necks of the Lapua cases to attain concentricity (necks cleaned by about 230 degress only) the cases were then deburred and resized with Redding Comp S Dies with a .340" bushing.

 

 

Once we had set up my willing helpers rifle, I set about re-zeroing the AW at 130yards on a 2 MOA target patch with the 5 rounds of 45g Vit 140. (I must explain now, that in my haste to set up the rifle, I had inadvertantly put the mounts on the wrong way round - no excuses but the AI mounts are not marked - yup stupid I know) So I bore sighted the rifle again and started shooting, it was way high. The 45g charge was sending the 155g Silver Scenars on their way at 3118FPS with no sign of pressure. I managed to get "on" with the last of these bullets at a point three low and to the left of the orange spot.

 

Now I was somewhere near (but having no idea how that load was grouping, I ajusted the MIL scale on the sight to what I thought would be on the spot and fired the 46g Vit load again 155 Silver Scenars. I thought I was seeing things when only ONE hole appeared for five shots, the Oehler stated that the Scenars were wizzing along at an ave of 3153fps with an ES of 24! - Then I started kicking myself for not taking more so I could test at 300 yds

 

The 130yds Vit 140 group:

 

 

I didn't have my vernier calipers there but the hole was maybe just double 30 cal

 

My willing assistant was then dispached to the 300yard (278yds actually) target to mark each shot for the three powder charges in the ladder test.

 

He was safely hidden beind a steep earth bank and had 50yards of Lancashire topsoil as a safe barrier if anyone has concerns.

 

Anyway results for H380:

 

A1 - 47.3g = 2975fps

B2 - 47.6g = 2956fps

C3 - 47.9g = 3003fps

D4 - 48.2g = 3021fps

E5 - 48.5g = 3017fps

F6 - 48.8g = 3052fps

G7 - 49.1g = 3069fps

H8 - 49.4g = 3092fps

I9 - 49.7g = 3099fps

 

 

Results for H414

 

A1 - 48.2g = 2992fps

B2 - 48.5g = 3034fps

C3 - 48.8g = 3039fps

D4 - 49.1g = 3048fps

E5 - 49.4g = 3062fps

F6 - 49.7g = 3041fps

G7 - 50g = 3088fps

H8 - 50.3g = 3081fps

I9 - 50,6g = 3100fps

J10 - 50.9g = 3129fps

 

Varget

 

A1- 45.1g = 3063fps

B2 - 45.4g = 3058fps

C3 - 45.7g = 3089fps

D4 - 46.1g = 3116fps

E5 - 46.4g = 3126fps

F6 - 46.8g = 3159fps

G7 - 47.1g = 3179fps

H8 - 47.4g = 3215fps

I9 - 47.8g = 3220fps

J10 - 48.1g = 3231fps

 

The targets? Well you may notice that there is only 9 shots from H380, I chrono'd the first round, which was 47g and found it to be 2967fps, I wanted to be somewhere near target (point of aim) at 300 so I entered this fig with the BC od scenars into Exbal on site - I got a comeup of .8 MIL - I entered this figure into the scope and left it alone, the aim point for each set of powder was the 10 ring.

 

The target pics:

 

 

H380 and H414

 

 

 

Varget

 

 

 

Conclusions?

 

 

Well I would firstly say that H414 and to a lesser degree Varget are not what I am looking for, both powders give me the velocity, but there are no real accuracy "nodes" with H414. Varget shows a node at loads I9 and J10.

 

H380, appears quite suitiable , loads D4, E5 and F6 form a .500" cluster- which I am sure would if I loaded five rounds of each weight :

 

D4 - 48.2g = 3021fps

 

E5 - 48.5g = 3017fps

 

F6 - 48.8g = 3052fps

 

 

would give lovely small groups and Vit 140 certainly deserves further experimentation the ave velocity being 3153fps and an ES of 24 means excellent potential right out to and beyond 1000yds.

 

 

So further load development on H380 and Vit 140 it is then,

 

A very pleasing day and a big thankyou to my assistant

 

 

The rifle ; xxkin awesome

[Jager SA]

Right then, Ladder Test results.

 

Firstly, however, I would like to say a BIG thankyou to all who contacted me about Vit 150 and 550 as I am unable to source any locally - guys, I may not need it now

 

It was a blustery afternoon on the range, the sun was warm, the flies aplenty and the craich good.

