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Took the AR 15 out today on the 100 yds zero range . shooting from a fox hole with a bipod , cold with a very slight head on breeze . The scope I had set up on the rifle wasnt positioned right , funny how it seems OK at home then its not when you get to the range , so that will need sorting out .
Shot these 3 targets to try out some different loads , the bottom target was with the cheap mil spec bullets I use for ETR with 21 grains of Viht N135 , poor results with a 6 1/4" spread ,
the shoot n c targets are 3" ,
middle target was a 52 gn SMK HPBT WITH 23 gns of Benchmark powder , a 7 shot group discounting the flyer its a 1" group on the shoot n c target after the 5 shot group to rezero .
Top target after a rezero with Nosler 69 gn HPBT , 25 gns of N140 , just over a 3" spread .
Gave me an idea of whats what , and a lot more testing to do .



The rifle is a Sabre defence milspec barrel and lower , heavy trigger pull , and a SGC upper .
Could do with a better trigger job . :lol:

Dave

Dave, I like your 7-shot group and would work on that one. Have you eliminated other powder weights in reaching 23 grains? Depending on twist rate, 69gn bullets may not work. Have you got much scope for adjusting overall length/seating depth or is this one of those funny black "should be semi-auto but isn't" guns?;-))

Hi T3B
The loads were just starting points for today , have been using the cheap stuff as a general ETR round the 69s were rounds I made up a couple of years ago and never used and the 52s are a new development , all tested today to give me something to work on for the future .
Its a high rail upper but I have overscoped it so I will put something a bit smaller on it to try for next time .
Hope I might see you at Grove soon so I can get back into some target shooting .

Dave

That is a nice starting place for your loads Dave, in fact it is a very good starting place :goodjob:

What do you mean by not positioned right? Leaning or too tall or?

christel wrote:What do you mean by not positioned right? Leaning or too tall or?

Not far enough forward , I couldnt get a good sight picture due to bad eye relief , I could do with a longer LOP ,When I set it up I was thinking with a couple of heavy jackets on today it would be OK , not so .


Dave

Eye relief, is a pain in the bu** to achieve.
No matter how much it all looks good at home, it is all wrong on the range and more adjustment is needed.

:G

Anyway, you mentioned changing the scope to a smaller one, might help on the eye relief...

Whats the twist rate? You should with home loads be able to achieve MOA groups even with a mil spec barrel.

John MH wrote:Whats the twist rate? You should with home loads be able to achieve MOA groups even with a mil spec barrel.

Hi John
the twist is 1:9 , working on better home loads now , I have been reloading for a couple of years but never really put them to the test before .

Dave

With a 1 in 9 twist you are limited on maximum bullet weight so don't go heavier than 69 grains, with some development you should easily hold 1 inch ate 100 yards shooting from a supported position.