How was Saturday’s test?

It was ok.  Mostly was for fireforming brass to get to 100 1x fired cases and general practice.  I had shot/tested the same setup (powder range, primer, brass, etc) 2x previously and noticed that the velocity Sat was around 20 (as high as 30) fps.  I thought the velocity had flattened out, but assume the velocities were due to temps.  It was pretty hot over the weekend. 

I now have fireformed brass for both 6.5 and .308, so will start on the load development next.  Powder test, then seating depth test.  Just trying to decide which component combination to run with. 

How did your testing go? 

I had velocity changes since the my first test just keeps going up. 42 gr varget getting around 2650 FPS. Finally getting around to testing the custom die for a tight chamber, now that i got 100 pieces of 1x fired brass I’m on the load testing again.


I found 2 powder nodes to test around 2600 or 2650 fps. I went as high as 2763 with 168 gr bullets.

Next will be seating depth test. I have an idea where it should be just need to test the powder loads at that seating depth.

I had velocity changes since the my first test just keeps going up. 42 gr varget getting around 2650 FPS. Finally getting around to testing the custom die for a tight chamber, now that i got 100 pieces of 1x fired brass I’m on the load testing again.


I found 2 powder nodes to test around 2600 or 2650 fps. I went as high as 2763 with 168 gr bullets.

Next will be seating depth test. I have an idea where it should be just need to test the powder loads at that seating depth.

For the velocity changes, you think that's barrel speed up?  Or other factors?

You're about the same state that I am with both my .308 and 6.5 in ready for starting load development/refinement.  I'm likely going to start with 6.5, but plan is to have both in the works, but staggered. 

For the velocity changes, you think that's barrel speed up?  Or other factors?

You're about the same state that I am with both my .308 and 6.5 in ready for starting load development/refinement.  I'm likely going to start with 6.5, but plan is to have both in the works, but staggered.

My 308 was speeding up till about 200 rounds but seems like its leveling off. As the barrel gets dirty I gain more FPS.  I shot 25 rounds one week to fire form following weekend same load gains about 10-20 FPS down a dirty barrel. Never fails

My 308 was speeding up till about 200 rounds but seems like its leveling off. As the barrel gets dirty I gain more FPS.  I shot 25 rounds one week to fire form following weekend same load gains about 10-20 FPS down a dirty barrel. Never fails

My 308 has been quite steady.  Noticed maybe 10-20 fps delta higher in the latest batch of test/fire form loads for the 6.5.  I haven't been tracking temps, but I do know that the recent range sessions were way warmer than the initial range sessions over a month ago. 

I recently got a really good deal on an Impact Precision action, so I jumped on it and got a new barreled action.  In my research into my first custom bolt action rifle, Defiance and Impact were in the tops of many lists (among other quality actions).  So had been wanting to try an Impact Precision action.

Finally picked it up from the FFL over the weekend.  Haven't been able to shoot it yet, but seems quite solid and incorporates some tweaks from the "traditional" Rem 700 actions.  Main one is the incorporation of a trigger hanger.  It makes swapping out a trigger VERY fast.  I read the intent was to facilitate quicker trigger maintenance in the field, where many times triggers can get gummed up and fail during competition (or field use).  You can swap out a trigger with very simple tools, assuming you have the tools to take the action off of the chassis/stock.  I can see how that could be a very useful feature for many, but for me, it's a nice to have.  Swapping Rem 700 triggers with the pins are a slight PITA, but not hard.  I am not one to swap out triggers regularly, so not that big of a deal.  I can't really see changing out triggers during a match with the traditional pins. 

One thing about the trigger hangers is that there are many chassis that will require some modification.  KRG is one chassis that required milling of a section of the chassis to accommodate the trigger hanger.  I was able to install the Impact into my KRG and function check was fine.  While it appeared to fit, I decided to put the new barreled action into an MPA chassis that I had after I got rid of my old Rem 700 barreled action. 

I hope to have a scope mounted on the Impact setup later this week and maybe head to the range. 

Nice what caliber is the new barreled action? 6BR? 6BRA? 6 BRX?

Nice what caliber is the new barreled action? 6BR? 6BRA? 6 BRX?

All of the above.  Multiple barrels. . .

Nah, I got another 6.5 CM, but slightly different setup.  Doing some side-by-side testing with the "older" 6.5.   

All of the above.  Multiple barrels. . .

Nah, I got another 6.5 CM, but slightly different setup.  Doing some side-by-side testing with the "older" 6.5.   

There you go bro! That's honestly the best thing going these days. Being able to change out barrels n use one action for multiple cartridges is the best. Less to deal with registration wise etc and you can have barrels shipped straight to your door boom done. We were doing it for years with our blaser's but they don't make it in whatever cartridge you want per se. But it was great and super fast to change out the barrels in the blaser no need to screw it into the action etc. Congrats on the new barreled action 

There you go bro! That's honestly the best thing going these days. Being able to change out barrels n use one action for multiple cartridges is the best. Less to deal with registration wise etc and you can have barrels shipped straight to your door boom done. We were doing it for years with our blaser's but they don't make it in whatever cartridge you want per se. But it was great and super fast to change out the barrels in the blaser no need to screw it into the action etc. Congrats on the new barreled action 

If I had a house, I would dedicate a room for firearms, specially reloading and working on guns.  Right now, I reload at a buddy's shop and have to put away everything after each session.  That's fine, but takes up a bit more time to setup things and get going.  For now, I'm concentrating on .308 and 6.5 and have specific setups for each gun.  So with the Forster co-ax press, it's pretty quick once the dies are setup.  If I had more space, I would setup stuff like a vice and other stuff for things like you mention and working on guns in general.