 

I was joined by a fellow forum member with a 6.5x284 of German origin that shot very well indeed.....

Anyway to business,

 

I set up the test using 3 main powders, H380, H414 and Varget. I chose 414 and 380 as they are as close to Vit 150 and 550 as I could find although that powder is like the Holy Grail "upt'north"

 

I also took with me 5 rounds of 45g Vit 140 and 5 rounds of 46g Vit 140, a load which a friend in the US gave me, who aslo has an AI.

 

Now the H380 loads were made in .3grain increments from 47.0g up to 49.7g - all being compressed loads. (Max load in Sierra is 48.7g)

The H414 were made from 48.2g up to 50.9g again mostly compressed loads. (Max load in Sierra is 49.5g)

 

Varget - 45.1g through to 48.1g, just about not compressed! (Max load in Sierra is 44.8g)

I had already cleaned up the necks of the Lapua cases to attain concentricity (necks cleaned by about 230 degress only) the cases were then deburred and resized with Redding Comp S Dies with a .340" bushing.

Once we had set up my willing helpers rifle, I set about re-zeroing the AW at 130yards on a 2 MOA target patch with the 5 rounds of 45g Vit 140. (I must explain now, that in my haste to set up the rifle, I had inadvertantly put the mounts on the wrong way round - no excuses but the AI mounts are not marked - yup stupid I know) So I bore sighted the rifle again and started shooting, it was way high. The 45g charge was sending the 155g Silver Scenars on their way at 3118FPS with no sign of pressure. I managed to get "on" with the last of these bullets at a point three low and to the left of the orange spot.

 

Now I was somewhere near (but having no idea how that load was grouping, I ajusted the MIL scale on the sight to what I thought would be on the spot and fired the 46g Vit load again 155 Silver Scenars. I thought I was seeing things when only ONE hole appeared for five shots, the Oehler stated that the Scenars were wizzing along at an ave of 3153fps with an ES of 24! - Then I started kicking myself for not taking more so I could test at 300 yds

 

The 130yds Vit 140 group:

 

 

I didn't have my vernier calipers there but the hole was maybe just double 30 cal

 

My willing assistant was then dispached to the 300yard (278yds actually) target to mark each shot for the three powder charges in the ladder test.

 

He was safely hidden beind a steep earth bank and had 50yards of Lancashire topsoil as a safe barrier if anyone has concerns.

 

Anyway results for H380:

 

A1 - 47.3g = 2975fps

B2 - 47.6g = 2956fps

C3 - 47.9g = 3003fps

D4 - 48.2g = 3021fps

E5 - 48.5g = 3017fps

F6 - 48.8g = 3052fps

G7 - 49.1g = 3069fps

H8 - 49.4g = 3092fps

I9 - 49.7g = 3099fps

Results for H414

 

A1 - 48.2g = 2992fps

B2 - 48.5g = 3034fps

C3 - 48.8g = 3039fps

D4 - 49.1g = 3048fps

E5 - 49.4g = 3062fps

F6 - 49.7g = 3041fps

G7 - 50g = 3088fps

H8 - 50.3g = 3081fps

I9 - 50,6g = 3100fps

J10 - 50.9g = 3129fps

 

Varget

 

A1- 45.1g = 3063fps

B2 - 45.4g = 3058fps

C3 - 45.7g = 3089fps

D4 - 46.1g = 3116fps

E5 - 46.4g = 3126fps

F6 - 46.8g = 3159fps

G7 - 47.1g = 3179fps

H8 - 47.4g = 3215fps

I9 - 47.8g = 3220fps

J10 - 48.1g = 3231fps

 

The targets? Well you may notice that there is only 9 shots from H380, I chrono'd the first round, which was 47g and found it to be 2967fps, I wanted to be somewhere near target (point of aim) at 300 so I entered this fig with the BC od scenars into Exbal on site - I got a comeup of .8 MIL - I entered this figure into the scope and left it alone, the aim point for each set of powder was the 10 ring.

 

The target pics:

H380 and H414

 

Varget

 

Conclusions?

Well I would firstly say that H414 and to a lesser degree Varget are not what I am looking for, both powders give me the velocity, but there are no real accuracy "nodes" with H414. Varget shows a node at loads I9 and J10.

