Therefore I believe his questions and requests for help are actually rhetorical and are just his way of saying his findings are curious to him rather than actually asking us for his help.

rhetorical?
so kinda like EEF then...

rhetorical?
so kinda like EEF then...

EXACTLY!!!

 

Mahalo Dave.

It was a breezy day with bands of clouds drifting over the range. I didn’t dare set up the chrono today. There was a brief rain squall that rolled through before the first round started. This messed up my paper targets of course, so I switched to the new yellow targets. Unfortunately with my color blindness, the reddot appears yellow to me.

MN: More relative success with the cast boolits using 11 to 13 gn 700x and both Beartooth 170 gn LMN .312” and Missouri 167 gn .3115”. I used Dacron filler this time. The 11, 11.5, and 12 were the bottom target and the 12.5 and 13 were the top target. The 12.5gn were more accurate for both boolits, but the Missouri still sucks.



Some success with the 37.6 to 38.4 gn Varget and 174gn Hornady RN, but I think the difficulties with the yellow target was confounding. Overall, I’d say the 38.2gn grouped best. In addition, I created plinking rounds with the new 123gn Xtreme bullets .312” bullets and 43.5gn IMR4895. I seated the bullets at 2.62” OAL. They seemed to work okay and hit the 8” metal target several times. More experimentation is needed.

AK: I had to use the backup paper targets which mostly worked using 22 to 24 gn A1680 and 123gn Hornady Vmax .310”. (10 = 22gn, 4 = 22.5gn, 2 = 23gn, 12 = 23.5gn, and 6 = 24gn. I haven't figured out how to rotate the image in the software.) I spent the first five rounds adjusting the scope. The 23.5gn grouped best. I started with plinker rounds of 21.0gn RL7 which continue to work well. I also made a few rounds of the Xtreme bullets using 23.0gn A1680 which were okay but not as well as the RL7. More experimentation is needed.



Following last week’s dismal failure with the metal targets, I went back to the board but used eyelet screws. The hard part is dismantling the connectors after it’s gone through several trips to the range. Believe me, the simpler, the better. This configuration allows the metal target to swing back and forth but not side to side like the RO suggested. It worked well for the 123gn bullets but the 180gn kept knocking the stand over because the impact energy would go right into the stand. It’s a balancing act between sturdiness and carrying weight. I think I’ll go back to the chains I had before. I should mention that I also like the $75 setup they sell at KM Concepts, but I’ll stick with the current system for now.

It was a quick trip to the range today. I got a call after I set up that I needed to pick up my son so left after the first round. I was able to get in one set of the AR loads plus several heavy load plinkers. I tried the B/W targets this time (I know, ren). At first I thought I wasn’t doing well. The view would become blurry after some shots but not sure if it’s the scope or my aging eyes. I felt rushed because I had to leave early so decided to stop after one set. I’ll reload the set and try it again next time. Overall, I was mostly pleased with the results.

AR: 22.6 to 23.8 gn Varget with 77gn Nosler. After the puzzling results from my previous 77gn venture, I reloaded with 0.3 increments instead of 0.5gn. This of course messed up my groove, and I mistakenly loaded 23.6gn instead of the continuous 23.5gn. I decided to go with it instead of pulling the bullets. The 22.9gn grouped best. Unfortunately, I can't seem to match these results with my previous results so back to the drawing board.



I’m not able to exceed the 2700 fps goal that ren suggested. My results closely matches the expected results from Nosler. The 55gn bullet had mixed results. For some reason, the Varget was worse after the load set but then the IMR4895 worked great.



Some other changes I made with the AR: installed a flat wire buffer spring (no more twang!), installed a contoured pistol grip, and installed extended takedown pins. All worked great.

It was perfect conditions at the range yesterday with 85F and 29.93Hg. Normally I analyze the data that evening but instead had a great time drinking much beer at the Brewseum with Todd’s Meetup group. Afterwards, I took the bus home.

The chrono worked okay after a rough start. This was the first time I set up the target and the chrono between the breaks. I almost had it set right but was slightly crooked so was getting errors. I waited for the next break and got it straightened out. I had all afternoon so didn’t mind. I noticed that moving between the paper target and the metal target changed the fps by a couple 100 which usually isn’t a problem because the real measurements are always at the same target. The real problem occurred while I was shooting the resized .312” in the 300BLK which were very inaccurate. The unlikely scenario is that I somehow shot the connecting cable attached to the chrono because the insulation is broken. This meant I had to write each result down which probably effected my accuracy from taking my eye off the target each time. The first number is from the first 50 groups and the second is the other 50 groups. Ideally, they should be the same but not this time. I also included the Extreme Spread for each but didn't compare with the average measurements. I finally exceeded 3100 fps with CFE223 which I was wondering if it was ever gonna happen with this rifle.



