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Posted: 5/9/2014 3:02:34 AM EDT
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I'm presently working on some Nosler BSB rounds for my ar15s and had some initial good results from a couple loads, but in 5 round groups.
I loaded up more rounds in the loads that seemingly worked well and went back to the range to try them out. I was sorely disappointed with the second loadings in that I saw a little over 1moa on the initial attempt (5rds) and over 3moa on the second attempt. I know the group will open up some with the more rounds fired and I admit that I didn't have the best day on the second attempt, but there was no discernible grouping and it looked more like a 3moa shotgun patterning. I kept everything the same while loading, used the same lot number bullets and used the same rifle for both test sessions. Even the weather was the same with exception of a roughly 5 degree temperature difference. The only thing that wasn't the same was I didn't clean my ar between sessions. I had only fired a couple hundred rounds (if that) between load testing the first batch and testing the second batch. So I'm wondering ... Should I be cleaning my barrel (bore snake / dry patches) between loads in the developing stage? For those that load rounds that "might have to be used", do you concern yourself more with cold/clean bore or dirty/hot barrel accuracy? Thanks |
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I usually see my groups open up slightly when the barrel gets hot on light weight barrels. I'm talking about going from .75 moa up to maybe 1.25 moa, but definitely nothing like going from 1 moa to 3 moa. You may also see a slight poi shift on light weight barrels when they get hot.
I really have no idea what went wrong for you, but I would start by cleaning that barrel real good including removing copper. |
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Maybe they are not good loads, how many 5 shot groups did you fire with this load, was it just one outing, did other loads from the good day show a big difference or were they all similarly good?
To answer your question, I do not do load development with a clean barrel, I try to have about 100-150 rounds worth of fouling because I only clean the barrel when it needs it, so most shooting is done with a dirty bbl. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted:
Maybe they are not good loads, how many 5 shot groups did you fire with this load, was it just one outing, did other loads from the good day show a big difference or were they all similarly good? Quoted:
Maybe they are not good loads, how many 5 shot groups did you fire with this load, was it just one outing, did other loads from the good day show a big difference or were they all similarly good? The day that I had the best success was the second time I tried these loads. The first day I shot three that grouped a little under 1moa. I loaded up ten more and shot five through my 1:7 barrel (a little over 1moa) and 5 through my 1:9 barrel (not quite 2moa). I also had some other grain loads that were close to the "good load" and they fired the same as the first day's counterparts. I then loaded up twenty more of the same grain, case (2nd fired) and everything else and went back to try them in both ARs over a chrono. Well, long story short I fired them without the chrono and I only fired 10rds through the 1:7. I stopped there when I saw the results I was getting. I know I wasn't having the best morning to test loads (damn eyes are getting old), but I find it hard to believe that the bad results were all from me. Oh ... yes I was using a scope. I still have ten rounds that I didn't shoot that I'm going to bring back down with me. I'm also going to load up 10 more to try in both rifles. I'll compare the two and go from there. Quoted:
To answer your question, I do not do load development with a clean barrel, I try to have about 100-150 rounds worth of firing worth of fouling because I only clean the barrel when it needs it, so most shooting is done with a dirty bbl. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I've been following the thread here and it looks like everyone else says the same thing. I've already thoroughly cleaned my rifles and will be sure to foul them before trying out the loads. Actually the more I think about it the more I'm thinking I might not have fully fouled the barrel before trying the first series and second series of loads. It wasn't until I finished testing on the second day that I fired a bunch of rounds off at steel. I'll be sure to do some plinking before testing again. |
| It would be nice(obviously) to find a load that isn't so sensitive. If the problem wasn't you, a load that goes from 1moa to 3moa over just a couple hundred rounds is pretty sensitive IMO and I wouldn't consider it a good load........ but then some days are just shit and maybe you had one, try it again and see. |
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