10-17-2021, 10:07 PM
Today's update should be titled, "Honey can I get a Labradar?" 63 shots fired, 123 total. My goal was to find a good group and get velocities. I started at 28.5 gr of Leverevolution and worked up to 32 gr in half grain increments. I weigh every charge on a RCBS 5 - 0 - 5 scale. I tried two different bullets, Hornady 90 gr ELD X and Sierra 95gr TMK, same powder weights. I chose an optical chrony because a magneto speed strapped to the barrel might affect my groups as well as the fact that that I don't have one. For hunting, my goal is to get 3100 fps on the ELD X and while my chrony performed poorly, I think that is a reasonable expectation. The speeds I was able to get were 3050 ish and the only pressure sign I could see was a slight mark that may have been the ejector so I will see how high I can go. I don't care about the lands and seating depth so the COAL's were all about 2.253 - 2.255 and my 3 shot results were 31gr - .621, 31.5 gr - .701 and 32 gr. - .820 inch. I am pleased with those numbers for hunting and since I have a hunt in two weeks, I will only work on the ELD X load until after.
Things got a little crazy with the TMK's. First of all, they impact point shifted 2" right from the ELD X. Best performance was at the higher charge weights also. 31 gr 2 shot group was .325 inch. The problem was with the first shot, I have no idea where it went. Since it was the first shot, I am 100% certain I did not put two bullets in the same hole. The backer board has plenty of holes in it so it could have been as close as a 2 -3 inches of and I couldn't have been able to tell. Three shot group at 31.5 gr was .537 inches. The last group was 32 gr. and again there was a missing shot. Either the second or third, I don't remember. The two shots measured at .157 inches but were just off the paper so my best guess is that, again, I didn't put two bullets through one hole. No idea what happened. Interesting thing is that the ELD X's didn't have a single unaccounted for shot. COAL was 2.280 with no mag issues.
Nice afternoon about 80 degrees and 4000' altitude but 10 - 15 mph winds though they were directly into my face. I don't see that having any effect other than my target was moving a bit. The rifle and action performed flawlessly without a single malfunction. I was shooting off a concrete bench. 15 shots unaccounted for above were factory Hornady Black for warmup.
Things got a little crazy with the TMK's. First of all, they impact point shifted 2" right from the ELD X. Best performance was at the higher charge weights also. 31 gr 2 shot group was .325 inch. The problem was with the first shot, I have no idea where it went. Since it was the first shot, I am 100% certain I did not put two bullets in the same hole. The backer board has plenty of holes in it so it could have been as close as a 2 -3 inches of and I couldn't have been able to tell. Three shot group at 31.5 gr was .537 inches. The last group was 32 gr. and again there was a missing shot. Either the second or third, I don't remember. The two shots measured at .157 inches but were just off the paper so my best guess is that, again, I didn't put two bullets through one hole. No idea what happened. Interesting thing is that the ELD X's didn't have a single unaccounted for shot. COAL was 2.280 with no mag issues.
Nice afternoon about 80 degrees and 4000' altitude but 10 - 15 mph winds though they were directly into my face. I don't see that having any effect other than my target was moving a bit. The rifle and action performed flawlessly without a single malfunction. I was shooting off a concrete bench. 15 shots unaccounted for above were factory Hornady Black for warmup.