I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

[Muskox]

My Tikka T3 has a 24 inch barrel, it's the stainless varmint model, not available in the states at least not in 30-06. My load data for the ADI 2009 powder shows 2800 FPS with a 57 Grains of powder at the muzzle. But at 500 yards I am 4 MOA below the distance the load data shows that I should be at for the 168 Berger.

So using the MOA calculator program on the Best of the West website for the 168 Berger, I have to be at 2500 to have the dial ups that I did to get on target.

Would that mean I lost 300 FPS?

I am trying to get some time on my friends chronigraph next weekend. Hopefully I can get this worked out.

 

[Kells81]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Muskox</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My Tikka T3 has a 24 inch barrel, it's the stainless varmint model, not available in the states at least not in 30-06. My load data for the ADI 2009 powder shows 2800 FPS with a 57 Grains of powder at the muzzle. But at 500 yards I am 4 MOA below the distance the load data shows that I should be at for the 168 Berger.

So using the MOA calculator program on the Best of the West website for the 168 Berger, I have to be at 2500 to have the dial ups that I did to get on target.

Would that mean I lost 300 FPS?

I am trying to get some time on my friends chronigraph next weekend. Hopefully I can get this worked out. </div></div>

Soooo your original FPS number is just off the bottle? Your not f-in with us are you? The bottle is an estimate at best since the data is from a test rifle in a lab. Put more powder in and you should be able to get that extra 300fps if your not over pressured...

 

[264win]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

is this your 1st time shooting your rifle @ 500 ? or did your dope chance from last time ?
way to many variables here . you need to shoot the rifle @ several distances after the zero is confirmed . then try a different scope , or put said scope on a different rifle to check it function .
Report back with more info .

 

[ORD]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Muskox</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My Tikka T3 has a 24 inch barrel, it's the stainless varmint model, not available in the states at least not in 30-06. My load data for the ADI 2009 powder shows 2800 FPS with a 57 Grains of powder at the muzzle. But at 500 yards I am 4 MOA below the distance the load data shows that I should be at for the 168 Berger.

So using the MOA calculator program on the Best of the West website for the 168 Berger, I have to be at 2500 to have the dial ups that I did to get on target.

Would that mean I lost 300 FPS?

I am trying to get some time on my friends chronigraph next weekend. Hopefully I can get this worked out. </div></div>

1) Load data is MEANINGLESS!! Regardless of what the book says your MV ought to be with a particular load, that data is most likely based on a different rifle, a different set of environmental parameters, etc. The only way to know what YOUR RIFLE is achieving with a particular load is to run the ammo over a chronograph and determine where you stand.

2) Ballistic computer data is ALSO meaningless unless you have the proper figures to input into the program. Garbage in...garbage out. If you are merely "guesstimating" your MV and it differs even a little from the actual value, you can get some pretty large variances...particularly as your ranges to the target increase. Also, ballistic computers rely heavily on other user-programmed data like the environmental conditions (temp, barometric pressure, winds, elevation...above/below sea level, etc.), as well as figures like the height of your optics above the centerline of the bore, etc.

Again...garbage in, garbage out. Get the ACTUAL numbers into the program and go from there. Additionally, the best data will always be YOUR DATA. Just record the come ups needed for YOUR rifle and YOUR load at given ranges. The ballistic computer is but one step in the whole process.

3) This could be a gear problem. For example, your scope isn't adjusting in the exact specs it is setup for (such as a 1/4 MOA scope is actually adjusting at a different value like 1/2 MOA or in IPHY instead of true MOA). Again, gear can equate to several different problems.

There's a start for you to think about.

Good luck!!

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

Low velocity usually indicates low pressure.

 

[former naval person]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

As ORD says,,,the zero of your rifle means just that. Be damn careful that the 100 yard zero is correct. Several groups and do the center thing. Makes a big difference out at longer ranges. JMHO

 

[Muskox]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

Thanks for the tips.

Hoping to get some chroni time in the next couple weeks, then re-write the data based on that.

Pressure isn't bad, cases are fine, but recoil seems more.

Trijicon 5-20x50 is tracking well. First rifle it has been on, and it's been on there for about 7 months. Boxes fine, but your probably right, dials for MOA might not be exact.

The public range is out to 500, the F-Class range goes to 1000, but I can't do any testing there. They don't let you shoot it on non-event days.

 

[264win]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MontanaMarine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Low velocity usually indicates low pressure. </div></div>

Not looking to step on anyones toes here , but this isnt the best advice for someone who isnt very experienced with reloading/ shooting.
DO NOT just add more powder . find out what is going on and why your drops are more than expected.

 

[21Bravo]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

Just as stated before, "Garbage in garbage out.". This also applies to data you plug into the calculator for scope height.

My father-in-law was driving me bonkers about JBM not working correctly because the drops it was giving him were all jacked up. Well, he was SWAGing his scope height for his AR based on the scope height on his 700. Well, that don't fly. Once he corrected this error everything fell into place.

Make certain all of the available data is accurate. That should put you closer until you can get the load chrono'd.

Good luck.

 

[Muskox]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

Thanks for the help. But I am not exactly new to shooting.

I am 36, and have been shooting since I was 6. I am not new to shooting, but I am very new to Mark 4 knobs, and the idea of dialing in for my target. Every other rifle I own has reticle based sight declination. Or as I now call it, hold and hope.

This is the first scope I have ever owned with target knobs on it. This makes rifle number 45 in the safe, well 1st in the safe in Australia. The rest are back home at family's houses.

The rifle is a factory Tikka T3 Varmint in 30-06. I have several custom Lilja and Hart barreled rifles built on M700s and Sako AVs & 75s. One is a factory Sendaro in 25-06 that is a .300 5 shot group rifle.

This stinking Tikka outshoots anything I own. On Sunday I shot a .211 group with the bastard.

I moved to Australia in November and this makes the 5th continent I have hunted on, and the 75th big game animal I have taken.

Whilst I don't consider kangaroos to be a big game animal, the grey roos I have shot here are bigger than 90% of the deer in the South, and every single blacktail I have ever seen in my life.

Not to toot my own horn, but I have been a Navy fire arms instructor and armorer since 2002.

I am not new to shooting, just new to dialing it in. Sorry if I sounded assisnine there. Post count doesn't equal experience.

 

[Muskox]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

Now that I stood at the top of the mountain and showed everyone how small my junk is.

The sight height measurement on the calculators. How do I most accuratly measure that?

thanks again,

Muskox

 

[BobinNC]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

Muskox,

Here good thread with pictures, as a how to:

Where to measure sight height

 

[Muskox]

Re: I lost 300 FPS and I can't find it.

Sorry about that I should have asked google first. Found it done, I'll have to measure my rifle this weekend.