Range day with 12F and new components...

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.

[img width=600 height=450]http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/P1050733.jpg[/img]

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.


[img width=600 height=450]http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/P1050734.jpg[/img]

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

[img width=600 height=450]http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/P1050736.jpg[/img]

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

[img width=600 height=450]http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/P1050737.jpg[/img]

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.

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.

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.

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'