8x68 Load Data

[9.3x64]

Very good for factory ammo at 150m Vaughan.
It certainly does look promising.

[TheoR8]

Nice shooting Vaughan.

[Vaughan]

Took this to a longer range on Sunday to tweak the 200m zero and set the BT. There was a lot of heat haze despite the early hour so rather than try to shoot groups I set up a bunch of sporting clays and settled down on the 300m mound. I wasn't feeling all that comfortable but whacked 10 from 10 and figured i should save my remaining ammo for hunting. No great achievement but I just love this thing! Roe buck season opens the 16th so I best start looking for one

[secondtry]

Tough critters dem roebucks.

Don't wanna be undergunned

[Vaughan]

Tough critters dem roebucks.

Don't wanna be undergunned

Well, they're not armour plated like Sambar, that is true..... Moose season is about 4 weeks off so until then it is fox and roebucks. And I hate foxes. If I could find a cal that would kill them twice, I'd buy it.

[9.3x64]

Hi Vaughan,
Just wondering if you have done any more testing or load development with the 160 grain projectile?

[Vaughan]

Not yet mate, been too cold. I hope to start getting into the range later this month. The 160s (factory) killed the moose and roe deer well last season. My handloads were about the same precision as the RWS ammo, in the end, but I'll make a final effort to tweak them a bit. They are already good enough for moose as far away as I will ever want to shoot. Could do better for small deer....

[9.3x64]

Ok thanks, good luck.

[Vaughan]

I should have added.... a load with 71gr of Viht N550 was shooting pretty well. I would need to check my notes for COAL (from memory.... 3.410" I had tried up to as long as 3.525 but shorter worked better in my bbl, not that it made a lot of difference) and have not run it over a chrony yet.. 5 shot 100m groups were still over 1 moa but were close and 5 shot 300m groups were 4" or a little under if I got lucky. It will work fine but better would be nice....

Most important - I was absolutely delighted by the performance on game!!! Hits like a hammer but doesn't blow manure up.

[Vaughan]

Finally got the 8x68 back to the range today. I shot the 160s at 71 and 72gr of N550 (coal 3.410") and also tried the 180gr tsx. The 180s were a bit of a spray but the 160s were ok at 71 and tightened just a bit at 72 gr.

Image-1.jpg

I think the load and bbl is better than the group. The jerk behind the trigger is a limitation. I find I do not shoot my new KKC stock off the benchrest as well as I do the GRS. I need to remember to lean into it or the group opens up a bit. It will kill deer and moose at any range I will want to try. I'll shoot the 72s through my chrony when I get a nice sunny morning and call it done.

[9.3x64]

Nothing wrong with a 1.1 moa group Vaughan.

[Vaughan]

Thanks. Yes I’m happy with it, pending velocity but it will be fine I expect. If I can shoot that reliably it will be more than enough

[Vaughan]

As a final update....

Ran this load over my old shot-up CED... Quickload estimated 996m/s for this load so I was hoping for 960-975m/s. The 4-shot string with about 2-3min between shots was:
1037
1027
1029
1026
I'll call it 1030m/s and then check the scope settings at the range.

I was a bit surprised as QL usually over-estimates achieved mv but I checked a couple of loads for my 74R that I had measured last year and got the same averages so I guess that is as accurate as my chrony. I wonder a little if I'm pushing the friendship a bit re pressure - but this is my most accurate load and the rifle seems pretty relaxed about it. I can't find any pressure signs on the brass so....

[9.3x64]

Not much velocity spread, I think you should stick to that load.

[Vaughan]

That was my plan