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Posted: 9/21/2011 4:56:18 PM EDT
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Here is my new Dtech 25 WSSM, Yesturday I made a couple trips to the range for Break in, Sight-in and Load development.
I just got a new shooting rest, so I was trying that out also. couple range pics. 
I started out load development by trying some lower pressure loads and working up as I was sighting in and breaking in the bbl. I didn't really care to see them on paper because I was simply checking to see if there were any pressure signs as I worked up to higher charge loads. The bullet I hoped to use was a 100gr Nosler Partition, my back up plan was a 100gr sierra pro hunter. Max load was listed at 42.8 Gr varget. I shot 3 loads for the 100gr Nosler Partition with 3 shots each, just to guage potential. Charges and velocities are ... 41.7gr 3052,3059,(no data chrono error) 42.0gr 2930(possible chrono error also),3099,and 3088 42.3 gr 3127,3124,3114. The results were not too impressive, the 3rd shot on the 42.3 load was off the paper. There were no pressure signs but the bolt locked back on a loaded mag 4 times in 9 shots. 
The next loads with the SPH's were... 41.7 3119,3103,3104 42.0 3141,3169,3171 42.3 3187,3158,3162 These showed some promise, there were no pressure signs, but again the bolt locked back on a loaded mag. I unscrewed the Mag catch one turn and it happened one more time but then stopped. 
I returned home and loaded a few more of the sierra pro hunters at, 41.5, 41.8 and 42.5. results were 41.5.3089,3096,3115 41.8 3107,3110,3112 42.5 3161,3169,3165 Pretty impressive ES on those last 2 loads. Function was perfect with all of these loads and again they show some potential. 
42.5gr showed slight primer flatening, but very minor. I will load 5 more at each of the loads that showed promise and maybe 5 at Max load of 42.8 and try them tomorrow. So far so good, I hope to have this rifle ready to go by deer season. A couple notes, the shooting sled worked great and gave a very stable platform, sportsmans warehouse had them on sale for 49.95 last week and I'm glad I picked one up. The vortex scope was very good except for one thing, the eye relief when at the max Power (20X) was very stingy, I had to move the mount back one slot on the rail even though it was perfect at low power when I mounted it. I was pleased with the PEPR mount, in that when I removed it and moved it back a notch, POI did not change. Thats my results so far, I hope to dial it in tommorow. |
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Well, Just got back from range session 3. I picked up a friend on the way to the range and he was sighting in a 7mm-08. This range trip should be titled "the trouble with 3 shot groups". :(
I tried 3 different Loads today, two with the Nosler partitions.(because I didn't want to give up on them) and one group of 5 on the load I though I might settle on for the sierra pro hunters. First 3 shot group at 40.7gr varget with the Nosler Partition was about 1.5 inches. Then I tried the 5 rounds with 41.8 varget and 100gr sierra Pro hunters. I loaded 3 in the magazine and shot 1, wrote down the chrono reading and picked up the brass for inspection. All looked well. I took shot 2, wrote down the chrono reading, picked up the brass and looked it over and returned to the scope. "Wait, Did I miss the paper?" My buddie looked through the spotting scope..."nope its in the same hole". I took shot 3. Repeated my routine and looked through the scope. "wait, that's in the same hole too? Buddie, "almost" :) I had to walk down range and take a pic just for fun. :thumbup: 
I loaded the last 2 rounds in the mag, determined to finish the 5 shot group but with high hopes that I had my load. I took shot 4, wrote the data, inpected the brass and looked through the scope. "Danggit" low and Right. settled in for shot 5. "Crap" high left, my great 3 shot group had turned into a craptastic 1.50 inch group Guess I don't have my load after all :( This is why I don't use 3 shot groups for load evaluation, I've seen it before. 
I finished with the Nosler partion load at 41.0 Varget and it was right at 2 inches...sigh the struggle continues :( I wish I had a magazine that held 5 rounds, so i could shoot a continuous string without moving everything about. Guess I'll try some IMR4350 |
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very interesting caliber.
