Feedback On Load

[lyle_destroys]

Been playing with handloads in my t3x 300wsm. It shoots hornady precision hunter factory ammo about 3/4 moa for 3 rounds, not sure of velocity. I chose to use 180gr accubonds because I'm a big fan of them and dont shoot at animals past 500 yards.
Today I shot a 5 shot group that measured .70" at 100 with 67gr of H4831sc over 180gr accubond. There was 0 vertical movement. The bullets were a horizontal string. I had a gusty 3 o'clock wind so that may have affected it a small amount.
I haven't choreographed this load yet but I'm guessing I'm getting 2800-2850. With a group like that, should I keep increasing powder to find the next accuracy node or just run it? Also, what could be the cause of the horizontal string? With no vertical I'm hoping my ES is very small but I wont know until I get another day to chronograph it.

 

[Piscatory_4]

I had almost the same load a few years back in a Savage 14, 67.5 of h4831 not sc. Velocity I have written down is 3000 with 180g Hornady interlock.

 

[Cahunter805]

There are many causes for horizontal stringing. A few easy ones to check. Action screws tight, barrel floated, properly bedded rifle, front rest not contacting sling stud, proper grip.
Usually if those all are good then test seating depth next.

 

[lyle_destroys]

I had almost the same load a few years back in a Savage 14, 67.5 of h4831 not sc. Velocity I have written down is 3000 with 180g Hornady interlock.

If I get anywhere near that I'll be happy. I've heard 4831 will give some velocity but makes up for it with accuracy. Wont know till I chrono it.

 

[lyle_destroys]

There are many causes for horizontal stringing. A few easy ones to check. Action screws tight, barrel floated, properly bedded rifle, front rest not contacting sling stud, proper grip.
Usually if those all are good then test seating depth next.

It's a standard t3x stock, its not bedded. I did torque the action screws to 35 in/lbs and the warne rings are to spec. Barrel is free floated all the way to the action. I have been thinking about getting it bedded when I put a brake on it. I would consider the 2nd shot a flier since it was the outlier. The other 4 shots were very tight.

 

[WeiserBucks]

If you're not going to get a chronograph shoot it at distance and plug your drops into a ballistic calculator to get velocity. It'll also show vertical if you have excessive ES.

 

[Piscatory_4]

Re-reading your post, was the group 7" and not 70"and was there 4 together and 1 flyer?

 

[WeiserBucks]

Re-reading your post, was the group 7" and not 70"and was there 4 together and 1 flyer?

.7 inches, as in less than 3/4" .

 

[lyle_destroys]

Re-reading your post, was the group 7" and not 70"and was there 4 together and 1 flyer?

Yes it was .7" not 7". Sub-moa.
Excluding the 2nd shot it would have been 1/2 moa (I easily could have pulled that shot when the trigger broke). I need to chronograph this load I think. If I'm happy with velocity and ES I guess the next step will be seating depth.

 

[lyle_destroys]

If you're not going to get a chronograph shoot it at distance and plug your drops into a ballistic calculator to get velocity. It'll also show vertical if you have excessive ES.

I have a magnetospeed chronograph, just need to find the time to use it.

 

[16Bore]

Horizontal ain’t ammo. Trigger control, flinch, and parallax. Don’t touch a thing, shoot 5 more tomorrow. Don’t make any excuses about wind and pulling shots.

5 rounds says you shot 5 times.

 

[lyle_destroys]

Horizontal ain’t ammo. Trigger control, flinch, and parallax. Don’t touch a thing, shoot 5 more tomorrow. Don’t make any excuses about wind and pulling shots.

5 rounds says you shot 5 times.

I'm going to shoot another 5 at 100, 5 at 200 and probably run 5 over the chrono. This should give me some more data to work off of at least. The nosler website is saying I should be around 2900 fps and I would be very happy with that.

 

[Nealm66]

Thanks for posting, my brother just bought this same gun/caliber. Having a muzzle brake installed. Might save me some time. Do these guns still have 1 in 12 twist? I thought I read that somewhere

 

[archp625]

If you are getting 2800-2850 with a 180 in a 300 WSM you are doing great. Look at the Nosler load data. As far has horizontal strings that's more than likely the shooter. I would said stock pressure or trigger.

 

[lyle_destroys]

Thanks for posting, my brother just bought this same gun/caliber. Having a muzzle brake installed. Might save me some time. Do these guns still have 1 in 12 twist? I thought I read that somewhere

I'm pretty sure they are 1-12. I was surprised it shoots 200gr eldxs at about 3/4 moa. Hes guna love the rifle though. I haven't talked to anyone that doesnt love their tikka.

 

[lyle_destroys]

If you are getting 2800-2850 with a 180 in a 300 WSM you are doing great. Look at the Nosler load data. As far has horizontal strings that's more than likely the shooter. I would said stock pressure or trigger.

This is what I looked up this morning. I know nosler can inflate data a little but that was tested with a 24" barrel also.

 

[archp625]

This is what I looked up this morning. I know nosler can inflate data a little but that was tested with a 24" barrel also.

Very true. Sometimes its better to go to the powder companies website than the bullet manufacturers info. I still think you are good.

Have you pressure tested your round?

 

[lyle_destroys]

Very true. Sometimes its better to go to the powder companies website than the bullet manufacturers info. I still think you are good.

Have you pressure tested your round?

No but I haven't had any primer cratering or hard bolt lift at this charge. It's been raining constantly here or else I would go shoot some more groups and really settle the rifle into some bags to see if i could tighten up that group.

 

[16Bore]

I'm going to shoot another 5 at 100, 5 at 200 and probably run 5 over the chrono. This should give me some more data to work off of at least. The nosler website is saying I should be around 2900 fps and I would be very happy with that.

The only number I trust from Nosler is the phone number, and even that’s questionable. Their BC numbers are whatever Brian Litz says.

Pay attention to scope parallax when you’re shooting, and I’d try to launch every single one of them over the chrono. I reckon it depends on your set up. Might as well kill 2 birds with one stone.

 

[lyle_destroys]

The only number I trust from Nosler is the phone number, and even that’s questionable. Their BC numbers are whatever Brian Litz says.

Pay attention to scope parallax when you’re shooting, and I’d try to launch every single one of them over the chrono. I reckon it depends on your set up. Might as well kill 2 birds with one stone.

I actually found the pdf file with his test results of many different bullets. It should be a sticky thread on here.