 

H380, appears quite suitiable , loads D4, E5 and F6 form a .500" cluster- which I am sure would if I loaded five rounds of each weight :

 

D4 - 48.2g = 3021fps

 

E5 - 48.5g = 3017fps

 

F6 - 48.8g = 3052fps

would give lovely small groups and Vit 140 certainly deserves further experimentation the ave velocity being 3153fps and an ES of 24 means excellent potential right out to and beyond 1000yds.

So further load development on H380 and Vit 140 it is then,

 

A very pleasing day and a big thankyou to my assistant

The rifle ; xxkin awesome

 

 

Ive got a bloody headhache!

 

 

 

Kal

[ds1]

Hi Andy,

 

Now that you have let the cat out of the bag I thought the mount belonged in the priceless collection.......you know 4k rifle, 1.5K optic, 120 quid mount......arse about face assembly "PRICELESS".

 

.......mind you it does not look like any other muppets noticed it.

 

Just for fun take a bit of S&B factory ammo with you next time - the 168grain Sierra MK loaded stuff. It has done surprsingly well in two AI rifles I know of.....one of them being mine. The powder they use in it is AA2015 by another name, with a modest load of 40.5 grains.

 

I will be trying to find a 155 grain Scenar load with AA2015 as well.

 

David.

[6mmBR]

Glad to see it working out, you seem to be getting good velocities there, ?any pressure signs?

It will be interesting to see what she's like when you come to group testing.

Best of luck and keep us informed.

Dave

[Ronin]

David

 

i'll see if I can source some Accurate Arms powder here to try as it may make thinks easier "over there"

 

If you look here http://home.hiwaay.net/~stargate/powder/powder.htm, the AA 2015 (#135) is way faster than Vit 140 so may not be suitable for the 155 Scenars, however AA2700 (#186) may well be as that is one powder slower than V140 on the burn rate stakes so just about identical.

 

I'll see if I can source some S&B ammo here to try - any takers on who stocks it?

 

Glad I made you giggle, but felt that everyone else should know too...

 

 

Dave,

 

there were no pressure signs to speak of, (cratered primers, bolt face imprint etc) the loads at the upper end of each Poder set were showing a diminished headstamp print (the LAPUA stamp was not as easy to read) but nothing that caused me concerns. Not sure how many reloadings these cases will see - estimate 5 - 6 only

 

Bear in mind that these bullets are moly coated (Silver Scenars) and so powder charges can be a little higher than normal - I guess that I wouldn't have achieved the velocities I did with "naked" bullets.

 

Aggreed, I will be going back to try ten rounds of each chosen powder charge (H380 and V140) at 100 and 300 for accuracy testing later in the week and then reach out a little further.

[ds1]

Hi Andy,

 

I had a look on the powder chart. AA2520 is fairly close to V140 and I have some but last test with it, with 155 grain scenars 44, 44.5, 45 grains were not good (about two thirds moa). Later I will have a look on Quickload and see if I can stuff enough AA XMR 4350 in a case to make it worth trying - expect not.

 

David.

[Ronin]

David

 

 

iv'e been on the AA website (american version) their loads for 308 (155g) are in the main compressed, i'll see if I can get hold of some 2015 to try as the predicted velocity is in the area I would like to get and if that is all that is available in CZ then i'll have to see if I can make it work as already discussed.

 

 

Baldie

 

no nickin my loads now for your 308 cannon

[Ronin]

I took the day off work today as I felt like doing some load development for the AW.

 

 

I used new Lapua brass as before, only slightly turned for concentricity, chamfered and resized in Redding comp dies.

 

 

I loaded the rounds with the following powders, using Lapua Silver Scenars (155g)

 

3 x Vit 140 - 46g

 

3 x Accurate Arms 2015, 41.5g, 42.0g and 42.5g.

 

3 x Accurate Arms 2520, 46.5g, 47.0g and 47.5g.

 

3 x Hodgen 380, 48.2g, 48.5g and 48.8g.

 

 

All were shot at 100 yards, i'll post photo of groups later - had a problem with the camera, the data card decided to throw a wobbler

 

 

The better loads will be obvious to see:

 

 

 

 

 

41.5g of AA2015, 2773fps, 2761fps, 2768fps (ES of 12)

 

42.5g of AA2015, 2870fps, 2847fps, 2844fps. (ES of 26)

 

 

46.5g of AA2520, 3056fps, 3044fps, 3045fps. (ES of 12) interesting to note that AA's website lists this load as max velocity = 2809fps!

