.5" @ 100 yards- 6" @ 200?

[hntntigguy]

And to think I had some good ideas for you to check on-only to find out you already do and are as anal as I when it comes to details. :) If you had only posted those pics of the groups from the Mossberg earlier, I'd have suggested to sell your Stevens and shoot the Mossberg! Good luck shooting on Sunday.

[DGD6MM]

matt, the 39.5 I believe is MAX and it came out of my IMR reloading manual. My Lee manual shows 34-38 grains, so whatever you do please double check the numbers for yourself. First hand knowledge is always best. Another powder may also be the ticket, I'm only guessing here. Varget has always worked for me with a 100 grain bullet in a Savage .243. I hope this helps.

[MissedAgain]

For the original poster, have you actually checked the twist on your barrel to see if its what you think it is? Reading all the responses, it sounds like a bullet stabilization issue. Definitely try a different bullet at the same distance. Check the overall length of the bullet you're using and load another brand of the same weight range thats shorter and see if it helps.

[POP]

little trick I was taught was to rotate the case when seating. I usually run the shell through the seating die, then rotate the case 90 degrees and run it a second time. It's been working for me on my 260 until I can get a set of redding comp dies for it. Something to think about.

HcP


+1!

[trappst]

I've been following this one to see what you figure out.....my thoughts (FWIW)

1. It's the load - cocentricity of loaded rounds, FPS variations (got any chrono data?)

2. Scope parallax - not sure if you have front AO or side focus but the yardages on the scope don't necessarily correspond with the point where the parallax is gone....at least that hasn't been the case for me.

Good luck!

[mattri]

Just got back from range. Conditions were perfrect, no wind and had the range to myself. Only thing that could have been better was the angle of the sun, it was early here and the sun was in my eyes.

Checked Parallax, it was fine. Set up the way I always do, same bench. Was very particular with mechanics. All loads were within .001 COL, rotated the case while seating to keep them straight.

Shot the same load first, 35grns of IMR 4064 for a baseline. It was all over the place again.

36grns were better, about 2".

37 was the winner. I'll have to fine tune now but its a place to start.
http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab333/rritchie1027/GEDC0660.jpg

[DGD6MM]

Looks like your on to something. ;)

[trappst]

Well all be darned! A great example of "shoot it at the range ya intend to use it"!!!!

Kinda makes me curious as to why though.....bullet losing stability as the fps drops off maybe?

[mattri]

That's what I'm going with. The 35grn charge is great at 100 yards but terrible at 200. The 36grn charge was better but the 37 was the best. Guess the heavier bullet slows down fast enough to become erratic at longer ranges. Now that I have a 200 yard load I'll see what it does at 300.

What's interesting is that the load I use in the .270 is accurate from 100-500 yards.

[Eric in NC]

I would think that means your bullet is REALLY borderline for your barrel - might want to find a shorter/lighter one to work with...

[mattri]

I've received a lot of replies both ways. Some say the 100s are too big, some say they shoot 105s and 107s at long ranges with the same barrel. Going to have to load some more up and see how they do at longer ranges.

[joeb33050]

My Striker, 308 Win, 10" twist, with 16/IMR4227 and a 200 grain cast bullet shoots under 2" average 100 yard sets of 5 groups. At 200 yards it shoots into 5-6 feet, last summer when I had the chance to shoot at 200 yards. With 18 or 20 grains of the same powder, the same bullet shot into ~6" for just a few groups.
I've never figured out what was happening. Will try again this summer when we go north.
joe b.

[DGD6MM]

Don't let anyone fool you a 100 grain bullet will shoot in a 9.25 twist .243 barrel accurately, period.