Long Range Rifle/Scope/PRS question(s)

I shot the rounds after work today, rounds number 18 through 25 on the new barrel. It's just breaking in/settling down, and I am still getting familiar/comfortable with the new set up. The hand/stock/bag relationship is still a work in progress with it, but I think I'm figuring it out. That came together almost immediately for the Matrix when I first shot it, I really like that chassis stock a lot. This whole rifle handles a little different, and is lighter, I will be getting a weight that fits in the gap between the stock and the riser. That will balance it better as well. So still getting used to it.

I wasn't planning on setting out a target, just shooting and getting numbers, but I ended up doing so. Results are not conclusive, barrel is breaking in, I'm getting used to the rifle, etc.

Impact Action, Altus smithed Bartlien barrel, Manners PRS1T stock, TT Diamond Pro Curved trigger, ARC rings, Steiner Tx51 5-25X56 scope, Atlas Gen II bipod.

RL-155 Powder, Berger 105 Hybrids .010 off the lands, CCI-450 primers, Alpha non OCD cases

89.0 Degrees, 65.5% RH, 29.68 inHG, 2673 DA

32.4 Grs = 2905 FPS
32.5 Grs = 2907 FPS
32.6 Grs = 2897 FPS
32.7 Grs = 2925 FPS
32.8 Grs = 2927 FPS
32.9 Grs = 2929 FPS
33.0 Grs = 2947 FPS

Not bad, and the barrel should speed up around 100ish rounds. The two cases (32.4 & 33.0 Grs) with light ejector cutout marks (The Alpha non OCD cases heads are softer and show ejector cutout flow sooner than Lapua 6 BR cases) were from the first firing with RL-15 and a different bullet breaking in/cleaning for the first 17 rounds. I shot one cleaned, shot three cleaned, shot seven cleaned, then shot the rest of the 17 rounds. That was the first range trip. I did not clean before shooting these today. I will clean before I shoot it again, then it will be clean after matches.

I'll likely load up three each of 32.7, 32.8, & 32.9 next.
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First three shots on the left, last four on the right.


Primers look great. Lots of round still left on the edges.

Last barrel picked up 75/100 FPS

Will shoot 32.7, 32.8, & 32.9 tomorrow after work if the weather holds, and it looks like it will.

Satern


Area 419 & Precision Hardcore Gear funnels.

GoldieMI said:

copy....both look nice....still using my lyman orange aluminum one.
it does things well..a bit on the heavy side but it still works.

Click to expand...

I gave that set to my younger son.

I have Area 419 funnel adapters for 6MM, 6.5MM, & .308

I still struggled today with being steady at the bench with the Manners, the setup is 4/5 pounds ligghter overall and front heavy, or light in the rear, where I am driving the rifle. I have a hard time even keeping the crosshairs steady long enough to pull the trigger, much less control it through recoil. I have got to figure out a way to get weight in the rear. A fellow at Deep South Tactical was making brass weight for going under the cheek riser, but has switched jobs and no longer has access to machinery to make them. The recoil pad appears to be glued on, if it was screwed I could take it off, bore a hole and use a steel brass or lead rod for weight. Jim at Manners has always been very helpful, I am going to call him next week and ask him what people are doing, and how the recoil pad is attached. It looks like it has one spacer, so I would think it would come off.

After shooting today it dawned on me that I could have bolted the rifle into the Foundation stock for testing. May do that next week, I still need toput some more rounds down the tube.

32.9 Grs RL-15.5 is a bit too much with the non OCD Alpha cases, showing light ejector cutout marks where the Lapua would not have. I proved that testing RL-15 and N-140. Primers look fine on those cases, so i don't think pressure is excessive, just max/near max. I assume this is why Alpha punted and came out with their OCD cases. At Lapua prices, people expect Lapua results/case life.

So not bad results, despite my whining about not being steady, and even the ugly triangle group is under 1/2". Good numbers.

32.8. Gonna try it in the Alpha OCD cases I have eventually.

I am going to talk to Manners about getting the recoil pad off. My old benchrest rifle has a hole bored out in the stock for a three pound steel weight. 11.5 lbs for light varmint, 13.5 lbs for heavy varmint. With no weight I could shoot it in any class. I have steel and brass bar stock I could use to make a weight, and making a lead weight wouldn't be too hard. With a piece of 1/2" brass plate I could make a weight to go under the riser, it would just take a ton of labor with no mill. I wonder how much it would weigh.

I put the set up in the Foundation for further testing. Still need to work out some rear weight for the Manners.
I had the Arca rail off of the Foundation in the pic, but it is back on now. Modded the rail a bit, touched it up with flat black paint.

I loaded up four each of 32.2 Grs RL-15 and RL-15.5, Berger 105 Hybrids. 32.2 is what I am using in the other gun & barrel (Both Bartlein) and it shoots well. I want to see the difference in velocities.

I got out to the range today after work. The rifle was much steadier in the heavier Foundation, especially on the bag end. The RL-15.5 load was 76 FPS faster than the RL-15 load. Both shot a nice four shot group. If I tweaked the RL-15 load from the other barrel the SD might go down.




Primers are well rounded.

It will be interesting to see what happens as the barrel speeds up.