Here are the results of a ladder test I did on Sunday, with mixed results due to the strong wind. Maybe even useless results- I plan to re-do this when it’s calm, but I'd driven out there, and I thought, what the hell, see what happens...
I was using Amax 155gr .308 over Varget, in Lapua brass previously fired in my rifle, and CCI BR2 primers.
Wind was 20-30km from 3 to 4 o’clock at the firing line, and about 5 to 6 o’clock at the 300yd target. I loaded 3 foulers at 44.0gr, then the first step on the ladder at 44.0, going up in .3 grain steps to a max of 47.3gr. The first fouler was almost level with the aiming point (dental appointment reminder card!) but well off to the left, so I corrected subsequent shots with 3 MOA to the right, and 4 MOA down to place the lowest charges at the bottom of the cardboard.
There was about 5 minutes between shots, as I went up to mark each shot on the target. So the barrel was cool for each shot.
As you can see, the 2nd and 3rd foulers, along with the first 3 steps (44.0, 44.3, 44.6), made a nice sub-MOA group:
The 4th step, 44.9gr, gave the first substantial climb up, and you can see how the rest placed. #7 I called low and left, and 11 and 12 (47.0 and 47.3) make a nice two-some, but again, the wind makes all of this suspect:
Still, I did establish that even at max (47.3gr), I had no problems with bolt lift, and the primer looked fine, with no signs of overpressure. There was a very slight but gradual increase in effort needed to lift the bolt, but it was never an effort.
I’ll need to re-do this, but that bottom grouping does look intriguing. The problem is, while 44.0 gr might work just fine at 300yds, I have my doubts about it’s performance at 1000. Which brings up another issue. Here I am trying to work up a load that will work out to 1000, and the only time and place I can actually shoot that distance is the Summerland fun shoot. But what works at 1000 should work at 300, so maybe I'm not crazy.
Being new at this, I'd appreciate any comments from you experienced loaders.
I was using Amax 155gr .308 over Varget, in Lapua brass previously fired in my rifle, and CCI BR2 primers.
Wind was 20-30km from 3 to 4 o’clock at the firing line, and about 5 to 6 o’clock at the 300yd target. I loaded 3 foulers at 44.0gr, then the first step on the ladder at 44.0, going up in .3 grain steps to a max of 47.3gr. The first fouler was almost level with the aiming point (dental appointment reminder card!) but well off to the left, so I corrected subsequent shots with 3 MOA to the right, and 4 MOA down to place the lowest charges at the bottom of the cardboard.
There was about 5 minutes between shots, as I went up to mark each shot on the target. So the barrel was cool for each shot.
As you can see, the 2nd and 3rd foulers, along with the first 3 steps (44.0, 44.3, 44.6), made a nice sub-MOA group:
The 4th step, 44.9gr, gave the first substantial climb up, and you can see how the rest placed. #7 I called low and left, and 11 and 12 (47.0 and 47.3) make a nice two-some, but again, the wind makes all of this suspect:
Still, I did establish that even at max (47.3gr), I had no problems with bolt lift, and the primer looked fine, with no signs of overpressure. There was a very slight but gradual increase in effort needed to lift the bolt, but it was never an effort.
I’ll need to re-do this, but that bottom grouping does look intriguing. The problem is, while 44.0 gr might work just fine at 300yds, I have my doubts about it’s performance at 1000. Which brings up another issue. Here I am trying to work up a load that will work out to 1000, and the only time and place I can actually shoot that distance is the Summerland fun shoot. But what works at 1000 should work at 300, so maybe I'm not crazy.
Being new at this, I'd appreciate any comments from you experienced loaders.
