Higher elevation groups

[Tiny Tim]

I haven't played with them alot, but was using H4831. Won't win any races but it has been very accurate in a few of my rifles, in various calibers. Can usually get .5-.75 moa, even in factory rifles with a little work.

 

[Far North Hunter]

I am shooting about a 1 1/4 inch group (2 tight and 1 high or left or right) with my 7 mag that has a 9 1/2 twist with a 175 grain Berger bullet. The calculator says (where I live 700 ft above sea lever) the twist should be 8 1/2. Where I will elk hunt it is 9300 ft above sea level. Will that group tighten up???? The calculator says it is at its max for being stable at 9300 ft.

Are your 1st two shots tight and the third shot from a potentially hot barrel opening your group?

 

[L2land]

North west of Dubois WY.

Be smart. That's serious bear country.

 

[Peotone Joe]

Are your 1st two shots tight and the third shot from a potentially hot barrel opening your group?

It could be any one of the three.

 

[FEENIX]

It could be any one of the three.

How does the crown look?

 

[Peotone Joe]

How does the crown look?

I never looked. The gun was bought in Dec of 2022 and wasn't shot until March of 2023. It might have 100 rounds through it. I believe I don't have the twist in the barrel to stabilize the bullets. Hornady and Nosler says 8 1/2 and I have a 9 1/2.

 

[L2land]

I shoot 168 VLDs out of a 9.5 twist 7-08 at about 2650 fps. Seems like your 7 mag should stabilize them. Nothing wrong with going to something in the 140 grain range if that's what it takes to get your desired accuracy.
Also, if you haven't already, check your action screws and scope mounts.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

Nothing wrong with going to something in the 140 grain range if that's what it takes to get your desired accuracy.

Absolutely. 140's kill elk too.

 

[mnoland30]

I like an exit wound for the blood trail. I shot my first bull with a 140 gr. Barnes X bullet. It killed just fine, but did not exit. I switched to 160 gr. and got exits. I'm shootnig 168 gr. Berger VLDs now and they kill elk very well at 2850 fps out of a 7mm WSM.

 

[PApa Black]

I am shooting about a 1 1/4 inch group (2 tight and 1 high or left or right) with my 7 mag that has a 9 1/2 twist with a 175 grain Berger bullet. The calculator says (where I live 700 ft above sea lever) the twist should be 8 1/2. Where I will elk hunt it is 9300 ft above sea level. Will that group tighten up???? The calculator says it is at its max for being stable at 9300 ft.

I shoot Berger's in my 308 & 280 REM. At 100 yds they shoot a 1"-1-1/4" group. They both shoot the same 1"-1-1/4" group at 500 yds. Berger's tend to "wander around " from 0'-300 yard then settle down. What's your group past 300 yds?

 

[Mike Matteson]

I shoot Berger's in my 308 & 280 REM. At 100 yds they shoot a 1"-1-1/4" group. They both shoot the same 1"-1-1/4" group at 500 yds. Berger's tend to "wander around " from 0'-300 yard then settle down. What's your group past 300 yds?

I haven't ever seen that happen. If your group are 1" to 1'1/4" @ 100yds. The groups generally open up as the range is extended or increase. Or you are not taking care with shooting @ 100yds, but taking more care and time to shoot @ 500yds.

 

[L2land]

I haven't ever seen that happen. If your group are 1" to 1'1/4" @ 100yds. The groups generally open up as the range is extended or increase. Or you are not taking care with shooting @ 100yds, but taking more care and time to shoot @ 500yds.

Mine shoot around .6 moa at 100, 200, and 300 yds. Seems to follow the rules of geometry as expected. Maybe they curve at low elevation

 

[Peotone Joe]

Mine shoot around .6 moa at 100, 200, and 300 yds. Seems to follow the rules of geometry as expected. Maybe they curve at low elevation

If you go to Berger's web sight and use their twist rate calculator you will see the difference in the stability at the different elevations for the barrel twist.

 

[L2land]

Their calculator says my 168s become 20% less stable at 1000 feet vs 7000 feet ASL. Both still stable values. Not sure there's a takeaway from the data. Don't overthink it too much on your 7 mag. A good hunting bullet in the 140 plus range that shoots sub moa will do the job as long as you do yours.