rintinglen
06-01-2013, 07:24 AM
Well I finally got a out to the rifle range to do some testing of some loads I'd worked up. Hunting season is just a few months off, and I needed to get the new scope on my 250 Savage 99 sighted in, test my new 312-440 NOE hunting load as well as do a little pistol work, plus I had to test some loads for my .348 Winchester--I've a 220 grain Accurate Mold that I have hopes for, plus I have been experimenting with Ol' Elmers 358-429 sized down to .351.
First up was the Savage--arghh.
Couldn't get a decent group--I'd have two shots close together, then a flyer two inches off in some random direction. Then I found the 100 grain loads taken from Hornady's 3rd edition were too hot. I finally got the thing to shoot reasonably close to POA, but the 100 grainers are useless. Back to the 87 grain spitzers for this old warhorse. I wanted to try out my 257-464 loads, but some dunderhead left those loads on his reloading bevch, 64 miles away.
Next up was the .348. My H-4895 loads weren't very good, the WW-760 loads were better--which figures: I've a nearly full pound of h-4895 and only a pittance of WW-760. The real surprise was the 358-429, although it shot to a dramatically different point of aim than that of the full power loads, 13.0 grains of Unique with a Bamboo fiber filler shot very well. Those sights don't work the best for me anymore, but I managed several 3 shot groups in the 1 1/2 inch range. I will have to cast up some more of those--that's a fun plinker that will allow me to get some more trigger time with that gun.
Lastly though, I hit a home run. I have used a stiff charge of WW-748 under a 311-466 in my 30-30's in the past with excellent results, and tried the 312-440 with the same load. Bullseye! First 5 shots clustered in a hair over an inch at 50 yards--a few clicks right and a few down on the williams reciever sight and I put the next five in a 2 inch group, which had 4 of the 5 centered in the 10 ring an inch above my POA. I shot up the balance of the box sniping rocks . Boy am I glad I sprang for the brass NOE 2 cavity a couple months back, great mold, casts good boolits fast and they shoot to the limit of my ability.
The wind kicked up about 11, which made the group shooting a thing of the past, so I went over to the pistol range, where my SBH did it's usual fine job, but my new-to-me Colt DS-II turned out to be a piece o carp--more worthy of a name (and a price) like Rossi than Colt. The DA pull was rough and gritty but the crowning disappointment was the fact that it was badly out of time. The hand would not force the cylinder up enough to lock fully up until after the hammer fell. The cylinder locking bolt is more flimsy than that of the older D frames in my possession and it simply is not up to snuff. What bites hardest is that I paid half again as much for this as I did a beat up looking Cobra and the Cobra is much the nicer action and more accurate too!
All in all, not a bad way to start a Friday.
Anyone have any CB suggestions for the .348?
First up was the Savage--arghh.
Couldn't get a decent group--I'd have two shots close together, then a flyer two inches off in some random direction. Then I found the 100 grain loads taken from Hornady's 3rd edition were too hot. I finally got the thing to shoot reasonably close to POA, but the 100 grainers are useless. Back to the 87 grain spitzers for this old warhorse. I wanted to try out my 257-464 loads, but some dunderhead left those loads on his reloading bevch, 64 miles away.
Next up was the .348. My H-4895 loads weren't very good, the WW-760 loads were better--which figures: I've a nearly full pound of h-4895 and only a pittance of WW-760. The real surprise was the 358-429, although it shot to a dramatically different point of aim than that of the full power loads, 13.0 grains of Unique with a Bamboo fiber filler shot very well. Those sights don't work the best for me anymore, but I managed several 3 shot groups in the 1 1/2 inch range. I will have to cast up some more of those--that's a fun plinker that will allow me to get some more trigger time with that gun.
Lastly though, I hit a home run. I have used a stiff charge of WW-748 under a 311-466 in my 30-30's in the past with excellent results, and tried the 312-440 with the same load. Bullseye! First 5 shots clustered in a hair over an inch at 50 yards--a few clicks right and a few down on the williams reciever sight and I put the next five in a 2 inch group, which had 4 of the 5 centered in the 10 ring an inch above my POA. I shot up the balance of the box sniping rocks . Boy am I glad I sprang for the brass NOE 2 cavity a couple months back, great mold, casts good boolits fast and they shoot to the limit of my ability.
The wind kicked up about 11, which made the group shooting a thing of the past, so I went over to the pistol range, where my SBH did it's usual fine job, but my new-to-me Colt DS-II turned out to be a piece o carp--more worthy of a name (and a price) like Rossi than Colt. The DA pull was rough and gritty but the crowning disappointment was the fact that it was badly out of time. The hand would not force the cylinder up enough to lock fully up until after the hammer fell. The cylinder locking bolt is more flimsy than that of the older D frames in my possession and it simply is not up to snuff. What bites hardest is that I paid half again as much for this as I did a beat up looking Cobra and the Cobra is much the nicer action and more accurate too!
All in all, not a bad way to start a Friday.
Anyone have any CB suggestions for the .348?