I was going to write this one up as a post by itself but Grimo's thread seems just built for it.
While it was still hot i decided to do some load development using the optimal charge weight method. For those not familiar with this it involves shooting off a shitload of rounds at different charges to find a zone of minimal POI change across a range of charges. The idea for this is that as I live in the desert I wanted to find a load that was consistent across a range of temperatures as well as safe even in extreme heat. I can be shooting a rifle that has been sitting on the dash in 45 degree heat during the summer or be spotlighting at -5 during the winter, so it seemed a good idea
So with the mercury registering 41 Celcius in the shade I set off with about 50 rounds for the 223 (40gn Sierra BK's) and 100rnds for the 30-06 (180gn Woodleigh PP). This was before I had read AI's post on using different coloured texta's (which works and is a bloody good idea). I set up the target at 200m and procedded to fire off the rounds walking out to the target and back every three to five shots to record where they landed (i dont have a spotting scope either
) and cleaning the barrell every 10 or so.
It took a few hours, the fly's were shitfull and I ended up walking about 10km (cant drive its a conservation area) drank about 12L of water but by the end of it I was happy. a dependable load for the 223 and for the 30-06 but f@#k me was I sweating.
The 223 was sighted in the next evening prior to doing a boundary run but I left the 30-06 for a while.
Anyway I told that story to set the scene for this one.........
Elmer Fudd gives me a call, says "I am on my block off want to go punch some holes in paper?" you bet I reply and grab the 30-06, another 100rnds loaded with the "pet load" (as yet not sighted in), targets, bench, cleaning gear etc. Out to the shooting loop set up and away we go.
1st shot at 100m exactly on target 2"high
2nd and 3rd at 200m through the same hole .5"high
shot 4 (200m) 12" to the left of shots 2&3
Shots 5,6,7,8,9 make a group about 5"diameter at 200 WTF
I then spend the next hour shooting steadily worsening groups, swearing.
By now I have shot 50 rnds into a 2' circle I have a bruise developing on my shoulder and all I can think about is how much I sweated developing this load. I am ready to pull the rest of the bullets and I am puting the rifle away in the bag when I notice the rear scope mount has come loose
What a wanker I am. Elmer Fudd is pissing himself having sat smuggly shooting 1"" groups all afternoon, eventually giving that way to play with the shotgun (which still grouped better than me)
You would think that I would have noticed.....
anyway thats what shits me
Dr G