 

 

48.8g of H380 2832fps, 2821fps, 2843fps. (ES of 22) Bottom row of three RHS

 

46g of Vit 140, 2929fps, 2916fps, 2934fps. (ES of 18)

 

 

The rifle was shot from a machine front rest on a picnic table, so not ideal, which may be the reason for the odd flier - i'm not sure, but it wasn't as steady as my usual bench, thats for sure.

 

It certainly is showing potential but, having got an idea of what the best loads (most accurate) were doing at 100. I reloaded 5 of each (Vit 140 and AA 2015, 2520) with the intention of seeing how they shot at distance.

 

 

I'd taken a press with me attached to a workmate and resized the cases only before priming and reloading "on the hoof" out of the back of the landie.

[Ronin]

I then set up this target at 400 yards.

 

 

 

The sun was pretty low by this time and after i'd walked back to the FP and got set up, I saw that it was playing silly buggers with the scope, (you can see flare in the zeiss lens of the camera).

 

 

The top target is a styalised sniper, the middle and lower are 2 inch orange "blobs"

 

 

I would have set up at 500, but as there is a new bull in that field, with large horns and an angry stare, I thought that 400 was the best option

 

Looking back to the FP from the target (its the left hand edge of the crest of the field with sheep in):

 

 

 

I stupidly had also set up the target in from of a reed bed, so the lower most orange blob was obscured which I didn't realise untill I got back to the FP and as the sun was setting lower by the minute, i didn't have any option but to fire all 15 shots in fairly quick succession.

 

All off bipod, no rear bag, supported by hand only.

 

 

Anyway, pressing on, I shot the Vit 140 first - five rounds at the orange blob (snipers head) I dialled in 1.8 MIL elevation (from an ave 2926fps taken from Exbal) but left the windage alone, the wind was blowing L-R at an ave of 5.4mph gusting to 9mph. (I wanted to see how much the Scenars were affected by the wind and if the predicted 10 inches of movement was correct (at 9mph) or 5.7" at the average of 5.4MPH wind)

 

 

 

 

You can see that Exbal is pretty much on for windage prediction but a little high on elevation, should have dialed in .1MIL less for this load.

 

Apart from the one flier (which put the group at 4 inch (MOA) the closer 4 shots are under 2 inches (half MOA) - so OK

 

 

Next up is 46.5g of AA 2520.

 

Ave 3048fps - Exbal predicted 1.6MIL drop, again, I did not bother with windage ajustment.

 

 

These fell into 5 inches - not what I want , possibly the group was poor because I was affected by flare from the sun as I was shooting.

 

Bottom target was obscured by the reeds so I placed the upper .5 mil subtension on the middle target effectivly aiming low, but using the midlle orange blob as the reference POA (point of aim)

 

42.5g of AA 2015

 

Ave 2848fps, Exbal predicted 1.9MIL elevation.

 

 

 

Like the Vit 140, these show promise, not fantastic group at 4" (MOA) but due to aiming off and the sun being a pain, I think that they would have shot a closer pattern if not affected by the aforementioned factors.

 

I'll persist with the 155g Silver Scenars, as I think they will shoot well with AA 2520, 2015 and Vit 140, but i'll also be testing loads with 167g Silver Scenars and 175g SMK next time. The 400yard test was done under less than ideal circs for me (the shooter) as squinting at a setting sun, does not make a happy relaxed rifleman, without being over critical, these are reasonable results for now.

 

The 155g have shown real promise, especially with Vit 140

 

 

 

 

 

But as I need to find a bullet that will do that with AA powder as i'm off to Cezlovakia in October to a military competition, other bullet weights need trying.

 

 

 

Life would be very dull if things were always easy

[Ronin]

Had the opportunity to get to the range again for further testing of the Lapua Scenars in 155g moly / naked and 167g moly under AA2015 ans AA2520.

 

I am sticking with this powder and bullet combination for now as that is what's available over in CZ when I go to a competition next month for 4 days.

 

I loaded 5 rounds of each bullet / powder weight in the folllowing combinations:

 

155g Scenar Moly - 41.5g AA2015

 

155g Scenar Non Moly - 41.5g AA2015

 

The above shot the tightest group when I tested them last time and I wanted to try non moly coated with the same powder charge to see what the velocity / grouping difference was.

