Shooting my Homeloads

[SportingShooter 0]

I finally got the chance to get out and spend a couple of hours Punching paper today.

 

I've been loading a few different loads this week with the new Press and equipment. I fired a few off on Saturday but it was only a spur of the moment session. Today was different in that I had time, no wind and a bright day.

 

I changed the scope on the rifle to one with a Higher magnification, from 4-9x50, to 4-16x50. And it has improved things a great deal

 

I put the target up against a soft earth bank and went back 25 yards to get the windage right. I used my factory loads to get it on target, at least they would get it on an A4 sheet. I got the windage right and then adjusted the elevation a bit to what I thought would be acceptable.

 

I walked back to 100 yards and set up for Zeroing the homeloads. I put a 50gr Sierra Blitzking on top of 21gr of H4895 up the spout. Fired it.

 

It was exceptionally high, but I wound that down, the next shot was closer, the next better still, until I had the elevation sorted. The windage was only about two inches out, the next two shots sorted that out. Problem By this time I only had four 21gr Blitzkings left I fired them anyway! Not grouping as well as I'd hoped, just over an inch.

 

By this time, the 21's were gone. Now I had 8 Hornady 50gr V-Max on top of 21gr of H4895. I just loaded them for the sake of it last night. Fired off three to find out what they Zero was like, a little fine tuning and the third shot was bang on. I then tried a group around a Drawing pin Oooer, they weren't bad at all, about and Inch group Maybe slightly under.

 

At this point, I had finished my 21gr of any sort. But then I remembered, besides the factory loads I had on me, I also had five 50gr Blitzkings on 23gr of H4895. I thought, feck it, shoot them off. I was surprised

Not only was the Zero the same as the Hornady's, they shot an awful lot better I did another group around a Drawing pin. It worked out around half inch, which for me is very good indeed. The first shot slightly above the pin, the second through the same hole. The third, 1/4in to the left, the fourth through near the same hole as the third! The fifth was a bit of a flyer, but I jerked the shot, it went about 3/4in below the pin.

I think I'll be loading a few more of them then.....................................

 

I'm getting into this thing now that i've seen the outcome!

 

ATB

SS

 

Here are some pictures I took, on request

 

The 21gr, Blitzkings, five shot group.

 

The 23gr, Blitzkings, five shot group.

 

Have I somehow swapped the Rifle for the Shotgun

 

My perfect bullseye when zeroing

 

The rifle, scope and can of Pepsi

 

The Large hole in the earth bank...satisfying

[Mr Adventure 0]

The best way of testing loads SS is to invest in a set of bags (front and rear) so as to get as much consistency as possible with point of aim, or the next best thing is your bipod and a old sock filled with rice for the rifle butt. Works a treat.

This way you can squeeze the sock to raise and lower the butt as required.

If you use bags or a sock you get rid of all doubts about your loads not being accurate.

Looks like you had a few good groups by the pictures.

 

 

Good luck

[Daieye68 1]

nice shooting seems like a few grains more of powder is more accurate

a mate of mine is going to load some 22/250 for me on wednesday

then i'll get the kit Dai

[SportingShooter 0]

Seen as that was my first attempt at grouping, I was fair impressed

 

More fun to come as it were.................

[SNAP SHOT 194]

YES fun......... ...................................

[Mr_Logic 5]

I am also enjoying this, slightly further on than you SS, as I am impatient. Since getting the kit I have fired > 200 rounds, most of which is load testing/zeroing. I have now got both my 223s to around half an inch, the Remington under and the CZ slightly over.

 

In the Remington I tried:

 

69gr Lapua with 21.2gr,23.5gr,24gr,24.5gr of AA2230 powder (23.5 is the manufacturer max load, many people online and other reloading manuals said 24.5gr is OK, and I tried it without pressure signs). 23.5 shoots the best by far, two groups of all touching (except the odd one I pull ) So I am sticking with that

 

69gr 23.5gr AA2230 Lapua with Prvi, not Federal brass. Shoots similarly well, but high/right by about an inch.

 

CZ was:

 

35gr

40gr

50gr

55gr

 

All Hornady V-max. Each had a min/max load made and tested. And then on Sunday I came up with a blinder - 25.4gr AA2460 with a 50gr v-max. Works well, and was completely accidental - 25gr is the max published load in Accurate's blurb, though Sierra and others say I could go all the way to 26gr+. Left the scales for the 55gr I made the day before... Ooops...

 

But bloody hell they worked well, so can't argue. Also tried them in the Remington and that worked, too.

 

Good fun this reloading lark!

[SportingShooter 0]

Impatient and have more time than me to be doing it

 

But it seems that the venture was worth it Just have to follow the outcome as we go along. Certainly plenty more loads to try.

 

Though you have more calibres to be doing

[Deker 3,478]

I can't deny, for what is still very early days, I have shot some half decent groups with Mr L's guns and his own loads.

 

Just can't be doing with it myself at the moment, but like they say, Never say Never..........one question...........what colour Anorak do I need to join the club??

[riohog 5,721]

I can't deny, for what is still very early days, I have shot some half decent groups with Mr L's guns and his own loads.

 

Just can't be doing with it myself at the moment, but like they say, Never say Never..........one question...........what colour Anorak do I need to join the club??

 

 

 

 

GREEN

[Mr_Logic 5]

Impatient and have more time than me to be doing it

 

But it seems that the venture was worth it Just have to follow the outcome as we go along. Certainly plenty more loads to try.

 

Though you have more calibres to be doing

 

Indeed! 204 Ruger and 22 Hornet, as well as 308 to do.

 

Might end up back with 243 at some stage, as I have a lot of time for that calibre. Hours of fun

[SportingShooter 0]

Impatient and have more time than me to be doing it

 

But it seems that the venture was worth it Just have to follow the outcome as we go along. Certainly plenty more loads to try.

 

Though you have more calibres to be doing

 

Indeed! 204 Ruger and 22 Hornet, as well as 308 to do.

 

Might end up back with 243 at some stage, as I have a lot of time for that calibre. Hours of fun

I'm sticking to .222 until at least the beginning of next year. When a Deer rifle may well be added on to my FAC. Who knows

[provarmint 25]

Good start SS

[Mr_Logic 5]

Got to shoot my 50gr accidental loads at animals yesterday, 3 rabbits and 1 fox, all bullets hit precisely where aimed. Very happy camper, and they worked well too. Perfect shot on Charlie - hit at the base of the right ear, coming from behind (he was facing away, but cocked his head round to check me out - bad plan!) - took the brain out neatly, left the rest. One neat and tidy, but very dead fox. Sadly I left my phone in the car so no picture - I really couldn't be arsed lugging a dead fox 300 yards just to pose for a picture!!

[Yokel Matt 918]

Very nice grouping there, must be very satisfying dropping game at range knowing that you've had a hand in pretty much the entire process. Is it my imagination or had the rock just above your back stop got a bullet strike and splash in the middle of it?

[SportingShooter 0]

Very nice grouping there, must be very satisfying dropping game at range knowing that you've had a hand in pretty much the entire process. Is it my imagination or had the rock just above your back stop got a bullet strike and splash in the middle of it?

Its your eyes