Ladder test of 185 Juggernauts with range report!(updated range report)

[thunderstruck]

So on my last stint of time off I spent a much needed 2 days @ the range developing a new load for my new rifle. I had 500 185gr Juggernauts from Jerry @ mystic waiting for me @ the post office when I got there. I decided to do a ladder test using my fovorite 30-06 powder VV N550. I built 15 rounds ranging from 50.5gr to 53.3gr in 0.2gr incriments. Berger recomended 53.1 as max but I went over by 0.2gr to see where my rifles max was. Here are the results.

As you can see there were 2 nodes one between 50.9gr-51.5gr in blue and one between 52.9 and 53.3gr in pink. I wasn't interested in the lower node because the speed was to low for what I'm trying to do. Berger wasn't to far of with their suggestion of max I started to see signs of pressure @ 53.1 gr. So I loaded 15 rounds @ 52.9 and went back to the range and shot 3 5shot groups. 1 @ 100yards,1@ 200yards and 1 @ 300yards. All 15 shots went across the chrony and averaged 2853fps es of 12fps. here are the results.

The next day I went out to my shooting spot and shot @ 1000yards and 1400yards and wow was I pleased! Sorry I don't have pic's of my steel targets but once zeroed in properly I was able to shoot about a 10'' 5 shot group @ 1400 yards on a 20'' plate once I figured out the wind. I'm not the greatest wind reader and I was having a heck of a time with a 6mph gust that would come and go. With bullet flights @ over 2 sec's the wind reading wind gets tough. I'm hoping to take this rig possibly out to a mile this summer if the round stays stable.
Since that shooting trip I have neck turned weight sorted and primer pocket uniformed my brass.I also weight sorted my bullets(probubly not necessary but I had some time on my hands and any excuse to sit at my loading bench) Mabey I can get a little more out of this load.

 

[EC]

Looks great. I have never done a ladder test in my limited time reloading, only OCW tests but it appears its shooting good at distance. Is that a Rock Creek barrel? Looks identical to a barrel I had on a Rem 700 in .308. It was an outstanding barrel.

 

[1899]

That looks great - and it is nice to see folks ringing out the good old .30-06.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Glad those slugs are working for you. I love that the 200 and 300yds groups are pretty much the same size minus the pull to the top of the target.

You have a great load brewing for sure. Love to hear if the bullet survives going subsonic. It should.... Then just crank in the up and SEND IT.

Enjoy....

Jerry

 

[thunderstruck]

Looks great. I have never done a ladder test in my limited time reloading, only OCW tests but it appears its shooting good at distance. Is that a Rock Creek barrel? Looks identical to a barrel I had on a Rem 700 in .308. It was an outstanding barrel.

Yes it is a rock creek.

 

[thunderstruck]

Glad those slugs are working for you. I love that the 200 and 300yds groups are pretty much the same size minus the pull to the top of the target.

You have a great load brewing for sure. Love to hear if the bullet survives going subsonic. It should.... Then just crank in the up and SEND IT.

Enjoy....

Jerry

Thanks Jerry. Do you happen to have any more of those 185's? I'm away @ work for another 2 weeks but when I get home I plan on attempting to really streach out the 06.

 

[thunderstruck]

That looks great - and it is nice to see folks ringing out the good old .30-06.

Thanks. I think the 06 is often overlooked as a LR round. I wanted barrel life and managable recoil. The 300wm just has a little more recoil then I prefer but when it comes to the heavier bullets i think the .308 give up alot compared to the 06.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Thanks Jerry. Do you happen to have any more of those 185's? I'm away @ work for another 2 weeks but when I get home I plan on attempting to really streach out the 06.

Backordered. If you want some, just send me a PM or email and we can get some booked for you.

Jerry

 

[Zeb]

What distance did you shoot the ladder test at? What POA did you use?...(the blk/orange target above the holes)

 

[thunderstruck]

What distance did you shoot the ladder test at? What POA did you use?...(the blk/orange target above the holes)

I shot the ladder @ 300yards. I would perfer 400 but I don't have a 400 yard spot convienent and yes the orange dot was the aiming point.

 

[thunderstruck]

After neck turning, primer pocket uniforming, weight sorting brass, and bullets, here are a couple of groups I shot earlier this fall.The load has proved to be relitively temp stable, I've shot it from 25C to 0C. I got to say I'm very pleased with this rifle. I set out to get a true 0.5 moa rifle ,not a "on a good day" 0.5moa rifle. So far the rifle hasn't let me down and in some cases is exceeding expectations.I'm pretty sure If I had more magnification I could get a bit more out of it. Right now I have a 4.5-14 mounted up. I got around 600 rounds down the tube this summer.

 

[Crashman]

Nice work on the rifle and the reloading too. I too think the 30-06 is all too often overlooked for newer "###ier" rounds, I am on the hunt for a Rem 40 XB single shot in 30-06 for a friend, tried telling him to start with a good custom single shot action but he will have none of it...must be a Remington for him.

I really dig your shooting mat too! I had the identical rug in my rec room when I was a kid!

 

[thunderstruck]

I really dig your shooting mat too! I had the identical rug in my rec room when I was a kid![/QUOTE]

He He! I was waiting for someone to comment on the welfare shooting mat! Best part with that shooting mat is I role it up and store it under a spruce tree at my favorite shooting spot and don't worry about any body stealing it.