I made it out to test some loads with the new 7wsm Surgeon built by GAP.
This is going to be one sick stick once load development is done.
When I first got the gun from George I tried some of the Corbon loaded 7wsm stuff and some hand rolled stuff with 64 grains of 4831sc with 215M and Winchester primers. I had vertical dispersion with the 215s but the Winchesters were pretty good at about .5 MOA ish. But both were pretty slow. Now that gun is back from paint I tested RL17 today. I went with 61 and 61.5 grains with both 215M and Winchester primers today.
The wind didn’t help much today as it was moving my target around but I think I got some good data to move forward with. It just seems like RL17 works in this 61-61.5 range in my gun with either primer. Here are the groups I shot. All groups were off a bipod with a rear bag used off the ground shot over an Ohler 35p.
Top target is only 3 rounds and was right before wind picked up a bit so the target was stable.
As you can see 61 RL17 215M for .26. I know it’s only 3.
Middle target was 61.5 Rl17 with 215M. Letoffs felt good but target was tilting back a little every now and then due to wind. Still .75 with 3 into one ragged hole with one a little high and one low. I don’t think it was me so this looked pretty good too at 2980
Bottom target 61 RL17 with a Winchester large. Same dam thing with the wind but .66 doesn’t suck
Top target looks pretty good. 4 into one then one off to the right. Must have been me. 2983 makes me smile at .46.
Middle target. I got two shots off then the wind blew the target over backwards. I went out and reset it. I was walking out after each group to write down what load it was on the target.When I went out after the last three the target was canted (not square to me). I don’t know if that’s why there are 4 shots on the same horizontal line like that. On the first target they were one hole. Looks like this load wants to shoot. I noticed that the second time through each load they got a little faster. I think the chrono tilted a little in the wind. I had to readjust it a few times due to the wind. I found a spot it liked so I left it but rod holding the screens wasn’t perfectly level. (For those of you that don’t understand the wind in WY and Northern CO all I can say is come and check it out).
Group was .69 chrono said 2980
Bottom target was 61.5 Rl17 with 215s again. What can I say. Vertical. Dam wind. I was trying to shoot when it was at a lull but it’s hard. I’m not a group type of guy. I only do this every now and then to test loads.
I have a new prototype 260 I’ll be testing soon so I’ll get more practice at this small group stuff.
Top target
I got off one round and the target fell over again. Got off 2 more and it twisted a bit on me. Overall not bad all things considered
Middle tareget
Once again the combo of 61.5 Rl17 with the Winchester primer puts 4 into one ragged hole with one getting away as the wind just wanted to fuck with me a bit letting up right when I let off the shot standing the target up just a bit.
This load is looking pretty good to me.
The hole at 7 is from my 308. I was shooting at target below but my pitbull Patches decided it was time to lay down next to dad. She’s 85lbs and when she dove in next to me I pulled the shot a bit high. I think she loves the fact I shoot suppressed more than anyone. She just sits there watching me waiting to go check the targets.
If you watch this vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnAkfSl0ILk&feature=related
you can see Patch sitting under the tailgate of my truck waiting for us to go repaint the steel
Anyway I think I’m close to having a load worked out. Lets see how the wind treats me tomorrow. Now I have to go load some rounds
This is going to be one sick stick once load development is done.
When I first got the gun from George I tried some of the Corbon loaded 7wsm stuff and some hand rolled stuff with 64 grains of 4831sc with 215M and Winchester primers. I had vertical dispersion with the 215s but the Winchesters were pretty good at about .5 MOA ish. But both were pretty slow. Now that gun is back from paint I tested RL17 today. I went with 61 and 61.5 grains with both 215M and Winchester primers today.
The wind didn’t help much today as it was moving my target around but I think I got some good data to move forward with. It just seems like RL17 works in this 61-61.5 range in my gun with either primer. Here are the groups I shot. All groups were off a bipod with a rear bag used off the ground shot over an Ohler 35p.

Top target is only 3 rounds and was right before wind picked up a bit so the target was stable.
As you can see 61 RL17 215M for .26. I know it’s only 3.
Middle target was 61.5 Rl17 with 215M. Letoffs felt good but target was tilting back a little every now and then due to wind. Still .75 with 3 into one ragged hole with one a little high and one low. I don’t think it was me so this looked pretty good too at 2980
Bottom target 61 RL17 with a Winchester large. Same dam thing with the wind but .66 doesn’t suck

Top target looks pretty good. 4 into one then one off to the right. Must have been me. 2983 makes me smile at .46.
Middle target. I got two shots off then the wind blew the target over backwards. I went out and reset it. I was walking out after each group to write down what load it was on the target.When I went out after the last three the target was canted (not square to me). I don’t know if that’s why there are 4 shots on the same horizontal line like that. On the first target they were one hole. Looks like this load wants to shoot. I noticed that the second time through each load they got a little faster. I think the chrono tilted a little in the wind. I had to readjust it a few times due to the wind. I found a spot it liked so I left it but rod holding the screens wasn’t perfectly level. (For those of you that don’t understand the wind in WY and Northern CO all I can say is come and check it out).
Group was .69 chrono said 2980
Bottom target was 61.5 Rl17 with 215s again. What can I say. Vertical. Dam wind. I was trying to shoot when it was at a lull but it’s hard. I’m not a group type of guy. I only do this every now and then to test loads.
I have a new prototype 260 I’ll be testing soon so I’ll get more practice at this small group stuff.

Top target
I got off one round and the target fell over again. Got off 2 more and it twisted a bit on me. Overall not bad all things considered
Middle tareget
Once again the combo of 61.5 Rl17 with the Winchester primer puts 4 into one ragged hole with one getting away as the wind just wanted to fuck with me a bit letting up right when I let off the shot standing the target up just a bit.
This load is looking pretty good to me.
The hole at 7 is from my 308. I was shooting at target below but my pitbull Patches decided it was time to lay down next to dad. She’s 85lbs and when she dove in next to me I pulled the shot a bit high. I think she loves the fact I shoot suppressed more than anyone. She just sits there watching me waiting to go check the targets.
If you watch this vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnAkfSl0ILk&feature=related
you can see Patch sitting under the tailgate of my truck waiting for us to go repaint the steel
Anyway I think I’m close to having a load worked out. Lets see how the wind treats me tomorrow. Now I have to go load some rounds