Swamprat1052
01-11-2008, 12:23 PM
I'm still learning but having fun. I finally got to the range with my old Model 94 and those Lee Soupcan boolets. I had better luck than the first time. I sized em .310 this time instead of .309. Dont know if it helped or I shot a little better. I havent gotten to where I would like to be with accuracy but my best load was with 15 gr. of Win 296 powder. Shot a couple of honest 1 1/2" groups with it at 50 yds, and twice put 2 shots almost touching each other. Time will tell if this was an accident or not. I dont see the target as well as I once did. Still havent ordered a peep sight but I'll get around to it.
I tried loads with 2400 and they shot good enough to try bumping the speed up a little and playing with. The same withn H-335. W-748 (what I was hoping for cause I've got a lot of it) was a disaster, shots all over the place. Hope it works on heavier boolits. I didn't chronograph anything this time but according to the books all the loads were around 1700 to 1850 fps. I can get faster but dont know what that will do to accuracy, time will tell.
I used Speed Green lube and it seemed to do the job really well. My most accurate shooting was done at the end, so it didnt seem to be leading and I didnt find any when I cleaned the rifle. Its kinda messy running those little boolits through the Star but I finally closed off all the holes in the die except one for each goove and that helped. I lubed all the grooves, even the one I crimped in and in front of the gas check (should I do this?). Dont know if it helped or not. Thought I might quit lubing the one I crimp in (had a brain fart when I did that one, didnt catch it till I was seating them.)
All in all it was a good day. Fun rifle and fun loads. If I can bump up my speed it would be better but I can live with it. Had fun busting dirt clods on the hill behind the berms, surprised myself a few times doing that. Loads seem to be holding up pretty well out to 75 to 100 yds. That surprised me too at those velocities. I think I am gonna like this.
Swamprat
I tried loads with 2400 and they shot good enough to try bumping the speed up a little and playing with. The same withn H-335. W-748 (what I was hoping for cause I've got a lot of it) was a disaster, shots all over the place. Hope it works on heavier boolits. I didn't chronograph anything this time but according to the books all the loads were around 1700 to 1850 fps. I can get faster but dont know what that will do to accuracy, time will tell.
I used Speed Green lube and it seemed to do the job really well. My most accurate shooting was done at the end, so it didnt seem to be leading and I didnt find any when I cleaned the rifle. Its kinda messy running those little boolits through the Star but I finally closed off all the holes in the die except one for each goove and that helped. I lubed all the grooves, even the one I crimped in and in front of the gas check (should I do this?). Dont know if it helped or not. Thought I might quit lubing the one I crimp in (had a brain fart when I did that one, didnt catch it till I was seating them.)
All in all it was a good day. Fun rifle and fun loads. If I can bump up my speed it would be better but I can live with it. Had fun busting dirt clods on the hill behind the berms, surprised myself a few times doing that. Loads seem to be holding up pretty well out to 75 to 100 yds. That surprised me too at those velocities. I think I am gonna like this.
Swamprat