Once I get to a "good point" with .308 and 6.5, I may venture out further.  I've been looking at 6.5 PRC and a couple of different 6 mm variants.   

This might be of interest


CU_J8UegNTi/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

This might be of interest

CU_J8UegNTi/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Don’t think you can direct link IG

Don’t think you can direct link IG

You can if you do it right.

Have to include the entire URL address at the front, and don't include any tags at the end of the URL (no "igshid="):

[instagram]https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_J8UegNTi/[/instagram]


You can if you do it right.

Ya. I could open it by “extracting” the link. Was just trying to get him to correct and admit to “nofocus”

This might be of interest

Thanks. Plenty of prefit options for my Defiance Ruckus and Impact. Don’t need another rifle action. . . yet

Ya. I could open it by “extracting” the link. Was just trying to get him to correct and admit to “nofocus”

He's only got 3 stars.  Maybe wait until 4 before expecting more from him?

 

Shot my new 6.5 bolt gun this past weekend.  I have been super busy with work and other stuff, so it was good to get out to the range again after a few weeks off.

Details:
Impact Precision 737R
Benchmark M24 1:8 twist, 4 groove, 26", 0.185" FB
EC Tuner Brake
MPA BA Comp Chassis
TT Diamond 2-stage
Athlon Cronus BTR Gen2 4.5-29x56 APRS6 Reticle FFP
ARC M-Brace Rings

This started as a barreled action that I got a really good deal on the action.  I also wanted to test the tuner brake, particularly for factory ammo, as well as have a back-up rifle for my "older" 6.5.  Barrel lead times are 9-12 months in Bartleins, so this will also help when come time to re-barrel this gun.  The intent is to shoot these a lot, key work being intent. 

Shot some factory Hornady 140 gr ELD-M (my baseline for 6.5 cm) and some Berger 144gr LR Hybrid Target.  I typically am not one to do a formal barrel break in.  For my ARs, break-in is shooting them, a lot.  For my firt two custom bolt guns, I followed the builder's recommendation on shooting 100, then clean.  That's about what I would typically have done anyways.  For this one, the gun build recommended shoot 20, then clean, then shoot 20-40.  So not that different, so I decided to follow his advice.  Since I was planning on shooting 40 rounds total, I took some basic cleaning gear to the range with me. 

Highlights:
1. The Cronus scope on this rifle is intended for my .22 lr rifle.  I'm on a waitlist for another scope, so decided to pick up this scope as an opportunity to test/try the Athlon line, as well as something to get the 6.5 up and shooting.  I had started off with the Ares initially, but ended up returning it for the Cronus.  I am very much one to want to try things side-by-side.  While I haven't shot the Cronus side-by-side next to my NF ATACR and ZCO, I can definitely say that the Athlon Ares and Cronus are excellent for the money.  I've heard excellent things about the Midas line as well.  However, while I think the Cronus is an excellent optic, it's not "just as good as" the other scopes.  The clarity of the Cronus is excellent, and even the glass on the Ares was excellent.  However, there are definite differences in the glass and even more so in the finer details of the scopes.  Things like tactile clicks don't really bother me, but it is noticeably different. Simple things like how to adjust the zero stop, or even to remove the scope caps are seemingly better thought out on my other scopes.  Could very much be that I am now used to them, but simple things like the cap to adjust the scope caps are prone to moving the turret just by removing them.  Or details like how the diopter on the Cronus is able to move freely, whereas the others are able to lock down once adjusted.  I haven't done the tall target test yet, but that's next.  The glass is quite clear, I can tell differences between the NF and ZCO.  Will it make a difference in the type of shooting I will do?  Probably significant, but I did notice a difference.

2. The gun did NOT like the Berger factory ammo.  I did some measuring of the jam before I headed to the range.  The FB on this rifle is shorter than my other 6.5 cm.  It's about 0.02 jump from the factory ammo. Most indications are that the 140 gr ELD-M like 0.05-0.07 jump (for reference, but I'll go with whatever ends up having best results).  The Berger 144 gr LF Hybrids were about 0.100 jump, which sounds about right for the hybrids. 

3. Cleaning at the range, especially when windy, is a PITA.  I mean it's fine, but you don't have everything and comfort of your home.  First time I've done any cleaning at the range.  Didn't help that my cleaning rod is I think 56", so a PITA itself to get it to the range.  I did notice that after the first 20 shots, the carbon coming out was pretty thick.  I don't recall how my first 6.5 cm looked after the first 100 rounds.  Barrels are barrels, but something I did notice. 

I already have brass and some Hornady 140 gr ELD-M to test.  I was also able to get some Berger 140 gr hybrids with the help of a super cool buddy, so have those to test as well shortly.  Just have to decide which gun to test them with.