 

167g Scenars (Moly)

 

AA2015 - 40g, 40.5g, 41g.

 

AA2520 - 44.5g, 45g, 45.5g, 46g.

 

 

The above are taken from AA Reloading data - Max load is bold.

 

I set up on the picnic table as it was too wet to get to the bench - no excuses, but it isn't the most stable "rest":

 

 

 

The results:

 

 

 

The top two groups are 155g - moly on left (ave 2806fps / ES 18) non moly on right (ave 2788fps / ES 20). The first shot on LH group is the one at 5 o'clock and if this isn't counted its just over .5 MOA.

 

 

2nd Row, AA2015 and 167 Scenars, best group is centre with 40.5g (ave 2649fps / ES23) and just .5 MOA.

 

3rd Row AA2520 not great groups, velocity circa 2797fps to 2896fps / ES from 32 to 46 - I concluded the rifle doesn't like AA2520 in this bullet combination.

 

 

So I loaded ten of the two better powder combinations and set up at 400 yrds with the same target as two weeks ago - I marked the shots with pen so there was no confusion.

 

The loads were:

 

10 x 41.5g AA2015 - 155g Silver Scenar - 2806fps.

 

10 x 40.5g AA2015 - 167g Silver Scenar - 2649 fps

 

I also took the 6.5x284 (I had it with me anyway) and used 9 cases that I had left over from a comp three months ago loaded with 140g Berger (2900 fps)

 

 

 

Yup that white spec in the top RH corner of the green field is "only" 400 yds away

 

I set up the target in a similar position to last time and walked back to the FP, when I got there, I checked the wind, it was gusty (min 8mph, max 15 and averaging 12.6mph coming from 10o'clock.

 

 

I entered the figures for the 155g load into Exbal and altered the scope (2.0MIL elevation and .80MIL windage)

 

Remembering last time my shots went high last time I wound .1 MIL off (should have been more )

 

Fired ten one after the other and reloaded with the 167g ers.

 

The wind remained the same, I entered the figures for these into Exbal and was given the following ajustment - 2.40MIL elevation and 1.0MIL windage. Which I dialled in to the scope.

 

I then fired the ten rounds at the middle target one after the other, noting that holes were appearing near to the orange blob.

 

Time to try the 6.5x284 on the lower target, I checked the wind again - it was averaging 12.4mph but still gusty.

 

 

Have to go to a new page

[Ronin]

I altered the scope for the ajustments on Exbal (6 MOA elevation and 2.25 windage)

 

I fired the 9 shots one after the other and noticed a group appear on the left hand upper edge of the lower target, I laso noticed that the cartridges were sticky to extract and showed signs of primer cratering. Now this load usually is easy to extract and shows no pressure - I can only think that as they have been sat for a couple of months (something relatively unknown for me to have unfired rounds ) they bullet / brass interface has become "sticky" - (I think someone else mentioned this phenomenon in another post recently)

 

 

Anyway, here's the target - upper 155g scenars , middle 167g scenars and lower 140g bergers from the "284"

 

 

This is the target with last weeks shots blocked out so its clearer where yesterdays went (bit primitive editing sorry)

 

 

Closer inspection:

 

Upper, well I missed, plain and simple, obviously too much elevation and if you look carefully, one can see thre score marks about two inches along the RH top of the ply wood where they have just contacted. I didn't see this (black board and holes don't mix)

 

 

Middle - 167g scenars

 

Well theyr'e ok, what I want is predicability at unkown distance targets for the CZ comp and if they shoot as Exbal predicts, then this is the load i'll use, the group measures .75 MOA (just over 3 inches) which under the weather conditions is acceptable - for now...

 

 

 

 

6.5 x284, once again the rifle continues to pleasantly surprise me, a nice group bar the one "flier" (me) measures just over 2" not counting the flier and 3 inch with it. What did concern me was the increased pressure with loads that had been in "store" for a while. The bergers are pretty much bob on (usualy), I expected to be on the orange blob but the increased (I think) velocity has lifted them and this has I think caused them to go left, (bucking the wind even more)

 

 

 

Like I said at the start, the intention of this "test" is to find a load for a comp in Europe with limited component availability, when I return, I will be trying other powder, bullet combinations as I'm sure the AI will shoot even better, I know of other rifles that shoot one hole groups all day and i'm sure mine is no exception, I just need to persevere.

