Thread: First hand loaded shots 22-250

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Well have tried some other shots but these are the first I recorded as being close to what I want to achieve.

Mixed brass, Sierra Blitzking 55gr and ADI 2208 powder.

Target 3 was shot with 35.5gr and target 4 with 36gr, rifle normally shoots 1/2" groups of factory at 100m and is sighted to shoot 1" high at 100m. It was quite a windy evening too but we rarely get any still days here unless its the depths of winter.

Attachment 159337
Attachment 159338

Not sure why the pictures are on their side either.

Greetings Happy Jack,
From your description of performance with Factory loads it appears that the rifle is capable of decent accuracy so it is a matter of looking in what has changed starting with the shooting. Did you shoot the 0.5 inch groups and if so were they shot under the same conditions and with the same technique? You mention it was windy which would account for some of the lateral dispersion but there seems to be a lot of vertical in there as well. Did you have a rock steady rest like a bench with front and rear bags and was the same technique used for each shot? Did you shoot the three shots in one string without getting up and walking around or waiting for the barrel to cool? Did you feel steady on the day? Everybody has of days, especially me.
Next the loading. Widerange has mentioned the need to segregate brass by head stamp at least. I also like to ensure that each batch of cases is loaded together so they are all fired the same number of times. Were the cases neck sized or full length sized just enough to chamber? Were the primer pockets cleaned and the primers seated just below flush in the pocket? You can check this by rubbing your thumb over the seated primer. Ones that are not fully seated are easy to spot this way. Primers that are not fully seated can produce some very large groups. Were the cases trimmed? There are a few things to look at. With the loads you mention there seems to be a lot of vertical between the groups and I would look hard at bench technique. A run down on your loading steps and kit might help if you wish to post them.
Regards Grandpamac.