Ammo Testing

[CxAgent]

I have done some research and have come up with multiple answers. For right now reloading is not an option and I am trying different factory loads.

When trying different factory loads do you clean the barrel before moving to the next load? If you clean is it just a brush and cleaner or do you use more than something like Hoppe's 9.
Do you just load the next load and shoot? I have seen multiple people state that the first group when just changing ammo may not be as accurate as the next set of groups. I believe they mentioned seasoning the barrel for the load being shot.

The guns I am working with are a RPR in .308 and a .223 gas gun.
Currently the gas gun seems to like the 77gr FGMM and the RPR seems to like the 168GR FGMM. I have tried the 185 gr Bergers on two separate occasions. The first outing it shot as good as the 168 FGMM on the second outing the groups opened quite a bit.

Any advice is greatly appreciated by the beginner. If this has been discussed if you could point me to the thread it is also appreciated.

 

[davsco]

i think the big thing is shooting the different ammo's under the same conditions, ie consistent testing parameters. so yeah i'd clean (whatever you do) before each different load.

suggest you also try the fed gold medal 175's.

 

[XLR308]

If you clean the barrel much between different ammo there will be some shots needed for the barrel to settle back in.
I just pull a bore snake through the barrel unless it is heavily fouled and shoot no less than 10 shots between different types of ammo.
If the barrel is a fairly rough factory bore it maybe a little difficult to obtain the results you want with less than 10 rounds per type the larger your sample size the better as you will have less of a chance of just getting lucky when shooting 3 or 5 round groups and get a better true representation of the ammo your using.

 

[Snuby642]

I just did a test on some new 243 ammo.
I didn't know the barrel had been cleaned and lubed.
Took several shots to settle down.

This is a sight in string not a group, saved it to empfisize a point.
Shot 1 cold bore, wet with lube. Never mind it hit well, fluke.
Shots 2-4 cold bore, waited 15 minutes between shots and checked barrel temp.

I think a wet bore makes more difference than temps, untill you heat up the barrel.
Something to consider in testing.

Rem 700, 243 thin barrel, 4x14 Leopold, 100gr American Whitetail ammo, 1$ a round factory
Stuff. Dead air, bench rest with bags.

The cleaning between brand stuff shows up more in 22lr subs for me. Imo it's the wax.
I would not get too extatic on the first 5 rounds of anything , especially if you decide to clean.

 

[CxAgent]

Good info thank you.