Maven
11-14-2007, 06:06 PM
I just returned from the range after testing 20 rnds. of the Lee group buy CB in my "as issued" SKS. Although the results were mixed, they were encouraging since 10 shots went into a 2.25" x 2" group @ 50 yds. with two groups of 4 shots that you could cover with a dime. That's the good news. The bad news is the extreme spread was 7.5" (will try to post a photo tomorrow). Since I didn't know where to begin with the group buy bullet, I chose 8gr. of Unique and seated the unsorted & unweighed CB's to 2.19" OAL by letting the action seat a CB in a dummy round. Btw, I used a .314" H & I die to lube the CB, which barely touched it and a Lee die to crimp the loaded round.
Excuses/whining: The 2" red dot was too small for me to get the best sight picture on a very gray day, even when wearing yellow shooting glasses. Two of the cases had neck splits produced by over-expanding them in the M-die. Those splits may have produced the 2 low hits on the target. However, I'm wondering whether 8gr. of Unique was appropriate since it didn't operate the action at all and left the cases pretty dirty. On the other hand, there was minimal bbl. leading and none in or on the gas piston.
Next step: Retesting with both 12gr. & 13gr. of WC820, since they will cycle the action most of the time (12gr. will cycle it maybe half the time) and sorted CB's. I.e., my mold produces 2 different bullet weights (~140gr.): Cavities 1 & 2 -> CB's that are slightly lighter than cavs. 3 - 6. I'd heat-treat the CB's too if our oven were more reliable (doesn't say much for Maytag's digital control!). Unfortunately, retesting will have to wait until mid-December as our range will close on Saturday for deer season.
Excuses/whining: The 2" red dot was too small for me to get the best sight picture on a very gray day, even when wearing yellow shooting glasses. Two of the cases had neck splits produced by over-expanding them in the M-die. Those splits may have produced the 2 low hits on the target. However, I'm wondering whether 8gr. of Unique was appropriate since it didn't operate the action at all and left the cases pretty dirty. On the other hand, there was minimal bbl. leading and none in or on the gas piston.
Next step: Retesting with both 12gr. & 13gr. of WC820, since they will cycle the action most of the time (12gr. will cycle it maybe half the time) and sorted CB's. I.e., my mold produces 2 different bullet weights (~140gr.): Cavities 1 & 2 -> CB's that are slightly lighter than cavs. 3 - 6. I'd heat-treat the CB's too if our oven were more reliable (doesn't say much for Maytag's digital control!). Unfortunately, retesting will have to wait until mid-December as our range will close on Saturday for deer season.