Sierra Heavy TMK 6MM Testing

[ckt3]

After just buying my first prefit and seeing how much these suckers cost, yall are stressing me out at the idea of a $800 tomato stake.

 

[Harvey_NW]

After just buying my first prefit and seeing how much these suckers cost, yall are stressing me out at the idea of a $800 tomato stake.

I wouldn't stress it if you handload and have a bit of patience, it can usually be achieved with good components and solid fundamentals.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

After just buying my first prefit and seeing how much these suckers cost, yall are stressing me out at the idea of a $800 tomato stake.

I would not stress over it. I am confident that there are loads that work in almost every modern rifle barrel from a reputable manufacturer, it’s just a matter of what works and how hard it is to find it.

Having realistic expectations and an honest assessment of your own abilities is crucial.

A few months ago, I sold a rifle because I couldn’t get it to shoot 10 shots under 2” with any factory ammo I tried. The average groups were just over 2.5”. I made no representations as to how it shot. The guy I sold it to sent me a “thank you” with a picture of a 5-shot group. He said it was the most impressive rifle he had ever fired and appreciated me selling him such a great rifle. The group was 3 shots touching with a “flyer” on each side about 1.5” inches from the rest of the group.

 

[bpitcher]

Some more with the 116s.

6CM 18"



Moved .1 R

 

[huntsd]

sticking with the 107s for my gun so selling my 116s if anyone wants them

WTS Thread '116 tmk'

Today at 12:01 PM

unopened box = 100 bullets
Open box = 35 bullets
pulled with collet die = 27 bullets

162 bullets total - $70 tyd

• huntsd
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Rokslide Classifieds

 

[mlevimadden]

After just buying my first prefit and seeing how much these suckers cost, yall are stressing me out at the idea of a $800 tomato stake.

I'll echo what the others said about not sweating it. It's not common in the reloading voodoo and fudd gunwriter fields, but the best way to approach your rifle build and load selection is from a systems engineering standpoint where you define what the requirements are that the system needs to achieve. Set realistic requirements, and once you've met them you're done. Here's an example requirements list that would be pretty applicable on rokslide.

1. Reliably feeds and functions in field conditions
   • This is why Tikkas with factory mags and triggers are so popular on here.
   • If reloading, make sure you have a few thousandths headspace bump, aren't right up against the lands, and don't run too hot where you're popping primers in hot or wet weather.
2. Holds a repeatable zero in field conditions
   • This is why the drop tests and scope/ring combos that actually retain zero during use are so popular on here.
3. Meets minimum caliber requirements and legal restrictions for the states/species you plan to hunt
4. Is capable of taking (fill in the blank) animal at (fill in the blank) maximum distance.
   • This drives your bullet choice, minimum muzzle velocity, and required precision.
   • Be honest with yourself, say you want to be able to shoot mule deer (10"ish vitals) at 400 yards. You need to have a 2.5 MOA rifle/shooter combo in the positions and conditions you plan to shoot from for your max distance. Once you have achieved that, you're done.
5. Any certain length or weight requirements for a field rifle.
   • This drives barrel length that affects cartridge selection.
   • Decreased weight comes at the expense of precision and felt recoil.
6. Has the minimum amount of recoil for meeting the other requirements.
   • This has the benefit of increased precision in field conditions, ability to spot and correct shots as the shooter, and quicker follow-up shots.

Once you have met your requirements from prone, you're way better off practicing building positions and shooting in field conditions under stress to increase your odds of killing an animal over spending hours on load development. The WEZ has done a great job showing how little impact having an extremely accurate field rifle affects cold bore hit rates on big game vitals sized targets.

My NRL Hunters rifle averages 1.2 MOA for 10-shot groups. The best group I've ever shot was 0.8 and worst is 1.4. Even on those small targets at matches, I can hardly remember the last target I missed with it that wasn't due to me making a bad wind call, building a crappy position, ranging incorrectly, or executing a poor shot.

 

[Chad Dembinski]

Some more with the 116s.

6CM 18"

View attachment 1052685

Moved .1 R
View attachment 1052686

Hey what was your Coal on these loads?

 

[bpitcher]

Hey what was your Coal on these loads?

2.895 - right about the neck/shoulder junction.

 

[ckt3]

… the best way to approach your rifle build and load selection is from a systems engineering standpoint where you define what the requirements are that the system needs to achieve. Set realistic requirements, and once you've met them you're done. Here's an example…

Makes sense and is a very pragmatic approach to understand details/nuances but not get lost in them. That’s a breath of fresh air vs. the common approach of endlessly optimizing individual variables without much ROI. My undergrad degree was ISE actually, so It’s satisfying to see this logic laid out. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jmedin]

Yeah if I can't find a load for a barrel that will do 10 at or under an inch, it gets tomato staked.

That’s why I’m getting rid of my 22 creed barrel won’t group to my expectations with any bullet or powder I have tried. I think I’m gonna replace it with a 22 dasher or bra

 

[Harvey_NW]

That’s why I’m getting rid of my 22 creed barrel won’t group to my expectations with any bullet or powder I have tried. I think I’m gonna replace it with a 22 dasher or bra

My new 6 Creed barrel is starting out a little picky with the best combo being 108 ELD-M/H4350 at about 1.1" for 10 which I know is fine, but I'm gonna snag some N555 from a buddy and test that and some combos with the 107's as well when I get a chance to see if I can get something under 1" to give me warm and fuzzies. I've got twins on the way so my to do list got longer and my loading and range time got slashed lol.

 

[Lawnboi]

That’s why I’m getting rid of my 22 creed barrel won’t group to my expectations with any bullet or powder I have tried. I think I’m gonna replace it with a 22 dasher or bra

Picky and long 22 cal bullets go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Just build a 6 dasher and call it a day.

 

[Jmedin]

Picky and long 22 cal bullets go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Just build a 6 dasher and call it a day.

lol I already have a 6 dasher

 

[Jmedin]

My new 6 Creed barrel is starting out a little picky with the best combo being 108 ELD-M/H4350 at about 1.1" for 10 which I know is fine, but I'm gonna snag some N555 from a buddy and test that and some combos with the 107's as well when I get a chance to see if I can get something under 1" to give me warm and fuzzies. I've got twins on the way so my to do list got longer and my loading and range time got slashed lol.

When I get some time I’m gonna work some more with my new 6 creed but so far it’s doing pretty good with the 116 and H1000 it’s shoot a 1.06 10 shot group