I had a hell of a day at the range today. First up is my Sig 716 Patrol Gen 1 that I traded into a few weeks back. This gun has made it on to the forever roster. I cooked up handloads of 41 - 41.5 - 42 - 42.5 - 43 grains of H4895 for Hornady A-Max and Hornady BTHP Match. The upgrades I added are a Larue 1 Stage flat bow trigger, magpul furniture and a Burris RT-6 (came with the carbon Lancer foreend). Discounting a known flyer, 0.70" with BTHP at 42gr and 1.03" with Amax at 41.5gr.
Next up I wanted to test out all of the different factory loads with my 45-70 to get it sighted in with the most accurate for deer season. I tried out four loads, Hornady 325gr FTX (default zero ammo), Hornady 250gr Monoflex, Federal Premium Hammer Down and Barnes Vortx 300gr FN. I recently added a straight barrel Marlin hammer spring to this rifle and it lightened up the trigger pull by atleast half. The results were all over the place.
I finally broke out my new to me M77 Hawkeye that I got from @Bully . As you all know by now, I am a .308 common sewer so I have a crap ton of different factory loads at my disposal. Well going through the testing to see what the Hawkeye likes and its apparent it really doesn't like 180gr bullets. I haven't shot a group under 2" with 180gr yet which leads me to think that this is a 1 - 11 twist barrel. It is a varmint model and thatd make sense. I did strike 308 gold though when I shot a .37" group with Federal Powershoks in 150gr. I can't wait to start working on handloads for this rifle. Very excited about its potential and it is NOT FOR SALE.
Last but not least is old faithful, my Ruger Am aka the Deer Slayer. I just re-sighted this in as I transferred my Viper to the Hawkeye and mounted a Nikon Prostaff P5 on it instead. Usually can get .75" out of this load of 37.5 gr of H4895 under a 180 gr Hornady BTSP. I recently did some experimentation and 40.5 gr (**** hair under max) gives me about .6-.7" so I am switching over to that once I shoot up all of the 37.5 loaded stuff I have. Ole ugly is wearing that nasty thread protector until Uncle Shitbird approves my tax stamp.
Next up I wanted to test out all of the different factory loads with my 45-70 to get it sighted in with the most accurate for deer season. I tried out four loads, Hornady 325gr FTX (default zero ammo), Hornady 250gr Monoflex, Federal Premium Hammer Down and Barnes Vortx 300gr FN. I recently added a straight barrel Marlin hammer spring to this rifle and it lightened up the trigger pull by atleast half. The results were all over the place.
- 325 FTX = 1.1"
- 250 Mono = 2.1"
- Federal = Over 6" Micrometer was maxed out
- Barnes = .91"
I finally broke out my new to me M77 Hawkeye that I got from @Bully . As you all know by now, I am a .308 common sewer so I have a crap ton of different factory loads at my disposal. Well going through the testing to see what the Hawkeye likes and its apparent it really doesn't like 180gr bullets. I haven't shot a group under 2" with 180gr yet which leads me to think that this is a 1 - 11 twist barrel. It is a varmint model and thatd make sense. I did strike 308 gold though when I shot a .37" group with Federal Powershoks in 150gr. I can't wait to start working on handloads for this rifle. Very excited about its potential and it is NOT FOR SALE.
Last but not least is old faithful, my Ruger Am aka the Deer Slayer. I just re-sighted this in as I transferred my Viper to the Hawkeye and mounted a Nikon Prostaff P5 on it instead. Usually can get .75" out of this load of 37.5 gr of H4895 under a 180 gr Hornady BTSP. I recently did some experimentation and 40.5 gr (**** hair under max) gives me about .6-.7" so I am switching over to that once I shoot up all of the 37.5 loaded stuff I have. Ole ugly is wearing that nasty thread protector until Uncle Shitbird approves my tax stamp.
