is it common for min loads to

WhelanLad

WhelanLad

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is it common for min loads to shoot pretty poorly an then a grain or 2 up tightens right up?

I shot a few loads of 2208/Varget and 250gr hornadys today... my old Woodleigh 225gr loads shot horrible in the new stock..(I cleaned the bore out with patches) then shot some Factory corelokts for POI confirmation for testing. similar result to 52gr load


the lower load (52) shot pretty poorly around 5 inches an all over the shop.

Min is 51- Max 55, so I loaded 52-53-54

so 52 poor!

The next up which was 53gr I printed a 1.5 inch group, 2 holes touching... Unheard of for my Whelen LOL but ill take it.


Im going to load up some more at 53, an also shoot the 54gr load tomorrow, kind of expecting 54 to be pick of the bunch without firing though hard to say, 53 is certainly a Hunting load!


I did shoot a lot more confident with the 53gr load, although was surprised at the difference in group size from 5inch to 1.5.... is that 'normal' or common?
I thought after the first firings of some corelokt 250 factorys to get a POI reasonable for testing, that the stock may of needed to be bedded, or even just a pressure point in it.... but after the 2nd load I thought she might be allright

thanks


WL

Ruger Hawkeye .35whelen (just sat in a ramline)

RP brass
Fed primers
2208
250gr Hornadys seated to cannelure.
 
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When load testing my .223, it didn't start grouping nicely until 2 grains over minimum. Waste of components indeed, I just don't want any costly accidents to happen by skipping straight to the middle. I usually load one round at minimum and one round at each increment of .3 grain until I get to the middle loads.
 
I use 55 grains of Varget with the 250 grain Hornady. It will really shoot that load, but the story isn't all great.

When I first got that rifle, one of the first factory 35 Whelens made I started with 200 grain Hornadys. Instant success with those and 4064. When I tried moving up to the 250s I got some groups of over 6" with some shots missing the paper altogether. That was almost 30 years ago, and if something like that happened now I'd probably quit sooner. Anyway, having the bullets around was probably enough reason to keep playing with them once in awhile, and eventually I tried Varget and it would tear one hole.That's with the hotter loads.

The reason for the long story is that there is nothing normal about a rifle shooting the same bullet that badly and that well with different loads. The original Remington factory loads were a 200 grain spire and a 250 grain roundnose. Its my belief that the 1-16" rifling is marginal for the 250 grain pointed bullets until the velocity is pushed up a bit.

In the long run you might be better off with a lighter or blunter bullet. jmho
 
Yeah rightio its all interesting, I couldn't really believe how poor it shot down low, il be trying to 54gr load today an that will determine where i'l load a few up for some hunting.

as it was until I read your reply Dogleg, I would of almost settled on 53, but seeing as velocity increase may tighten up with the 250s then il certainly test 54.

I have 100 tips, an made 3 rounds of each charge to get a general gist. glad I didn't make 5 for each! Once the 54 gets shot an a result is presented il determine a load for a few more down the tube an then call it a day.

Cheers!

WL
 
So with 54gr, I shot 3x shots an had 2 holes in A4 target on a pizza box...... unless it absolutely split the middle of a bullet hole, id say she was wayward?

no hole appears slightly oversized....

weird

WL
 
Second tests today and.

53gr 2 holes touching an 1st a bit of a flyer (proberly me)

54gr around 3 inch group spray

Havnt gone to 55 yet but not sure if I will. 53 Seems to be doin the job and ill load some more up an plink for a few rounds, if I can get them to the 1.5 inch region i'l be cheering.

it generally only goes bang once an the critter is done, not too worried about itty bitty groups with it although I just wanna get reasonable grouping from a load.


Of the 53gr, both targets show 3 inch high is where the main group is, with yesterdays flyer was not far away, but today it was quite low an just to the right of the X. so im fairly confident that heavy LC6 trigger contributed to that one.

Ive adjusted scope for the 53gr Load, soo tomorrow will put another 3 down an hope I can time it so I don't send a flyer in this 3 shots.

not 100% if I have a 1:16 or 1:12 twist barrel, some Hawkeyes were different I believe.

WL
 
Hiccups play havoc on shooting days.
Caffeine isn't suppose to help t'eyether.
Don't be scared to split the weights..........like 54.5 ........ so to type.
 
easy to check barrel twist, put a brush on the cleaning rod, insert, mark a line at the muzzle and a dot so you can see how far it twists and make a second mark after one revolution, measure distance between marks
 
Sometimes it's like a switch went on. Isn't always a full grain difference either. Forget the cannelure and load 'em to 3.290".
Don't expect target accuracy out of a Ruger hunting rifle. If you get a consistent 1.5", that may be as good as it'll get.
Ruger doesn't make a .35 Whelan any more, but a .35 Whelen is normally 1 in 16.
 
There is no normal. Fairly often the best accuracy will be found at the higher end of the load spectrum but not always. It depends on the bullet, barrel twist, and velocity. That's why you start lower and work up in larger steps to start and then fine tune after you get a better idea. If you need to find the best accuracy from your rifle then you are going to "waste" some components during the search.
 
current COAL is 3.258

Yep, a consistent 1.5 id be not worried at all, even close to 2 inch id be happy.

I just woke up an had a Cuppa Tea, i'll head off in a while an put another 53gr group down and also a max charge of 55gr, maybe it will like that with more speed... will report later

I also read Boomers post in regards to a hunting rifle an its first cold barrel shot placement, Even though my barrel is cool as when I fire each shot, i'll still be focusing on that first one with 53gr

cheers
WL
 
I have a load for my 7mm rm, 150gr nosler etip 64gr of supreme 780, the very min load that shoots sub moa, soon as I try to add any more powder the groups open right up, there for I keep going back to the same load, every rifle is different!

Kevin
 
Live Update*

1st cold bore of the day ....... an its Bang On centre 2 inch High...

Think iv found my load,will do a 3 shot an then 55gr 3 shot

WL
 
Yep, Im a happy Hunter with a .35Whelen shooting fine at 100m with the 53gr 2208 Load an 250gr Hornady interlocks!

Appreciate the comments everyone.

The 55gr shot around 3 inch similar to the 54gr load, so 53 is the Sweet spot! printing another 1.5 inch group roughly maybe less didn't measure just seen they were grouped perfectly above the X!


Awesome!

WL
 
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