What are you useing for a trigger? 1.5" isn't super tack driveing but it might be a streach to blame everything on the load You aparently expect more , are you sure you and the gun are up to it? Have you shot better than 1" with another upper/caliper? What kind of hunting ( I believe you said deer) but what will your shooting position be? what other calibers does this outfit offer? |
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Quoted:
very interesting caliber. What are you useing for a trigger? 1.5" isn't super tack driveing but it might be a streach to blame everything on the load You aparently expect more , are you sure you and the gun are up to it? Have you shot better than 1" with another upper/caliper? What kind of hunting ( I believe you said deer) but what will your shooting position be? what other calibers does this outfit offer? here is their website Dtech |
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very interesting caliber. Yes it is, It's about the most punch you can get out of the AR15 platform. What are you useing for a trigger? RR 2 stage National match, it's a very good trigger. 1.5" isn't super tack driveing but it might be a streach to blame everything on the load, Well I'm confident it's not the optics or the shooter, and hopeful that it's not the rifle. You aparently expect more , are you sure you and the gun are up to it? Have you shot better than 1" with another upper/caliper? Yes, regularly, I have very few guns in my safe that can't do Sub MOA and and several that will do half that frequently, and that is 5 shot groups. I have another upper built by dtech that will do 1/2 moa quite often. I expect to get at least 3/4-1 MOA out of this upper or I will be dissappointed What kind of hunting ( I believe you said deer) but what will your shooting position be? Wherever I'm at when I see a deer.  Although I don't make a habit of it and I primarily hunt archery, I've made clean kills on elk and deer past the 500 yard mark, I know how to shoot. My son and daughter hunt rifle and both have carried a 6.8 spc AR15 for the last 3 years with good success. My daughter will probably be the first one to take an animal with this upper as she has a rifle deer tag this year and all I have is a muzzle loader Elk tag. Stupid Utah is getting to where it's a long shot to even draw a general season deer tag. :(.
what other calibers does this outfit offer? The list is too long to quote, look at the link above. If you have any interest in Variants, You owe it too yourself to look at his DTI line of wildcats based on the 6.8 cartridge, they are on my short list of next buys. |
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How long is your throat, or what bullet length is your rifle throated for? My LR-308 that I did in .358 HDH (WSSM) is very sensitive to the jump to lands. I had the reamer cut so that a TSX 225 gr. bullet would be even with the bottom of the case neck and .050 off the lands (Barnes TSX bullet). I get 5 shot groups that go between .750 and .840 all day long. However, when I switch to the Barnes TSX 200 gr. bullet and the Hornady 180 gr. FN bullet, things go to hell pretty quickly. And I had the twist done 1:14 to be better with lighter bullets. The 200 gr. will not group less than an inch and a quarter no matter what I do and the 180s, hell, they won't go under 1.750 inch, usually closer to two inches. If you can, check your throat length and get those bullets out there to with .030 to .050 off the lands and see if they don't tighten things up. Dtec makes good stuff and I would have had him make mine if he would have done it on a LR-308. I am sure your rifle can do better and if yours is anything like mine, getting those bullets close to the land might really tighten things up. Like you, I consider 3 shot groups to be about as worthless as tits on a boar hog. Have you ever heard of a BR competition that shoot only three shots? And believe it or not, I have met people at the range that will shoot five shots, take the closest three and consider that their group size. Talk about fudging the numbers! No wonder there are so many people out there that can shoot sub MOA groups. It is easy if you throw a bunch down range and take the closest three.
I sort of screwed up using the LR-308 because I wanted to seat long bullets way out there. Turns out that there is more than enough room in the AR mag for bullets 200 gr. and under and the 225 would only have to be seated a little deeper to fit the AR mag. I like being able to seat way out there but I am not sure the added weight of the LR was worth the trade off. |
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What is the Recoil like on the 25 wssm and what is your barrel length and profile? I like that caliber My bbl is 22 plus the compensator. Recoil with the comp is very mild but it is also very loud. My load development continues but everytime I think I'm on to a good load, further testing proves it to be the same 1.25-1.5 inch groups. Getting a tad frustrated. |
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my barrel took about 125 rounds and then I noted a shrink in group size, from an average of 1.5 inches to about 1 inch average, to some of the 'better' 1/2" groups shown in the targets.
I keep detailed records of the round count on that barrel. I got this barrel an another firearm that was factory new at the same time. The factory barrel took about 175-200 rounds to 'settle' in. |
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