Finally getting around to 'working up a load'
I've been putting off and putting off loading up some test rounds with different powder loads for the 243. I've been wanting to give up procrastinating for a while too, but I keep putting that off. With my first safe reloads I was getting 25mm groups at 100m so figured that was near enough but after finding TR's rifle was getting 20mm groups with the same load something had to be done.
So I loaded up a handful of rounds of each load in 0.5gn increments from 0.5gn under book max (and 0.5gn above the previous safe load) to 1.5gn over book max where I'd been told I would likely find a node. Then it was off to the range. Not a lot of wind and it was fairly warm. I figured I wouldn't get too fancy and just fired off the various loads in succession at separate targets with a half hour break between each to allow the rifle to cool down (that reminds me of another project) and just see how each lot went.
Well the first lot seemed fairly close, the next load up spread out a bit (30mm), the next after that spread out even more (63mm), the next was starting to come down again (41mm) last lot was coming down further again though I pulled one shot (44mm incl pulled shot, 34mm excl). I noticed the rifle felt a lot 'rougher' firing with the worst loads and as the groups came down again it was still more pleasant to shoot.
With each shot I immediately opened the bolt to improve cooling and while waiting inspected each case for over pressure signs before putting the empty away. No pressure signs were noticed and I suspect that 2gn over book max may have had me pretty close to another node, and I suppose in hindsight it would have been wise to have had that loaded up too. Never mind though, I think I'll stick with the lower node as a 7mm group at 100m doesn't seem too bad and it will likely be easier on the barrel.
Next will have to be loading up a dose more of this load and pick a day when the chrony will give some readings.:oh noes:
