PathFinder
WKR
I've posted a few questions leading up to this thread. I've had the rifle on hand for about a month now and have completed load development and initial trajectory validation.
Specs:
-Tikka T3 Lite 300 WSM. $570 from Euro Optic
-Manners EHT. Was $520. Had it on another rifle, it's been mothballed for a couple of years. I modified it for my LOP, added a Sims pad, and flush cups. Bedded as well.
-SWFA 12x Mil/Mil scope. Not my first choice for an all around hunting rifle, but I'm pinching pennies on this build and I had it laying around.
-Sportsmatch T084 rings
-Norma brass. Got it from a friend, all once fired from Christensen Arms. Have had `150 pieces laying around prepped and primed for 4 years.
-Hornady 208 ELD M
-RL 23
-I think CCI 250 primers. Might be 200s, I'm going to pop one out and check.
Still to add:
-LivetoHuntID mini ARCA rail
-Lumley arms bolt handle
-Maybe thread and a brake. Recoil isn't unpleasant, but I can't spot my own hits. Not ideal for solo hunts.
-Extended short mag magazine. I'm going to play around with a CF nylon 3d print of my own, if that doesn't pan out I'll order an HCA.
Initial load development went well. I got to 68 grains of RL23 pretty easily. Light ejector mark, but nothing crazy. 66 and 68.2 shot well, so I loaded up more and went to 1K. That's where things went haywire. I was using a pic rail and Leupold PRW rings (again, just had them laying around). After 60 rounds chasing my tail and re-mounting the scope, I decided to swap mounts and maybe scopes. I was able to get Sportsmatch rings from a member here, and the issue was resolved. Very solid mounts and dropped close to 4 oz as well. With the same SWFA optic, I did a test at 3.060 (.005 off lans), 3.040, and 3.020 COAL w/68.2 grains of powder. 3.020 was a clear winner, I can cover the 5 shot group with a quarter. I'll take a pic of the 1k plate tomorrow, but I'm very happy with it. 1 MOA or so at 940 in bad Wyoming winds for 10 shots. My data is spot on using AB's custom profile for this bullet at 2958 fps...That was my target velocity, but I figured 2850 was more realistic. Very happy with that. Not chrony data, but I'm making hits with what I have.
Pic of the bullets and rounds show what the Tikka throat is like. Left is a 178 ELD X loaded to mag length. Right is the 208 ELD M, at 3.020 COAL I'm about .045 off the lans. The boat tails and bearing surfaces are nearly identical between the two. If I were going all out, I'd cut the throat out about .200" to get the bullet out where it belongs, but this is a budget build and I'm getting great results. I'll take some pics of the rifle and 1k plate tomorrow.
Next Steps:
Trajectory validation from 300-1500
Positional field shooting off tripod when the ARCA rail gets here
Wind practice in field conditions
Terminal test at 1500
Specs:
-Tikka T3 Lite 300 WSM. $570 from Euro Optic
-Manners EHT. Was $520. Had it on another rifle, it's been mothballed for a couple of years. I modified it for my LOP, added a Sims pad, and flush cups. Bedded as well.
-SWFA 12x Mil/Mil scope. Not my first choice for an all around hunting rifle, but I'm pinching pennies on this build and I had it laying around.
-Sportsmatch T084 rings
-Norma brass. Got it from a friend, all once fired from Christensen Arms. Have had `150 pieces laying around prepped and primed for 4 years.
-Hornady 208 ELD M
-RL 23
-I think CCI 250 primers. Might be 200s, I'm going to pop one out and check.
Still to add:
-LivetoHuntID mini ARCA rail
-Lumley arms bolt handle
-Maybe thread and a brake. Recoil isn't unpleasant, but I can't spot my own hits. Not ideal for solo hunts.
-Extended short mag magazine. I'm going to play around with a CF nylon 3d print of my own, if that doesn't pan out I'll order an HCA.
Initial load development went well. I got to 68 grains of RL23 pretty easily. Light ejector mark, but nothing crazy. 66 and 68.2 shot well, so I loaded up more and went to 1K. That's where things went haywire. I was using a pic rail and Leupold PRW rings (again, just had them laying around). After 60 rounds chasing my tail and re-mounting the scope, I decided to swap mounts and maybe scopes. I was able to get Sportsmatch rings from a member here, and the issue was resolved. Very solid mounts and dropped close to 4 oz as well. With the same SWFA optic, I did a test at 3.060 (.005 off lans), 3.040, and 3.020 COAL w/68.2 grains of powder. 3.020 was a clear winner, I can cover the 5 shot group with a quarter. I'll take a pic of the 1k plate tomorrow, but I'm very happy with it. 1 MOA or so at 940 in bad Wyoming winds for 10 shots. My data is spot on using AB's custom profile for this bullet at 2958 fps...That was my target velocity, but I figured 2850 was more realistic. Very happy with that. Not chrony data, but I'm making hits with what I have.
Pic of the bullets and rounds show what the Tikka throat is like. Left is a 178 ELD X loaded to mag length. Right is the 208 ELD M, at 3.020 COAL I'm about .045 off the lans. The boat tails and bearing surfaces are nearly identical between the two. If I were going all out, I'd cut the throat out about .200" to get the bullet out where it belongs, but this is a budget build and I'm getting great results. I'll take some pics of the rifle and 1k plate tomorrow.
Next Steps:
Trajectory validation from 300-1500
Positional field shooting off tripod when the ARCA rail gets here
Wind practice in field conditions
Terminal test at 1500