Tuning for long range

[elkaholic]

Those numbers at top are just reference numbers off my CBTO gauge. Not a number that has anything to do with actual coal.

Right! Sounds like it's still under 3" even with that bullet.

 

[jlvandersnick]

When you get your new rifle, load a light load and go put 100 rounds on the barrel. Use this time to get the scope setup, break in the barrel, and learn the rifle. Most barrels will change in that first 100 or so shots and you will be re-tuning if you find a load right away.

Would this 100 round "break in" period still apply to a rifle I re-chambered from a 7mm rem mag to a 28 nosler? I had put about 250 rds through the 7 Mag prior to re-chambering. Thanks

 

[Rhovee]

I doubt it.

 

[elkaholic]

Would this 100 round "break in" period still apply to a rifle I re-chambered from a 7mm rem mag to a 28 nosler? I had put about 250 rds through the 7 Mag prior to re-chambering. Thanks

You should still break the new throat in but should only take a few rounds

 

[orangediablo]

Did a half-assed ladder at 300. I do have pics of the targets, except I didn't mark the charge of each hit...not really sure how you guys do that without walking to the target each time or a spotting scope (which I don't have). Side note, at 43.6, I didn't see any signs of pressure, which is above most/all books, but I'll creep it up until I start seeing signs. Any opinions?

.287" bushing
Charge--->MV
41.8--->2625
42.0--->2600
42.2--->2616
42.4--->2627
42.6--->2665
42.8--->2649
43.0--->2662
43.2--->2653
43.4--->2699
43.6--->2726


.289" bushing
Charge--->MV
41.8--->2624
42.0--->2597
42.2--->2619
42.4--->2652
42.6--->2638
42.8--->2656
43.0--->2665
43.2--->2686
43.4--->2678
43.6--->2702

 

[OFFISHN]

Did a half-assed ladder at 300. I do have pics of the targets, except I didn't mark the charge of each hit...not really sure how you guys do that without walking to the target each time or a spotting scope (which I don't have). Side note, at 43.6, I didn't see any signs of pressure, which is above most/all books, but I'll creep it up until I start seeing signs. Any opinions?

.287" bushing
Charge--->MV
41.8--->2625
42.0--->2600
42.2--->2616
42.4--->2627
42.6--->2665
42.8--->2649
43.0--->2662
43.2--->2653
43.4--->2699
43.6--->2726


.289" bushing
Charge--->MV
41.8--->2624
42.0--->2597
42.2--->2619
42.4--->2652
42.6--->2638
42.8--->2656
43.0--->2665
43.2--->2686
43.4--->2678
43.6--->2702

Yea when I do a ladder I have to go to the target after each round. You need to know where it impacts at along with velocity which you did to find the node for that round and powder. Some color each bullet differently so they can tell them apart down range. I have not had success do that so I make the trip each time because like you my high dollar spotting scope will not pick up a .284 hole at 300 yards.

 

[OFFISHN]

Yea when I do a ladder I have to go to the target after each round. You need to know where it impacts at along with velocity which you did to find the node for that round and powder. Some color each bullet differently so they can tell them apart down range. I have not had success do that so I make the trip each time because like you my high dollar spotting scope will not pick up a .284 hole at 300 yards.

And I normally do 1/2 grain steps instead of 2/10ths. Good luck

 

[Rhovee]

White card board and different colored sharpie pens will work good. Color up to the ogive. Big cartridge gets .5 grain. Smaller ones .3. I am fine tuning a ladder Tonorrow with .3 grains after I have shot .5 to see better where things start and where they end.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Yea when I do a ladder I have to go to the target after each round. You need to know where it impacts at along with velocity which you did to find the node for that round and powder. Some color each bullet differently so they can tell them apart down range. I have not had success do that so I make the trip each time because like you my high dollar spotting scope will not pick up a .284 hole at 300 yards.

I hope you are kidding about you scope. I can see 6.5mm holes at 410 yards with a Bushnell 6500, Swarovski z5, and VX-6.

 

[OFFISHN]

You must be young or not wear corrective lenses. I have a zeiss spotter 15-45x60 and nope. Sees deer at 1 mile but not bullet Holes at 300yds. My scopes are all VX-6 3-18 and I even picked up a new HD and still nope. . Love my scopes but I must be as blind as a and my radar is getting weak as well.

I hope you are kidding about you scope. I can see 6.5mm holes at 410 yards with a Bushnell 6500, Swarovski z5, and VX-6.

 

[Hand Skills]

Thank you Alex, great idea for a thread. I really appreciate you sharing some of your process and reasoning.

White card board and different colored sharpie pens will work good. Color up to the ogive. Big cartridge gets .5 grain. Smaller ones .3. I am fine tuning a ladder Tonorrow with .3 grains after I have shot .5 to see better where things start and where they end.

I'm confused by this - why would you do a 'coarse' and a 'fine' ladder? If the purpose of a ladder test is to find a node (or flat spot, or window), why not shoot groups for your second test? Are you uncertain about your results or somewhere between a small cartridge and a large cartridge?

In post #1, Alex suggests using charge differences of .6% - for those not comfortable with math here are some examples;

.223 has roughly a 25gr powder capacity. 25gr x 0.006 = 0.15gr

.308 has roughly 45gr capacity. 45gr x 0.006 = .27gr

67gr x .006 = .4gr

83gr x .006 = .5gr

Happy climbing to all!

 

[Rhovee]

I wanted to see where the node started and ended.

 

[orangediablo]

Bringing this back for some opinions. Shot at 400 yards off bipod, but forgot my bags (dammit) so I was stuck using a jacket. I have my conclusions, but want to see if they line up with the guys who know much more than I do. If you want me to post velocities, I can throw them up. Thoughts?

 

[Pdvdh]

~43.7