What a Difference a Grain Makes

I went to the range every day for the last 4 days and will go again today, in all likelihood. On Monday, I was looking to square away my Winny M70 EW in .30-06 for a possible upcoming hunt.

Just to warm up, I had brought a few of my standard M1 Garand match loads (47.0 gr of IMR4895 under a 168gr Sierra MatckKing with CCI BR2 primer) to see how the rifle would handle them and also get some sense of its 100-yard zero with a 168gr bullet. I was more than a little disappointed with my first 6 shots:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j126/flatbush_harry/sc018f1010_zps248ed6bf.jpg

I happened to have a few remaining cartridges from a test session I had with my Savage 116 last year, so next I tried 5 shots with a slightly different load. The only difference in this load was 1.0 gr more of powder (total of 48.0gr), specifically IMR4895, which is my standard powder for my M1s:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j126/flatbush_harry/sc018f699a_zps83309db4.jpg

This second group measured 0.6" ctc. Now I'll be working with several 168gr hunting bullets to find the best loads but I think, for a hunting rifle with no modifications but a scope, this Winny isn't too bad. I find the improvement from one grain of powder interesting and will be truing loads 1/2 gr heavier and lighter than this one to see if there's any difference.

FH

So you had a bad group cold barrel? Then a better group warm barrel? On your first target were those flyers the first or last shots?

First shot was the dead center hit...I was encouraged. Then they started to scatter. Also the second group was from a cooled-off barrel about 15 minutes later.

Your question and point are well-taken, however.

FH

If you can hit bullseye with a cold rifle at 100 yards don't discount that load yet. I would give It another try.

Try some 4350...either H or IMR, I prefer H myself.

And Nosler 168 grain Ballistic Tips, or Berger hunting bullets if you're not opposed to the idea...

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I always found that my rifles shot better once the barrel got fouled from shooting a few rounds.