erghh...non repeatable loads

[308BAR]

Need your help and analysis guys. Did some load testing last week and thought I found a nice load. However today went out and try the loads again and nope will not repeat results.

After last weeks load testing I did some fireforming with CoW so the barrel was dirty. So I cleaned out the rifle yesterday and even after fouling the barrel these are the groups. Little cooler today and rainy versus sunny last week wind condition were calm for both days.

So do I have to start all over again? Or is there something here worth salvaging. I've loaded 200 rounds for a competition and I'm ready to pull these bullets. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Last week's good load new brass.

New brass group 1

New Brass group 2

1F Brass

 

[maynard]

What rifle? Did cleaning solvents creep down the bedding screws?
Your less that 1 MOA hovering around 5/8 MOA. Your vertical looks great but even on a calm day little wind shift will give you what you see on your targets.

 

[308BAR]

Rifle is 223Rem 1:8 twist Shilen barrel.

I used a bore guide so I don't think it's solvent issue. I usually mop everything dry if there is.

Yeah I'm hoping for under 1/2MOA with a 80Amax load like last week. Shooting F-class tomorrow and next week. erghh bullets from the same box powder from the same batch, reloader's frustration setting in.

 

[maynard]

It only takes a minute to pop the action out of the stock and make sure the action and bedding are bone dry.
Don't sweat it, I think your ammo is fine. The verticle looks good the horizontal is up to the pilot. Good luck in your match(es).

 

[CyaN1de]

Be thankful you got out. I loaded up 35 rounds last weekend and we have had horrible wind here lately (50K today) so I have not been able to test them.

I had a load in a previous barrel that put 4 into .088" at 100m and 4 touching with 1 shot .25" out of the group at 200m when doing break in but it was not the load I ended up with after further testing so I can sympathize with what you are going through.

 

[kmartel]

Happened to me today too. Think I may be the problem though... Wind reading is an art I have yet to get a firm grip on but hey, trigger time is a good time! A little more work on my form and possibly some improvement on my brass prep and hopefully I'll be in a higher class soon Everyone has a bad day some days!

 

[308BAR]

Hey guy thanks, you guys were most likely right about the wind affecting my results. Yes definitely need more trigger time with this load. Maynard your right, I pulled the action of and wiped up some solution in the bedding and it turns out your assesment about the vertical is right also it was pretty tight out at 300m this weekend. Just taking a guess without measuring I'm getting a little more quarter to 1/3rd MOA of vertical in my last 3 strings. Thanks for the assessment and input guys cheers.

 

[maynard]

I am glad it was a simple solution. I had a 40X that would hose the target if there was a hint of moisture between the action and bedding. Always something that you wouldn't find out until you started a match. It got to the point where I would pull the action out of the stock every day, and wipe it before shooting.