Steyr SSG and ZFM 6x42 load workup

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delta1

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Well I sent of query's to Kahles got referred to Photonics as the ZFM scope maker, to see which bullet and speed the BDC cam was for on the scope. No answer's back. Sent one off to Swarovski, again no answers. So I decided to find out for myself which bullet the cam needed at what speed, and I would do my load developement at the same time.
Since the scope was on the Steyr decided to make the start with a 175 grn. Berger VLD. This being the closest I could get to the 173 grn Military round. I need a speed of 2550 fps to match what I have found on line about the round so far. Varget was going to be the powder since all the rest of my 308s love it. basics are IMI brass trimmed to 2.005 chamfered and deburred. I then anealed all brass. Primers are BR2.
Started all groups at 100 yds with 5 round groups.Hard into the lands,Yes I know about the pressure differences and speed from hard into and backed off from the lands. to get my speed I worked the Varget backwards from 44.0 grains in .5 grain increments untill reaching 40.0 grains and 2500 fps then up in .1 grns untill reaching 40.3 grns and 2550 fps. All testing in 5 round groups through the chronograph.
All powder workup loads at 100 yds no groups over 1 inch. The 40.3 grn load is a consistant .75 load. Next was to test the load at 200 yds which groups all at 1.5 to 1.3 in groups. Now it was time to back off from the lands and find the best seating for the 175VLD. All measurements from here on in are done with my bullet comparator. Hard into the lands is at 3.035 with the comparator. I backed of in .020 increments untill reaching 2.970 on the comparator. This load at 200 yds produced an astounding ( at least to me ) A .75 inch 5 round group not so bad when the scope is a 6x I stopped load developement here.

Next was to test the ZFM 6x42 Bdc with the 175 VLD at 2550 fps. If the scope was not going to match this round I was prepared to change scopes. As this load was about as good as it gets for me. I fired 2 rounds at each target from 100, 200, 300, and 400 yds all the loads I had left. This load did not disapoint me in the least. All rounds on target with the cam settings.
Can't wait to reload some more and get reaching out to 700 yds which is as far as my backyard range goes. Just to see if the cam matches these also.
All in all not a bad couple of days of work. And not bad shooting for a 6x scope and these plus 60 yr. old eyes.
 
Excellent work. I actually have the ammo your scope is calibrated for (173gr M118 Lake City from 1972).
Great job on duplicating its trajectory! I will have to remember your recipe for when I run out of that stuff:)
 
delta1 said:
Well I sent of query's to Kahles got referred to Photonics as the ZFM scope maker, to see which bullet and speed the BDC cam was for on the scope. No answer's back. Sent one off to Swarovski, again no answers. So I decided to find out for myself which bullet the cam needed at what speed, and I would do my load developement at the same time.
Since the scope was on the Steyr decided to make the start with a 175 grn. Berger VLD. This being the closest I could get to the 173 grn Military round. I need a speed of 2550 fps to match what I have found on line about the round so far. Varget was going to be the powder since all the rest of my 308s love it. basics are IMI brass trimmed to 2.005 chamfered and deburred. I then anealed all brass. Primers are BR2.
Started all groups at 100 yds with 5 round groups.Hard into the lands,Yes I know about the pressure differences and speed from hard into and backed off from the lands. to get my speed I worked the Varget backwards from 44.0 grains in .5 grain increments untill reaching 40.0 grains and 2500 fps then up in .1 grns untill reaching 40.3 grns and 2550 fps. All testing in 5 round groups through the chronograph.
All powder workup loads at 100 yds no groups over 1 inch. The 40.3 grn load is a consistant .75 load. Next was to test the load at 200 yds which groups all at 1.5 to 1.3 in groups. Now it was time to back off from the lands and find the best seating for the 175VLD. All measurements from here on in are done with my bullet comparator. Hard into the lands is at 3.035 with the comparator. I backed of in .020 increments untill reaching 2.970 on the comparator. This load at 200 yds produced an astounding ( at least to me ) A .75 inch 5 round group not so bad when the scope is a 6x I stopped load developement here.

Next was to test the ZFM 6x42 Bdc with the 175 VLD at 2550 fps. If the scope was not going to match this round I was prepared to change scopes. As this load was about as good as it gets for me. I fired 2 rounds at each target from 100, 200, 300, and 400 yds all the loads I had left. This load did not disapoint me in the least. All rounds on target with the cam settings.
Can't wait to reload some more and get reaching out to 700 yds which is as far as my backyard range goes. Just to see if the cam matches these also.
All in all not a bad couple of days of work. And not bad shooting for a 6x scope and these plus 60 yr. old eyes.
Click to expand...


delta1,

You have been covering a great deal of ground recently - and fast !

Sorry - but not really surprised - to read that you have not received any response from Photonics or Zwarovski. It's the way things are going sometimes. Maybe someone will find your email someday and decide to send you a response. Maybe.

