I took my #2 6BR out tonite to do some load testing with Sierra BT 107gr MK's.
I was using Berger bullets in this rifle but I have a stock pile of Sierra bullets so I thought I would try some loads in it with the Sierra bullets since there is a chance (albeit a slight chance) that a junior shooter may want to use it for a 700, 800 and 900m match at Homestead in Sept.
The barrel has upwards of 2000 rounds through it (would have to go through my logs for an accurate #) but seems like it still wants to shoot ragged holes.
Loaded cases with:
Federal GM Small Rifle Match primers (I have a stockpile of about 4500 of these as well since I use CCI 450's in my 6BR's)
Hodgdon Varget 30-31.2gr
Sierra 107's .015 off the lands (Will have to play with some other seating depths)
Lapua cases (127.0-127.9 Wt)
The 30.8 Load (which I figured would be about right) did the best of the 2 tests I did with 2 x 5 shot groups of each powder charge starting at 30, 30.5, 30.8 and 31.2.
I let the barrel cool for a 1/2hr then shot the same loads in the same order again.
First group the wind was gusting to 10-12mph and then letting off, the 30.8 load in the first group I held off for wind, the 2nd group I shot after a torrential downpour of biblical proportions when there was not a whisper of wind until I went to shoot the final 31.2 load.
Here are some pics:
Load Test #1
First 2 30gr shots were off the paper as I had pulled a scope off my other rifle and forgot to bring any sighting rounds, I figured I knew where the first shot was since the backerboard was just recently installed but I had to put 2 rounds down just to make sure...LOL
Load Test #2
I was using Berger bullets in this rifle but I have a stock pile of Sierra bullets so I thought I would try some loads in it with the Sierra bullets since there is a chance (albeit a slight chance) that a junior shooter may want to use it for a 700, 800 and 900m match at Homestead in Sept.
The barrel has upwards of 2000 rounds through it (would have to go through my logs for an accurate #) but seems like it still wants to shoot ragged holes.
Loaded cases with:
Federal GM Small Rifle Match primers (I have a stockpile of about 4500 of these as well since I use CCI 450's in my 6BR's)
Hodgdon Varget 30-31.2gr
Sierra 107's .015 off the lands (Will have to play with some other seating depths)
Lapua cases (127.0-127.9 Wt)
The 30.8 Load (which I figured would be about right) did the best of the 2 tests I did with 2 x 5 shot groups of each powder charge starting at 30, 30.5, 30.8 and 31.2.
I let the barrel cool for a 1/2hr then shot the same loads in the same order again.
First group the wind was gusting to 10-12mph and then letting off, the 30.8 load in the first group I held off for wind, the 2nd group I shot after a torrential downpour of biblical proportions when there was not a whisper of wind until I went to shoot the final 31.2 load.
Here are some pics:
Load Test #1
First 2 30gr shots were off the paper as I had pulled a scope off my other rifle and forgot to bring any sighting rounds, I figured I knew where the first shot was since the backerboard was just recently installed but I had to put 2 rounds down just to make sure...LOL
Load Test #2
