OK here is how it went with the first handloads through the rifle. After shooting the factory fodder I cleaned the rifle as it was not certain when the dies would arrive and when I would be able to pick up some bullets.
The dies arrived on Friday and a trip to the gunshop was made on Saturday
well it had to be done
even in the snow. For this first trial I selected the Nosler 85 Grain Ballistic Tip for a couple of reasons:-
1) None of the factory loads with weights of 117 Grn and 100Grn had given the accuracy required so a lighter bullet was suggested.
2) friends in the US and Australia had gotten good results on game using this 85 Grn Ballistic Tip so................
Shooting was again carried out at 70 yards.
It seems that this particular rifle likes a fouled bore as the first 4 shots scattered rather than grouping
shot #5 was taken at another aiming mark on the Burris Sight In target and it landed low left so a windage adjustment was made as shots #3, #4 and #5 were all left of aim. Then five shots were taken for group:-
The low central one was sworn over as the trigger broke as I "knew" I had pulled it
Oh it seems that I must be careful how I place the butt into my shoulder as the new fleece jacket tends to ruck up under the pad along with the coller and alter my hold
especially when shooting prone that's the only explanation I can come up with the the alteration in height
and which is why more testing is required
it's a hard life but someone has to do it
. I find it strange that my pulled and called shot landed at exactly the same elevation as the before windage adjustment shot!
The fired cases have been re-charged and I will fire a few more groups to see if it was a fluke or if we are actually getting somewhere.