Thread: What's going on here??

Leaving bullets sitting in the sun for 10 min. would do it

The barrel cooled down. Test it: Shoot three rounds, one every ten minutes so the barrel cools down in between, and I am betting they will be the similiar speed as the last three.

Make it go faster. You're letting down .308's everywhere. My .30/06 is laughing his cake hole off.

I don't think it liked spicy loads from memory

If it was my rifle I'd be concerned too. I'd follow GPM's advice. Aside from that the chrono could be the issue, certainly if the overhead conditions changed. MD has a good point as well. Zero 2 to 3 inch's high at 100. For me the issue is having confidence in the rifle and load more than anything else. Cheers and good luck.

Greetings again,
Looking at those velocities again the 136 fps loss of velocity is HUGE. It is equivalent to dropping the charge by two and a half grains. It is really important to find out what the problem, and there is a problem, is and correct it if the rifle is to be used at longer range. So please more information is needed starting with the powder charge and how it was measured and with what. What was different between the start and end. What was the chronograph and how was it set up. In no particular order I would suspect:
Chronograph error due to bright sunlight or varying set up.
Inaccurate powder measurement.
Loose suppressor.
Cartridges left in sun.
And many, many more.
Regards Grandpamac.

I would count it only as around 80 fps reduction overall. (That last shot I would consider a chorny anomoly until I retested it and found different)

Like 7mmsaum alluded to, some chronies will give varying results depending on whether its clear skies or overcast. Assuming his reloading process was good to go and the data shown was all for same charge weight then I'd validate at range using an MV of around 2480fps (close enough to the average of first group which from the data is what I'd interpret as the most reliable). Sing out if you want me to send you data for what your drop should be at desired range. Cheers

Got him to measure the drop at 200m and it was 18cm so that worked out to about 2380fps~ which is closer to the last shots. Only a pro chrono so not very trusting

Originally Posted by superdiver

Got him to measure the drop at 200m and it was 18cm so that worked out to about 2380fps~ which is closer to the last shots. Only a pro chrono so not very trusting

Starting to look as though it is a chrony problem in the bright light which I have seen before. The clincher would be the load. Hodgdon has velocities for a 15 inch barrel which should be close enough for 16 inches. It would seem that it is a light load that is most accurate which might indicate a bedding problem. Something to look into.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by superdiver

Got him to measure the drop at 200m and it was 18cm so that worked out to about 2380fps~ which is closer to the last shots. Only a pro chrono so not very trusting

Correct me if I'm wrong but the difference between 2480fps and 2380fps at 200m is only about 1/4 MOA (weather and atmospherics aside). Looking at the group in the first picture it doesn't look to be holding anywhere near that mate so measuring drop at 200m and making a velocity assumption based on that (where the rifle is not grouping well enough to give a "yes" or "no" between your two potential velocity ranges) may not be the most accurate. I'd be looking to do so at his max intended hunting range and adjust accordingly.

Originally Posted by Link

Correct me if I'm wrong but the difference between 2480fps and 2380fps at 200m is only about 1/4 MOA (weather and atmospherics aside). Looking at the group in the first picture it doesn't look to be holding anywhere near that mate so measuring drop at 200m and making a velocity assumption based on that (where the rifle is not grouping well enough to give a "yes" or "no" between your two potential velocity ranges) may not be the most accurate. I'd be looking to do so at his max intended hunting range and adjust accordingly.

Thats what I thought that first group looks like 1.75 inches or close to it, the error is too great to be able to make a calculation about velocity

What is the shot order of those last 3 shots?

bottom line here...its a short barrel and a slow load....400 meters is a long way away...he will NEED to be using rangefinder with somewhere around 30" of drop..dialing will probably be needed too..... he might just have to stalk closer..300 is much more achievable.

its your chronograph, thats why i switched to a magnetospeed. bit not worth it if you not shooting long range.
My Prochrono used to drive me mad as the light changed, there are tricks you can use to make it better but easiest is work out approx where you are at 1350fps down range and shoot to test the drop, then backcalculate the speed.

it a couple of steps above a 30/30.....lets be completely honest....not that much faster...so is it really a 400yard rifle???