Range Report Narrowing down my last 3 choices

[Alan Griffith]

With my new tactical rifle in 6.5x47 I've been following Jason Baney's 1000 yd ladder load development system.

http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html

I've just completed my Seating Depth Testing and the finalists are as follows. All Lapua cases, F205M primers, Redding FL Type S bushing and seating die. 5-shot MOA/chrono #'s.

123 MK (bc 510)--37.3 Varget--2784 fps--11 ES/1 SD--.01 off lands--.536 MOA--600 yd drop/MOA/wind/MOA = 84.6/13.5/27.3/4.25
and 1000 yd drop/MOA/wind/MOA = 340.9/32.5/88.2/8.5.


123 Scenar(bc 547)--40 H4350--2775 fps--25 ES/8 SD--touching lands--.43 MOA--600 yd drop/MOA/wind/MOA = 82.9/13.25/25.2/4 and
--1000 yd drop/MOA/wind/MOA = 327.1/31.25/80.5/7.75


130 Berger VLD(bc 552)--39.9 H4350--2792 fps--20 ES/8SD--.01 into lands--.683 MOA--600 yd drop/MOA/wind/MOA = 81.4/13/24.7/4
and 1000 yd drop/MOA/wind/MOA = 320.6/30.5/78.8/7.5

Is the extra low ES/SD of the 123 MK enough to throw out the higher bc of the 130 VLD? Also, at 1000 yds, the wind difference between the 123 MK and 130 VLD is 10 inches. Is that a significant amount to discount the lower ES/SD of the MK?

Which would you persue?

Alan

 

[Austan]

Re: Narrowing down my last 3 choices

<span style="color: #666666">Is the extra low ES/SD of the 123 MK enough to throw out the higher bc of the 130 VLD? </span>

Not for me. Dedicate your testing to the bullet you want to shoot.

<span style="color: #666666">Also, at 1000 yds, the wind difference between the 123 MK and 130 VLD is 10 inches. Is that a significant amount to discount the lower ES/SD of the MK?</span>

That depends on how much 1000 yard shooting you will do. If alot it would be preferred, either way once your load is figured out and you get used that load it will become the norm. Have you tried jamming the VLD more? I run mine .012 jammed and the helped the es/sd as well as the groups.

<span style="color: #666666">Which would you persue?</span>

I'd pick the bullet I wanted to use and develop the best load for that bullet. For me the 130 vld can't be beat and I've tried others 123 scenar, 139 scenar, 142 mk. I also noticed that your groups were all roughly .5 moa, is that at the listed 600 yards?

 

[Alan Griffith]

Re: Narrowing down my last 3 choices

I really am torn between the two. I don't have a team mate to spot for me so want the 123 gr for reduced recoil to spot my own hit/miss' yet want the 130 VLD for the improved windage.

Living in Utah, I have unlimited distanes to shoot. I plan on attending a monthly tactical meet about 90 mile drive from me. They do it all from in your face, running 50 & 100 yd targets to their 1000 yd stuff.

The VLD load I asked about is jammed 10 thou into the lands. Most of my testing has, so far, been at 300 to 385 yds. I use MOA to try and keep it apples to apples.

Alan

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Narrowing down my last 3 choices

Reductions in basic, inherent drift for a load of 10" at 1000yd are very significant. I would favor such a load; it should perform better at all distances.

Greg

 

[Austan]

Re: Narrowing down my last 3 choices

I'm suprised you can notice the recoil effects between the two, I know I can't. Your still shooting about .5 moa at those distances which is good with either bullet. The thing is, it's hard to determine which is "better" based on such limited testing. If one shot out of gets a bit more wind the whole group looks at fault. You need to shoot more groups of the same to come to a more accurate decision. This why when I got my 6.5x47 I just bought 1000 130 vlds and a bunch of H4350 and went to work. After I had a load for it I dicked around with some other bullets and powders but never got another load as good as my original. Perhaps with lots more testing I could do it, but why when I allready have a great load. I find my time is better spent shooting the known load.

With my above statemnet I'd say just pick one and stick to it, and for me that one would be the 130 vld.

 

[Alan Griffith]

Re: Narrowing down my last 3 choices

Concerning the recoil, it's not so much that I "feel" the difference but I "see" the difference in the scope when trying to watch for impact.

I've decided to work with just the 130 VLD. Next step, run a 1000 yd ladder at the North Springs range, south of Price, Utah.

Thanks for the push.

Alan

 

[Alan Griffith]

Re: Narrowing down my last 3 choices

I took 15 rounds out the other morning to settle in my 100 yd zero for the 130 VLD. Three 5-shot groups went .75", .45" and .45". I'm "ok" with that, though not fantastic. What was disapointing was the chrono readings. 40 ES and 13.9 SD. At 1000 yds that will equate to a 10" vertical spread. Not good! I'm sure I'll keep playing with it; up/down in .2 gr increments to see if their is a sweeter spot but I feel I need to keep playing with the 123 gr MK/Scenar's as their initial SD were lower or equal (1 and 8 respectively) vs 8 for the 130 VDL.

Alan

 

[Jeffs550]

Re: Narrowing down my last 3 choices

I am shooting a 6.5x47 with 130 Berger and VARGET powder, very little vertical at 1000. Just shot 60 more rounds today. This load shows little to no vertical dispersion in my rifle from 300 to 1000 yards.