View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
|
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 11:00 pm Post subject: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
Decided to give these little buggers a try in my Weatherby Vanguard. Maybe I should have checked the twist rate beforehand, but I didn't honestly give it a thought.
As it turns out, the Weatherby Vanguard is a 1:10", which is most suited to bullets of 100 grains or more.
Well, surprise surprise surprise...using Varget, the little 55gn bullets performed better than I anticipated. I decided to give the OCW method a go and I am pleasantly surprised with the results.
I selected 45.5gn as the maximum charge weight per the Nosler Reloading Data. This gave me a start point of 40.95gn which is 10% below maximum.
Using 1% increments for my loads, I loaded three rounds per increment, plus a few extras. Loads were:
Load..........Rounded off to:
41.35gn.....(41.4gn)
41.77gn.....(41.8gn)
42.2gn
42.62gn.....(42.6gn)
43gn
43.47gn.....(43.8gn)
43.9gn
44.35gn.....(44.4gn)
44.78gn.....(44.8gn)
45.24gn.....(45.2gn)
Headed off to the range to do some testing. Lovely day, very little breeze, so I was in a good way. Had a ball shooting, and was surprised with a couple of respectable groups...which gave me my load for this bullet. I have pretty much settled on 43.5gn of Varget as the Optimal load for this bullet...but the others aren't too bad either.
Have a look at the pic below and let me know if I selected the right one.
Don't think I will bother with any fine tuning...that's about as good as I will ever be able to shoot.
Cheers, Vince
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
63.7 KB |
Viewed: |
11538 Time(s) |
|
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:38 am Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
Vince, The 43.9 load looks like it has the same lateral dispersion as the 43.5 but better verticle. I assume 45.2 was spread out more.
It only takes 2 shots to determine if its a bad load but several strings of 5 to confirm its a good load.
I'd recommend loading 15 more. 43.5, 43.7, 43.9.
In my experience, 3-shot groups are good indicators but they don't tell the whole truth about the consistency of a load.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
|
Back to top |
|
|
slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:44 am Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
Your twist isn't off for that bullet. I get a stability factor of about 1.7. Above 2.0 is where accuracy could be an issue.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
|
Back to top |
|
|
gelandangan Super Member
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 6398 Location: Sydney Australia
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
I used to like the 243, they shoot flat like laser gun.
I would use either 43.5 or 43.9, mind you there is also human factor on the result on the target.
I would usually wait a few weeks and shoot them again.
It may be due to other circumstances that make the group changes.
_________________ A straight line is the shortest distance between two points.
A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
Do - Not try!
gelandangan.weebly.com/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
fnuser Super Member
Joined: Dec 23, 2008 Posts: 914 Location: S.W. Missouri, U.S.A.
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:01 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
I think that 43.9 looks like the one You might have pushed the trigger (rh) a little if it wasn't bagged solid
_________________ N.R.A. Endowment Member |
|
Back to top |
|
|
fnuser Super Member
Joined: Dec 23, 2008 Posts: 914 Location: S.W. Missouri, U.S.A.
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
or the wind?
_________________ N.R.A. Endowment Member |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
This is the full range of targets I fired On Monday.
The way I read the OCW 'instructions', you only need fire 3 shots per load to determine a load that is your start point for fine tuning. In this regard I believe the exercise I did on Monday is a screaming success.
Slim, you are correct about the final determination on a load by firing a number of 5 shot groups...which is exactly what I intend doing. I might even do a little fine tuning...a 1/10th of a grain either side just to see if it makes an appreciable difference.
You could well be right Fnuser. I was also the Range Officer on the day and I was back and forth up and down the range doing the usual safety checks etc, so my concentration might have been off a little, also the wind did pick up slightly towards the middle of the shoot, but not what I would cal significantly. I have to agree with your observation...user error mate...the Nut behind the butt was loose.
Cheers, Vince
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
140.57 KB |
Viewed: |
11478 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
144.38 KB |
Viewed: |
11478 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
136.86 KB |
Viewed: |
11478 Time(s) |
|
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:09 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
The dimensions of the target are:
5" in diameter
rings 1/2" apart
Large outer red ring is actually two smaller 1/2" rings
Cheers, Vince
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
138.61 KB |
Viewed: |
11476 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
133.67 KB |
Viewed: |
11476 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
136.92 KB |
Viewed: |
11476 Time(s) |
|
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:11 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
Targets 7, 8 and 9
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
141.23 KB |
Viewed: |
11474 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
148.01 KB |
Viewed: |
11474 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
138.63 KB |
Viewed: |
11474 Time(s) |
|
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
Last one
Description: |
|
Filesize: |
139.55 KB |
Viewed: |
11473 Time(s) |
|
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
gelandangan Super Member
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 6398 Location: Sydney Australia
|
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
So out of those targets, which one is the FIRST shot out of a COLD barrel?
Thats the important one.
_________________ A straight line is the shortest distance between two points.
A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
Do - Not try!
gelandangan.weebly.com/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
|
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:08 am Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
I think when you get done you are going to have a tack-driver. A good example of the understanding that the OCW process can give. I definitely would shoot some more in 43.9. It the wind blew the third off to the right, this would be a great load if it can hold together for a 5-shot group!
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
|
Back to top |
|
|
shrpshtrjoe Super Red Neck Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 2965 Location: Maryland
|
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
Lookin good Vince It's always a great day when we can send some lead down range .
_________________ "MOLON LABE"
P E T A
People Eating Tasty Animals |
|
Back to top |
|
|
tikkat3 Super Member
Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800
|
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets |
|
Great work Vince,
I've played around with the OCW a bit, and as with all things we adapt.
I just simplified the process for myself. Others may be offended, but....
Here goes.
Most of my loads seem to shoot best near max.
I only make up 18 rounds.
Start half grain over max and work back.
Making 3 rounds at each increment at the half grain mark.
My 4th edition ADI manual (heard there is a 5 now)
Max 45grn 2208 - start 41grn
My loads would be
3x45.5, 3x45, 3x 44.5, 3x44, 3x43.5, 3x43
and try those, I don't know if measuring out to the 1/100 of a grain at this point is either beneficial or easy.
Just my 2 bobs worth,
but it is fun trying to find that load that just makes 1 hole with 10 shots
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|