Range day with 12F and new components...

[Slowpoke Slim]

Well I went to the range today to try out some different load recipes for my 6.5x284. I've been shooting Berger 140 VLD's all along, but I ran out of them and no one in my part of town has any. Bruno's said they won't be back in stock until NOVEMBER!

So I went back to the Sierra 142 MK's that I tried before, without good success. I had similar results today, couple of OK groups, but with a flyer or 2.

I also tried a box of Lapua Scenars in 139 gr that I've had sitting on a shelf in my shop for over a year, since I bought the rifle. I've never tried the Scenars before.

I shot some really good groups with those. These are all 5 shot groups @ 100 yards.

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/P1050733.jpg

This one is 49.0 grs of H4831sc, bullet seated 10 thousandths off the lands and Fed match primers. Group measures .285 center to center vertical greatest spread.


http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/P1050734.jpg

This one is 50.5 grs of same recipe. Group measures .285 center to center horizontal greatest spread.

I also tried some "on" the lands

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/P1050736.jpg

Once again this is 49.0 grs same powder and primer, but on the lands. This group was .313 center to center

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/P1050737.jpg

This one was a nice one holer for first 4 shots, then I pulled the last shot, and called it pulled before I saw the target. This group was .448 center to center including the #5 pulled shot. The first 4 shots went into .178!

I think I found a suitable replacement for my Bergers! Gotta go buy some more of those Scenars. Bruno's has them in stock.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Oh, and I forgot to mention I had picked up another 100 ct box of Lapua 6.5x284 brass, in the "new" plastic box. I had heard the new brass was different on a few BR forums. I wasn't very happy when I went through it and found all the primer flash holes had burrs in them and the case mouths were all chamfered unevenly. So I had to prep all the new brass, and FL size it of course, but all was forgiven when I shot those groups.

It'll be interesting to see if the groups shrink any when the brass is once fired and neck sized, as opposed to new and FL sized.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Shot it again today. I also pulled shot number 5 three different times today. Uggh. If only I could shoot.

Maybe it's time to switch to 4 shot groups instead...

;D ;D

I did manage a 5 shot .313" group today with the 50.5 gr load "on" the lands.

[gotcha]

Slow poke, NICE shooting! And nice documentation. Have heard pros & cons on scenars and was encouraged by your results, as I'm a Berger fan too. More power to ya'