Northern Arizona long range fun....

[Michael Eichele]

So I was able to fly down to Phoenix for a work conference on the 31st and decided to come a few days early and soak up some sun and launch a few bullets. The wind was not bad. Roughly 4-7 MPH varying between 4:30 and 7:30. Running 178 AMAX's at 630, 868 and 1005 yards. After running the numbers in the calculator I set up at 630 yards and drilled the paper with perfect windage and a tad low. I didnt waste much time there and just went to 1K (out of my comfort zone a bit) and set up. The first shot was a tad low and a tad right. The next few rounds found perfect elevation where one was within the grid target, one was touching and the other was a tad left off of the paper. Then I drove to a random spot to set up for a whatever range shot. This was 868 yards. I screwed up on the wind on the 1st shot and put the 1st round off of the paper but 2 and 3 where in the kill zone and a tad high. Still well within the kill zone. After that shot I went back to 1005 yards and paying a bit closer attention to the wind put 2 bullets just off the paper to the left. I was able to spot my own shots and see that these went right through where the crosshairs were, I centered my reticle up and was able to lay down a .4375 MOA 3 shot group. Not bad for a guy who has only been able to shoot up to 750 yards the last few years.

 

[liltank]

That's a good target. Often wondered how the 178 Amax would do that far. What's your load for that bullet?

 

[Michael Eichele]

That's a good target. Often wondered how the 178 Amax would do that far. What's your load for that bullet?

44.0 VV N540 under the 178 at 2.850 Fed 210 GMM Lapua case (Palma)

 

[liltank]

I thought about the palma's once not too long ago. How do you like them, and why did you choose them? Have you played with the 178 BTHP? If so, did you see any gain in BC or long range accuracy?

 

[Michael Eichele]

I thought about the palma's once not too long ago. How do you like them, and why did you choose them? Have you played with the 178 BTHP? If so, did you see any gain in BC or long range accuracy?

I tried the Palma brass because I am a sucker that likes to try new products whether its all marketing hype or the real deal but typically only if I feel it will improve something I am already not happy with. I heard that they offer lower extreme spreads and I felt like my current extreme spreads have been too high for too long. Even paying attention to neck tension and other variables, I still seem to have a problem with it so I thoughht I would try them at least once. How do I like them? I LOVE THEM!! I have got some very very good extreme spreads. Most of the time in the high single digits but sometimes as high as 20 which is rare. Single digits to teen digits is the norm. Either way it is alot better than what I have been getting. Is it due to the smaller primer? I have no idea. I just know the Std.Dev. is much lower. All of my groups yesterday from 630 to 1005 had very little vertical separation. The group you see in the first post had the worst verticle separation. From 630 and 870 they all had 2" or less. At 1005 all my groups had about 4" or less. I didnt post other groups just because they were not as pretty as the one I posted. I was fighting changing winds and had some groups with 12" of horizontal separation even though the vertical was awesome.

I have not tried the 178 BTHP. With the stellar results I have had in all of my .30 caliber rifles with the polymer tip version both terminally and accuracy wise, trying them is not that high on my priority list. I will eventually try them but for now I am content and more than happy with the original.

M

 

[liltank]

I tried the Palma brass because I am a sucker that likes to try new products whether its all marketing hype or the real deal but typically only if I feel it will improve something I am already not happy with. I heard that they offer lower extreme spreads and I felt like my current extreme spreads have been too high for too long. Even paying attention to neck tension and other variables, I still seem to have a problem with it so I thoughht I would try them at least once. How do I like them? I LOVE THEM!! I have got some very very good extreme spreads. Most of the time in the high single digits but sometimes as high as 20 which is rare. Single digits to teen digits is the norm. Either way it is alot better than what I have been getting. Is it due to the smaller primer?

That's good to know. What primer are you using... 205M, 450CCI, 4BR's? Have you had any hang fires or miss fires? I've heard that can be a problem with the small primer in a caliber this size.

 

[Michael Eichele]

That's good to know. What primer are you using... 205M, 450CCI, 4BR's? Have you had any hang fires or miss fires? I've heard that can be a problem with the small primer in a caliber this size.

Fed 205. No hang fires or miss fires. That said, I have only fired 50 or so loads total. All of which were either in warm weather or the loads were kept in a warm truck before firing.

 

[jeffwhip]

I live in Phoenix. Where exactly did you go to shoot at that distance?

 

[Michael Eichele]

I live in Phoenix. Where exactly did you go to shoot at that distance?

Up near Snowflake. My cousin who lives in Payson picked me up on Friday and spent Friday and Saturday at his house. Sunday we drove up to Snowflake to a spot he likes. Wide open and no structures or equipment around for miles. I went back to Phoenix Monday for my Tuesday conference.

M

 

[timmay]

Good shooting. But you say this was done in warm weather. Snowflake is freaking cold in winter. I live in Phoenix (born and raised) so my view of cold may be much different than yours.
Now if you want to try out your loads in warm weather, meet up with me in the summer and do some shooting in the Sonoran desert around 110-120 degrees.
Ive just gotten into reloading so Im kind of worried about what some of my max loads will do in the summer, but I think most people over react about max loads otherwise the military would be having rifles blowing up all over the place

 

[Michael Eichele]

Good shooting. But you say this was done in warm weather. Snowflake is freaking cold in winter. I live in Phoenix (born and raised) so my view of cold may be much different than yours.
Now if you want to try out your loads in warm weather, meet up with me in the summer and do some shooting in the Sonoran desert around 110-120 degrees.
Ive just gotten into reloading so Im kind of worried about what some of my max loads will do in the summer, but I think most people over react about max loads otherwise the military would be having rifles blowing up all over the place

60 degrees is warm. 110-120 is hot. Snowflake was 60 degrees last Sunday. And yes, our 'warm' is different. I grew up in Phx. Born and raised. When I moved to AK in June of 1998 and the highs were 56-58 degrees, I was shivering. Then again, I had been working outside in the Sonoran desert on the canal project just days before in 120+ degree temps.