Reloader 15

[dnuke146]

So been playing around with Reloader 15 and 178 grain Amax's out of my 10 FCP 308. Tested in .2 increments from 43.0 to 45.0 Stopped at 44.8 when I blew a primer and figured that was probably a little too hot, settled on 43.4 grains as it was the most accurate 5 shot group and didn't show pressure signs. Chrono three shots, 2707, 2707 and 2715 and then go shoot out to 600 yards 10 to 20 mph headwind, Half MOA all the way out, and realizing that weighing each charge is paying off. Go home and clean barrel real well, for both carbon and copper, as its been about 200 rounds and have a "Police Sniper" match coming up in Bend Oregon. Here's where it got interesting....

Load up match ammo, again 43.4 of RL15.... Goto Range, Albany Oregon, 300 ft'ish elevation, 45 degrees(same temp load was developed in), shoot 3 five shot groups at 100 yards... First group is around MOA, Cold bore and fouling shots on clean barrel, next 5 all touching, half MOA(on bench), next 5(prone, in less than 30 seconds, as that is a stage in the match) all touching, less than half MOA, dead on... I'm good to go.


Goto Bend Oregon, COSSA Range, Debate on elevation but around 4000 to 4400 elevation, Ammo sits in car for about 7 hours and its probably 85 degrees in car when I pull ammo out. Goto chrono on their Chrono and first three shots, 2940, 2916, 3040!! I was like, your guys chrono is broke.... Couple of my buddy's shoot their Federal GMM across and it's right where its supposed to be. Figure its temp and or elevation. So I goto sight in at 100 and I am 3/4" low, which surprised me as I was 200 to 300 fps faster and at higher elevation, would have thought I would have been a couple inches high versus at home. So I click up and zero at 100 and then click up based on new velocity and shoot at 200, 3 shots ragged hole dead on, surprised at accuracy but figure I'm dialed in.

Next day, 35 degrees in morning, get to shoot the 200 yard stage about 1030 and 1.5 inches low at 200, again great group but low, didn't get to chrono but I'm guessing that they were back around 2700 FPS that morning.

Anyway, just wanted to share my experience and wondering if anyone had any similar??

Doug

[GaCop]

Never experienced anything like that but, max elevations in central and south Georgia are only about 700' above sea level. Interesting increase in velocoties with rounds heated in the vehicle. Now that is a problem in Georgia spring, summer and early fall.