AR-15: Continuation with the Varget load that was interrupted last time. I reloaded the 50 I had shot last time. Nosler 77gn with 22.6 to 23.8 gr Varget. (I was using the acronym gn for grain because gr confused me with gram from my college chemistry days but I’m over it now.) I think I’ve hit the limits of my accuracy abilities so not sure what I’ll try next. I have exactly 100 of the 77gr left in my stock. Maybe I’ll save them. I included in the table above the previous results. The chrono has been very consistent including the SD. Overall, I suspect there are two nodes at 22.8 and 23.8 gr. More investigation is needed. The best group was the first 22.8gr.

The thing about Varget is that it makes really dirty brass. I bought the RCBS ultrasonic cleaner from Dexter for a good deal. So far, it seems to do as good a job as the previous ultrasonic I was using but larger. I ordered a bottle of the RCBS solution so will see if that makes a difference.



300BLK: I felt inspired to try the subsonic loads with Hornady 225gr HP and A1680 10.8 to 11.6 gr. I shoulda shot at 50 yards because the loads at 100 yards made kinda mess of the target. Honestly, I can’t tell much difference between supersonic and subsonic which I understand to be 1115 fps at sea level. There did seem to be a noticeable difference in accuracy depending on the speed of the bullet.  If a round went wonky, I’d look at the chrono and see the speed off a bit. I was pleasantly surprised how relatively low the SD was when I crunched the numbers. Some of the hits were keyholed. I probably have to go with a higher load but then will be getting into the supersonic speeds. This was my only box and not sure if/when I’ll try subsonics again. The best group was the first 11.4gr.

I emailed Battenfeld Technologies (Caldwell) and asked how I can order a replacement audio cable and attachment plate. They are mailing it to me for free. Score!    It won't arrive until the 20th so no chrono until then. 

I previously felt like the Vortex 6x was too high on the AK so I can't get a good cheek rest. I'm moving the Vortex scope ring to the 300BLK but it's 30mm and I ordered ring adapters for the Barska 1" scope and new 30mm scope rings for the Vortex 6x scope. That's the current plan...

Time to buy more small rifle primers. I've been using the CCI 450 Magnum, but I think I'll go back to the Fed Match primers now that the trigger issues have been solved.

Well shit. It looks like Facebook is not a reliable source for hosting photos. I'm noticing the photos are starting to disappear after a month or two because they seem to spontaneously change the URL. Looks like I'll have to go with some of the other suggestions you had.

I went to the range yesterday. It was great but my computer deleted my write up so here some pictures using Imgur.

No annoying sun glare today. Lots of erosion from last Monday's rain storm.


MN with new pistol scope added: 38.2gr IMR4895 with Hornady 174gr RN.


MN: 36 to 40 RL15 with Hornady 150gr SP. Next load will be 37 to 39 gr if I have enough left in the bottle.


AK: Based on previous loads, 23.2 to 24 gr A1680 with Hornady 123gr .310" on top and 23.5gr with same powder and bullet on bottom at 50 yards. Perhaps I'll try shooting the loads from highest to lowest to see if I can get the same results as the bottom target.


The lower AK loads had the best SD but the worst accuracy.

I'm sorry if I missed it in your posts but what software are you using to calculate the MOA?

https://ontargetshooting.com/

I started with the Precision Calculator program but then upgraded to the TDS program which allows you to print the targets that the software can recognize and automatically analyze (assuming the shot is somewhat near the target). My scanner is not the best so have to brighten the scan so the program can distinguish between the target and the holes. It can also combine the shots. For example, the simple analysis for the target you quoted above:



The original target that I shot on Wednesday looks like this. I think I could do better but this was the first time with the pistol scope on the Mosin for some time.

I wore out my .223 case trimmer (right) so I bought a new one (left).

Recommend this:
http://www.giraudtool.com/Tri%20Way%20Trimmer.htm

I found that the Lee trimmer takes off way more brass than necessary.

I use a World's finest trimmer.

Those are both nice but pricey (to me). I started noticing that the cases weren't cutting to the consistent 1.750" COAL as measured by my caliper. It looks like the steel has worn in both the gauge and the cutter. I'm processing brass now and seems to work again. I attach the shell holder to the drill.

I wore out my .223 case trimmer (right) so I bought a new one (left).

That seems weird to me. I have an RCBS trimmer and I have trimmed 1,000's of cases and the cutting head is not worn at all. I have never replaced it. Weird. 

It's difficult to see in the photo but the post that goes through the flash hole has a noticeable wear mark from rubbing against the brass.

I did change drills recently because the old drill battery was going bad.

are you trimming steel cases?

I wonder if all that wear is due to improper (or even no) hardening of the cutting and flash hole surfaces?

are you trimming steel cases?

No, but that would be an explanation.

I wonder if all that wear is due to improper (or even no) hardening of the cutting and flash hole surfaces?

Not sure what you mean.