Patch700
12-12-2014, 11:42 AM
Some blank paper along with a pen and a straight edge will make good enough targets to give a reasonable aim point.. bring a small level with you to the range and try to get them as plumb and level as possible .... If you are using a Caldwell lead sled then that might be another issue , the rifle needs to have some type of repeatable movement during recoil.
To add to this , a piece of string with a weight attached can be fastened to the backer board that you are using for target hanger... When I am doing load work up for a particular caliber I will bring a sheet of butchers paper and completely cover the target frame , then I take a nail and attach it to the top of the frame so as to have something to hang a plumb line from... Then using a straight edge I will draw a line that is on the edge of the plumb line , this line should be the entire length of the target paper , followed by a horizontal line that intersects which will be used as the aim point.
At this point I can now utilize one aim point on the plumb line and start shooting the various loads to see where they stack up vertically .
Example : 3 rounds at 38 grains of powder are 2" high of aim point
3 rounds at 38.5 grains are at 2.5" high of aim point
3 rounds at 39.0 grains are at 3" high of aim point
3 rounds at 39.5 grains are at 3" high of aim point
3 rounds at 40.0 grains are at 3.2" high of aim point
3 rounds at 40.5 grains are at 2.75" high of aim point and cases are showing pressure**
At this point I can deduce that there is a "Node" at between 39 grains and perhaps 39.5 and would mean that given a temperature change or what have you , if I stay in that 39.0-39.5 range I shouldn't see too much variation in my elevation (you could say that 39.3 would be a happy medium)
If at this point you still find that your groups are not as tight as they should be horizontally then that is where the seating depth test can shrink them possibly . (powder plays with vertical and seating depth plays with horizontal given the rifle is halfway accurate)
The seating depth test is quite simply done in the same manner but with a horizontal line instead of vertical.
Good luck.
To add to this , a piece of string with a weight attached can be fastened to the backer board that you are using for target hanger... When I am doing load work up for a particular caliber I will bring a sheet of butchers paper and completely cover the target frame , then I take a nail and attach it to the top of the frame so as to have something to hang a plumb line from... Then using a straight edge I will draw a line that is on the edge of the plumb line , this line should be the entire length of the target paper , followed by a horizontal line that intersects which will be used as the aim point.
At this point I can now utilize one aim point on the plumb line and start shooting the various loads to see where they stack up vertically .
Example : 3 rounds at 38 grains of powder are 2" high of aim point
3 rounds at 38.5 grains are at 2.5" high of aim point
3 rounds at 39.0 grains are at 3" high of aim point
3 rounds at 39.5 grains are at 3" high of aim point
3 rounds at 40.0 grains are at 3.2" high of aim point
3 rounds at 40.5 grains are at 2.75" high of aim point and cases are showing pressure**
At this point I can deduce that there is a "Node" at between 39 grains and perhaps 39.5 and would mean that given a temperature change or what have you , if I stay in that 39.0-39.5 range I shouldn't see too much variation in my elevation (you could say that 39.3 would be a happy medium)
If at this point you still find that your groups are not as tight as they should be horizontally then that is where the seating depth test can shrink them possibly . (powder plays with vertical and seating depth plays with horizontal given the rifle is halfway accurate)
The seating depth test is quite simply done in the same manner but with a horizontal line instead of vertical.
Good luck.