 

 

Hope this isn't becoming boring

[varminter]

Not boring andy , find it very interesting and thanks for keeping us updated ;)

Looks like that 6.5-284 has the edge , especially with those high BC berger bullets!!

Keep us posted and thanks for sharing your results

All the very best................

RAY................................. :D

[Ronin]

Just to finish you all off, here's the last of the "tales of the AI" for a short while anyway

 

I believe in telling honest reports so there are no "look at my fantastic first groups" from the tenth attempt here

 

I had'nt had time to make up anymore rounds since going to a shoot at pickering a few weeks ago, so armed with ten 167g Scenars, I made the trip to my range the other day to "stretch it out a bit" and see if the computed drop (in Exbal) related to the actual drop. My impending trip abroad is looming and due to work and family pressures, I won't have much time bettween now and when I go to do any further testing - the buck is going to stop here,,,,,,

 

Arriving at my range, I had a chat to my mate who 's farm it is and we shot a few rounds with his .223 experimenting with some 75g Bergers and Varget - never seem a 3 ft group before

 

I guess the 1-10 twist isn't suitiable

 

Anyway, it was about that time that I noticed something missing from my bag - yup, no bloody 308 ammo, so leaving the farm wihen there is no wind, kind of upset me, and well,,,,within the hour I was back, to be met with a gusty 6mph average breeze coming from 5 o'clock, not nice for groups.

 

In order to get out to 700 - which is about the max I can go (without setting up on a trailer bed when I can just about push 900), I have to negotiate a field with a large bull, with big pointy horns,,,,,,,,discretion being the better part of valour, I took the quad and set up the target near the fencline, but far enough off so that there was no risk of cut wire and ricochet..

 

 

I put a piece of paper in the top right corner to cover up existing holes and you can see a group in the lower middle RHS edge.

 

The target by the way is 48inches tall by 18 inches across.

 

This is the view looking back to the firing point - the small field to the right of the Spruce trees and the top right hand corner is where I set up on my return to the firing point.

 

 

 

 

Return to FP and view to target (which you cant see as its so small )

 

 

 

The Skymate read an average of 6.4mph R to L from 5 o'clock.

 

I measured the target in MILS and working out with the MilDot Master, estimated it to be 690 yards, however when I checked it with multiple hits from the Swarowski LRF, I found it to be a constant 720 yards.

 

So with this in mind, I entered, the figures into EXBAL and was given the following ajustments 6.2 MIL elevation 0.6 MIL lead (161" drop and 16" drift)

 

Not much room for error then eh?

 

 

I Fired five shots at the second orange dot from the bottom, I didn't expect to see hits at that range (and couldn't)

 

Whilst I was firing the first five off bipod and prone - no rear support other than hand, I thought I would see if the wind had changed.

 

It had and was now blowing 4 mph.

 

As I had only 5 rounds left, I left the elevation alone and took .2 MIL off the windage to compensate for the reduced wind again no idea what the wind was doing mid point and at the target as there are no flags or trees in bettween.

 

 

Aiming at the lower orange blob, I fired another five in quick succession.

 

Drove back to the target to see this:

 

 

No hits on the upper first five, they all missed by four inches too much windage (RHS) - I cannot say if there was a group or not but there was a impact hole about twenty feet behind the target in the rising bank. I'd like to think they were "on" but my windage was incorrect.

 

.1 MIL at this range equates to 2.5 inches of impact travel

 

 

The lower five shots:

 

 

 

They were all withing two inch spread elevation (showing that the load has very low ES) and just a smidgen over 7 inches so just MOA. As I say I supported the butt with free hand and shot off the bipod so overall, I didn't think this group was too bad.

 

However,,, all shots were 15 inches LOWER than Exbal predicted - why?

 

Well as iv'e said before, factory BC's are often higher than they are in REALITY.

 

 

When I got home I had a play with the BC of the 167 Scenars and found that if I changed from the predicted BC of .470 to the ACTUAL BC of .410, the dial in drop is exactly on target with the bullet strike.

 

 

This correlated to the earlier target shot at 400yards as the 10 shot group was slightly low indicating that the BC wasn't all as Lapua make out for this bullet.

 

 

So, I have a load (well one thats OK anyway), I have the rifle, can I "do good" at the comp?