AR2217 in SAUM

[macguru]

58.8gr 2213SC gave me the best result yet, no low shots and tight group. More testing on saturday, but its in the same 29xx fps ballpark

i may also retry the 2217, but with magnum primers and a lighter load say 60.5gr or so and see if i can cut down the smoke trail and tighten it up...

[macguru]

Well I could not get 2217 to work but 2213SC does. Velocity is down around 2900 so its really just a fast 284 with really really tough brass at the moment. This is a group at a breezy 700m . 60.5 If it keeps doing this i will be happy.

[williada]

Andrew, is it possible to step it out to1000 yards and get a look at your group again? David.

[AlanF]

Dave,

I think he might have to drive for a few hours to do that. Unless I'm mistaken there's nothing over 900 yds close to Sydney.

Alan

[macguru]

800m next weekend, but thats it until i go to coonabarrabran or some where outside sydney. i can drive them faster but i dont want to sacrifice accuracy. Matt is building me a 6x47 on a barnard at the moment, i may be able to get a mag bolt/switch barrel setup for that and use a straight 1.25" 8.5 twist bartlein.

At the moment i have an 8.5 twist krieger HV on a savage (large shank) target action in a choate stock weighted to 9.5kg all up...

[williada]

Alan you are indeed fortunate at Rosedale to be able to shoot 1000 yards to test your gear. Its a shame Andrew does not have the same convenience.

Andrew, my feeling is that grouping ability beats speed any day. Test the same load if you get the opportunity. The setup looks great.I was interested to see what pattern may have emerged from shooting out further. Alan has already discovered statistically, the heavy barrels perform well up to 700 and then fall away, but of course some get better.

Seeing you mentioned the 6x47 was being built with a Barnard action, may I ask, if Matt was going to adjust a small rifle bolt face or are you going to run with the standard large rifle bolt face with its bigger pin diameter for your 6 x 47?

I put together a 6x47 Improved on a Paramount I used to use for TR. I think there is potential here, but amongst other things, I will have to sleeve the firing pin hole to prevent cratering of the small primer because the hole is too big and there are associated issues of reducing the pin fall which is generally more suitable for small primers.

I am fortunate the wife does not like the stock on her Barnard .223 and prefers to use her .308. I am thinking that an eviction needs to take place - get rid of the .223 barrel and replace it with the 6mm because the pin set-up is for small primers, and of course make a new FO stock. David.

[KHGS]

Alan you are indeed fortunate at Rosedale to be able to shoot 1000 yards to test your gear. Its a shame Andrew does not have the same convenience.

Andrew, my feeling is that grouping ability beats speed any day. Test the same load if you get the opportunity. The setup looks great.I was interested to see what pattern may have emerged from shooting out further. Alan has already discovered statistically, the heavy barrels perform well up to 700 and then fall away, but of course some get better.

Seeing you mentioned the 6x47 was being built with a Barnard action, may I ask, if Matt was going to adjust a small rifle bolt face or are you going to run with the standard large rifle bolt face with its bigger pin diameter for your 6 x 47?

I put together a 6x47 Improved on a Paramount I used to use for TR. I think there is potential here, but amongst other things, I will have to sleeve the firing pin hole to prevent cratering of the small primer because the hole is too big and there are associated issues of reducing the pin fall which is generally more suitable for small primers.

I am fortunate the wife does not like the stock on her Barnard .223 and prefers to use her .308. I am thinking that an eviction needs to take place - get rid of the .223 barrel and replace it with the 6mm because the pin set-up is for small primers, and of course make a new FO stock. David.

All Barnard actions have used a 1.5mm firing pin diameter since 2003 or thereabouts, I can't remember the exact year they made the change.
Keith H.

[williada]

Thanks Keith,
Could you give me a ball park cost and availability of a spare bolt in large rifle for the Barnard in case I decide to keep using it as a .223? David.

[macguru]

group at 800m There was too much going on for a nice flat group but will try again when the wind is steadier. Hornsby gets turbulence as the breeze passes over the berms on the side of the range. The other stage was a 59 so of course i am showing you the 60 . The dropped shot was a 4 o'clocker like #2 and #3 here, and a dasher shooter dropped two shots at 4 o'clock as well.......

[williada]

Andrew the trend is still there. Good. If the pattern repeats, you could have a tendency to ping to the right. Reducing load little bit may help.

[KHGS]

Thanks Keith,
Could you give me a ball park cost and availability of a spare bolt in large rifle for the Barnard in case I decide to keep using it as a .223? David.

I do not know the current price, Matt Paroz would be the one to talk to as the current importer. I have since retired from this side of the business.
Keith H.

[williada]

Thanks again Keith, I spoke to Matt and things are in progress. Keith have you any thoughts about the 280Improved compared to the 7mm SAUM which Andrew is using?

[macguru]

Here is the 300m group for comparison. 500m in a couple of weeks, am doing a "wildlife appreciation course" with the ADA this weekend...
1. I think the dodgy elevation shots may be either getting out of position or shoulder pressure variation. I am particularly prone to dropping the last shot so have now managed to brainwash myself that i still have one to go ......
2. David (williada) can you please briefly explain why you like to draw two 30 degree lines through what i thought was my horizonal waterline ?
cheers Andrew

[williada]

Andrew, I been doing a bit of development work with a couple blokes that live outside the polar circle where I live as a hermit who have greater aspirations and so my lips are sealed at this point in time. Reading the tea leaves takes a long, long time and it proves that beauty is in the eye of the beholder to see its potential.

Keep posting until we get a full string out to 1000.

Don't blame yourself for the odd loose shot, its a matter of chance if the group opens up and you can be fooled by one swallow coming early. But the group will duplicate its trend at all ranges, you just have to reduce its limits through short range load development even for a long range hit. However, the group may look different at long range and if your rifle is holding true, you merely take out the climatic effects noted by keeping good records and the spindrift effects to form your group analysis.

So lets see where that 300 group sits below.

[KHGS]

Thanks again Keith, I spoke to Matt and things are in progress. Keith have you any thoughts about the 280Improved compared to the 7mm SAUM which Andrew is using?

I can't really comment on these two cartridges as I have no first hand experience with them. I have chosen not to use either as I have some personal preferences in cartridge design that neither of these cartridges meet, I tend to be a bit of a maverick in my thinking & tend to not always follow trends!! However I am sure that both are fine choices if loaded correctly.
I also have a feeling that barrels with faster than 9" twist are better at 1000 yds with 180 VLD bullets. I feel that the cartridge does not need to be run in the higher pressure ranges to get the 180 VLD's to perform at 1000 yds with 8" or 8.5" twist barrels. The beneficial side effect to this is longer barrel life & better life for those expensive & precious cases. I am not suggesting that all 9" twist barrels should be binned, far from it. I just believe that it is best to be comfortably inside the "ragged edge" of stability at 1000 yds to perform best at this distance. I am sure many will disagree with me!
Keith H.