What did you do at the range today?

[Wrench]

I ran my latest project through the shop....and the results were favorable. 22" 308win 175tmk @ 2750.

 

[steelheadmike]

I tried SB6.5 briefly in my 7x57 a while back (just a hair more powder capacity as a 7mm-08 Ackley), and it was definitely VERY "glitchy". I got nowhere near the listed Hodgdon max loads or velocity before I was getting obvious pressure signs; case head swipe, sticky bolt lift. ES/SD were horrific as well (over 100 FPS spread), and I was using WLR Mag primers, so I don't think I was under-powered primer-wise, LOL. Maybe it works better in a Creedmoor or a 30-06, but I kind of gave up on it at that point and haven't messed with it since.

If you have't tried it already, you might try some Varget in your 7mm-08. I was pushing 140's around 2850 FPS at a grain under Hodgdon's listed max in my 22.4 inch Tikka, and it was the most accurate load I found for it back when I had that gun. I'd bet you could comfortably get a 150 up into the 2680 to 2700 range (Hodgdon and QuickLoad both agree), and would have quite a bit less temp sensitivity than you got there.

I haven’t tried Varget yet but have been tempted to give it a shot. I have a 19” barrel so I have been happy to trade a little bit of temp sensitivity for a good velocity bump, hence the SB6.5 and N550.

I did the temperature tests more to see what would happen in hotter conditions and make sure everything was gonna be good. I shot some near max loads using Superformance last year in hot conditions that resulted in super heavy bolt lift, solid ejector marks, and some fairly flat primers. Just trying to avoid that for the most part.

 

[43.6N]

Today I made sure the video recording software and hardware (aka my phone leaning against a shooting bag and binos on the hood of my truck) was fully functional in preparation for the upcoming cold bore challenge.

6GT 18” barrel
33gr Varget
116 tmk
Barrel seems to have sped up just a hair.
Last 20 rounds have been 2725-ish


Also, found a decent sized cuddle-critter on my way home.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

Sent 15 rounds with the Shilen 30-06. This is a composite score from 3 groups of 5, and overall I'm not too unhappy with that. 168 Tipped Matchkings, 51 grains of Varget in Win brass @ 2844 FPS average for all 15 shots. I was getting a LOT of velocity deviation - 58 FPS ES/ and 14.9 SD, so I am fairly confident this would have been better if that was not so wide a spread. Next time, in the Lapua brass should tighten that up.

I still am not thrilled that all I've gotten to shoot well in this rifle so far are matchkings, but I'd at least hunt with a TMK in a pinch, where I would not with a SMK. 165 Nosler's will be my next test, and then I'll see if I can get this gun to shoot in a lighter stock I'd be more likely to take hunting than this Magpul thing (dam, it heavy).

 

[Longdrive]

Last outing I “found” something my rifle liked so because it’s kind of a bear to find accurate loads for it. (The other accurate load is with
Norma powder so it’s impossible to find)

RL17 with Barnes 165 ttsx. I stopped at 4 shots cause the barrel got hot and the group looks good.

I’ll retry the load again at longer range to see if it holds up.

 

[Chris in TN]

Yesterday: Shot the 6.5cm at 500, seated. Two shots, just to get out of the house for a minute after work.

Today: more Tikka .223, seated, at 225 and 400, with my oldest. I'm planning to have my middle child shoot much more this summer but she couldn't go this afternoon. Anyway, the oldest and I got the .223 nice and hot and she got to see mirage off the suppressor for the first time today. We let it cool for a minute then she went back to hitting.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

Sent 15 rounds with the Shilen 30-06. This is a composite score from 3 groups of 5, and overall I'm not too unhappy with that. 168 Tipped Matchkings, 51 grains of Varget in Win brass @ 2844 FPS average for all 15 shots. I was getting a LOT of velocity deviation - 58 FPS ES/ and 14.9 SD, so I am fairly confident this would have been better if that was not so wide a spread. Next time, in the Lapua brass should tighten that up.

I still am not thrilled that all I've gotten to shoot well in this rifle so far are matchkings, but I'd at least hunt with a TMK in a pinch, where I would not with a SMK. 165 Nosler's will be my next test, and then I'll see if I can get this gun to shoot in a lighter stock I'd be more likely to take hunting than this Magpul thing (dam, it heavy).

View attachment 1075053

Well, you'd think 165 Nosler Ballistic Tip's with that nice tangent ogive would shoot about as good as a TMK, wouldn't you? Well, at least in my gun, you'd be way wrong. Back to the mother loving drawing board... sigh.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Didnt think I was gonna be able to shoot today but as luck would have it I made it out.
Brought along 223 that I dropped back into the factory stock with a fullframe kit to shoot for awhile.
7mm08, and 243win also made the trip.
Rezeroed 223 from stock swap, check zero on 243win and 7mm08.
7-08 was .2 high I just compensated in my dope, also loaded some 162eldx to see how it faired against my Eldm load also with SB 6.5, shot okay.

My 243 really likes the 105vlds but I have a pile of 108 elite hunters, I’ll likley burn the barrel down with those.



88TMK in 223 today shot meh at 100 compared to what is has been producing, but at 527yds it was very consistent again. Although not having optimal twist and living at sea level these bullets out to 500 have been great. 12 for 12 my first round at 527yds, then took a vid of 11 more in a row.

And took one of my 7mm08 for shits and grins

Unfortunately didnt record my 243win at distance as I thought it was videoing but was not, great day to be outside and send em.

 

[TradLife406]

I did a quick function test yesterday of my trainer and 6 UM.
Did a barrel swap on the 6 and the trainer got a Rokstok with the Red Snake bdm. Gave them a very rough zero since I assume Form will have us do a definite zero at S2HU tomorrow.

Pretty excited to be able to use aics mags in the trainer. It feeds pretty good. Only issue is I can't be gentle about running the bolt. If I slowly run it the round won't chamber and will jam against the chamber rim.