Terrible groups from my Marlin 1895GS, using IMR4198...

[Walstr]

Did you check your scope?? May have gone bad.

Now it is...arrrgh. But I'll be posting 95% of todays range results.

[Walstr]

You fellas had the right idear, speed'em up! It was foggy, 36 deg. & calm. (3rd week in January! I like global warming whilst I reside at elev. 535') Components did not change from orig. posting, except tried #12 target using factory Remington, 405gr, soft point. I found my scope was max'd "UP", so used elevation Hash Marks as noted; adjusted Windage once, 8 x 1/4 minute clicks starting with target #3.

I see a nice range of loads that work for me. I can standardize @ maybe 36.5gr IMR4198 & probably not be too concerned about temperature effects on velocity. We'll see.

Some scope element got loose, so while it's in the mail for R&R I'll install my ladder sight & see what I can accomplish standing (leaning) against the shooting bench. Now the real practice ( & fun) can commence. I'm curious how I can ultimately do with a "2 quick follow-up shots" scenario. I must say 38gr+ is in thumper territory.

[Walstr]

It was suggested my home brew boolits may vary too much in weight & I should weigh & segregate them. Here's a sampling of my 405's after wiping Xlox from the nose.

[Walstr]

It was suggested my home brew boolits may vary too much in weight & I should weigh & segregate them. Here's a sampling of my 405's after wiping Xlox from the nose.


Here's a tally of 32 I was handling: (while listening to the Steelers lose like the Packers just did...arrrgh)
401gr - 1 = 3.2%
402gr -10 = 31.2%
403gr - 9 = 28.1%
404gr - 9 = 28.1%
405gr - 3 = 9.4%
If I'm inclined to "load" only the 402gr-405gr castings, that's only a .5% variation in weight & 87% of 'production'. I have NO idea what .5% variance in weight means to you bench shooters, but seems most acceptable to me & my purposes. An interesting endeavor nonetheless.

Update:
I then weighed the 50 remaining pills I had, with results similar to above. Then I chucked the 405's into my bench top drill press & machined the bottom with edge of a chisel 'till it fell into 404gr territory. The light ones went into the "remelt" can.

Sent in my Vortex Crossfire II scope & should receive another by next Wed. This wkend I'll be calibrating my "M-95 LONG RANGE SIGHT, 3/8" Dovetail" ladder sight with another set of 'test loads' from 36.5gr-38.5gr IMR4198. Now to see what I can do without optics.

[44man]

NOT, you will not see anything at all.
Beware of max scope adjustments. The closer to center on a scope the better. Bases need changed or shimmed to prevent scope damage. Yes, you can kill a scope run to limits.
To shoot long range with my 45-70 rifle I machined a tapered base.