Anyway, fast forward : you haven't wasted your time waiting for an answer to your questions and your load development is remarkably good. I see that you are trying to duplicate the 7.62mm Nato M118 Match ballistics (173 gr. FMJBT bullet at 2550 ± 30 f/s at 78 feet from the muzzle) and not the M118 LR ballistics (175 gr. HPBT). Your load trajectory is apparently very close the trajectory of the Kahles ZF95 M118 Match Ballistic Cam (item # 609-357). On the Kahles site, there are seven (7) Ballistic Cams and it seems that you have "chosen" the right one - good for you ! The only detail that eludes me is that all those Ballistic Cams are calibrated - pun intended - in meters (with the exception of item # 335-2177, Hirtenberger Match, 168 gr., 100-1000yards) and your range is in yards. So, again, could you keep us posted when you test your load at more than 400 yards ?

And once again, the Steyr Mannlicher SSG 69 rifle has flexed its muscles for all to see : a "factory rifle" with a "cheesy stock" saddled with a 6x scope. Old technology, yeah ... ! I was very much impressed, a long time ago, when I first met the SSG : a 6" group at 600 yards (CFB in Gagetown, N.B.), no bench, no bipod, no sandbags, no sling, no sighters, prone on a small berm, military Match ammo, fixed Austrian or German 6x or 10x scope - don't remember which one or brand. No, I wasn't the shooter but for sure he was a good rifleman - with no military background though, I must add.

Snowy Owl.
 
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Snowy Owl.
Thank you for the reply
Yes, getting answers back from Swarovski and Photonic seem awfully slow, but we are still hoping. Just knowing who for sure makes the ZFM 6x42 would be nice.
I will work on out to as far as my range goes 700 yds. as soon as I get some more time.
A CGnr has offered me 20 loaded and 20 Lake City 173 brass to try a comparison against what I have already done. It is greatly appreciated.
Regards
 
Well the weather decided to cd-operate, and I got to the back yard range to test out the Lake City Match 173 grn rounds.I did not test at 100 yds as I only had 20 rounds to play with.
200 yds group was 2 inches and 3 inches low

300 yds 2 1/2 inches and 3 inches low

400 yds 3 1/2 inches and centre

500 yds hit the 7 inch gong all three times

600 yds 7 inches and 6 inches right wind picked up a bunch and I did not dial it in, just for group had to go back and fire a fourth round here as one round was a definate flier. The round was out of group by 20 inches.

700 yds group 11 inches and 14 inches left and 6 inches high.


1 round back on the 400 yard marker centre and 3 inches left again wind.

1 round pulled to check the looks of powder and look at the bullet.

So all in all not to bad for 1973 issue Lake City Match.

I will now take all the Lake City brass (Thanks to J996 for 20 1x fired and the 20 loaded rounds) and anneal them trim, size and load them up with Varget,CCI BR2 primers and the Berger 175 VLD and see how the brass compares to the IVI that I have been using. If it all works out I may be looking for some more 1x fired Lake City Match 308 brass.
It was fun for this old guy.
Regards
 
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Just a few more words. The ZFM 6x scope on the SSG69 is super clear at all ranges. The groups I beleive would be smaller with all ammo used if a higher power scope was used and if the scope did not have the Geman post style reticle. But that would take away from the asthetics of this rifle scope package. Now I need a longer range to try her out on.
Regards
 
Since talking to you, I decided to try some 175gr. Berger target HPs with a bit less powder, rather than the 168gr. BTHP match with 45.6gr. Varget, which is about as much as you can fit in there. Let me know what you discover as things develop. I have two of these green monsters. Both shoot very well, but I am always open to new tricks.

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Ghostie:
Mine looks the same as yours. What I did find in loading for mine with the ZFM 6x I had to load the Varget down to 40.3 grains to get it to match up with the elevation Cam.
In trying out the LC 173 match rounds it was close to the cam but not quite the same as the reloaded IVI brass. I am thinking when I reload the LC brass I am going to see something different again, just because of the slight differences in case capacity and the round being 2 grains heavier.
Once I find the brass I know to use I will get 1 or 2 hundred of them. Untill then it is fun just finding out.
Regards
 
delta1,

Meters or yards, the M118 LC ammo was quite close to the BDC of your scope and it looks like your cam is indeed the M118 Match, at least until proven otherwise.

Just like ghostie, I am very much interested in your load development with the Berger 175 gr Match VLD Target bullet. As for me, I intend to try the Berger 175 gr Match BT Long Range Target bullet or their 175 gr Match OTM Tactical bullet - or maybe both - unless I become infatuated with some other high tech bullet in the meantime. So, if you don't mind, keep us posted.

But first, I want to try some (100 rounds) Lapua Scenar 167 gr factory ammo. I already have a pretty good idea of what the rifle can do with the Federal Gold Medal Match 168 gr BTHP ammo (Steyr factory target at 0.650 MOA) so I would like to see if my SSG can improve its score. Steyr Mannlicher SSG 69 rifles are supposed to perform quite well with factory Match ammo.

On the other hand, my scope (US Optics) does not have a BDC like you have on your Kahles scope. Still, those Kahles scopes keep fascinating me.

Snowy Owl
 
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