Ruger American .223 - 75gr A Max query - 04/17/15
Fellow Campfire Members;
Good afternoon to you all, I trust this sunny Friday afternoon finds each of your households well.
This morning's range session was the first time I've been able to test the one and only box of 75gr A Max bullets I've seen or been able to lay hands on this side of the medicine line.
Previous to this, the rifle's 1:8 twist barrel will put 3 mystery 62gr HP bullets into 9/16" to 5/8" - the average velocity on that load being 2827fps pushed by 27gr of Varget.
For heavier projectiles it seems to like 75gr Hornady HP Match - this morning it put 5 shots into 15/16" with an average velocity of 2806fps - this load 25gr of Varget.
The same load of Varget produced 2835fps with the 75gr A Max - 4 shots going into a nice round 1" and the fifth shot up and to the left a bit making 1¼".
The next load was 24gr of RL15 which produced 2714fps - 4 shots going into a 1" horizontal string, but a 5 shot "group" of 3" - again one shot going up and to the left.
After that was 24gr of IMR4895 which made 2828fps - 4 shots going into 1 5/16" and 5 making a 2" patch - and again it's above the group but not to the left this time.
The last test batch was 23gr of 748 that averaged 2684fps and sprayed the 5 bullets evenly into 3¼".
I have checked the action screw tension and it's where I believe it needs to be on a Ruger American which is really bloody tight.
There is no contact whatsoever on the floopy fore end.
So my initial thought is that it might not be in love with the 75gr A Max, but I'm wondering if my velocities are a tad slow and aren't stabilizing the bullet?
Oh, I apologize in not mentioning that the COAL is 2.430" with the A Max - they're just so giving the lands a bit of a peck on the cheek.
Half of me thinks I might insert a wee plastic shim into the fore end to see if the barrel prefers a tiny bit of dampening and try the last of my Varget again.
Anyway folks, if anyone feels like weighing in I'd love to hear some thoughts on the subject if any of you gentle readers are so inclined.
Thanks in advance and all the best to you all this weekend.
Dwayne
Good afternoon to you all, I trust this sunny Friday afternoon finds each of your households well.
This morning's range session was the first time I've been able to test the one and only box of 75gr A Max bullets I've seen or been able to lay hands on this side of the medicine line.
Previous to this, the rifle's 1:8 twist barrel will put 3 mystery 62gr HP bullets into 9/16" to 5/8" - the average velocity on that load being 2827fps pushed by 27gr of Varget.
For heavier projectiles it seems to like 75gr Hornady HP Match - this morning it put 5 shots into 15/16" with an average velocity of 2806fps - this load 25gr of Varget.
The same load of Varget produced 2835fps with the 75gr A Max - 4 shots going into a nice round 1" and the fifth shot up and to the left a bit making 1¼".
The next load was 24gr of RL15 which produced 2714fps - 4 shots going into a 1" horizontal string, but a 5 shot "group" of 3" - again one shot going up and to the left.
After that was 24gr of IMR4895 which made 2828fps - 4 shots going into 1 5/16" and 5 making a 2" patch - and again it's above the group but not to the left this time.
The last test batch was 23gr of 748 that averaged 2684fps and sprayed the 5 bullets evenly into 3¼".
I have checked the action screw tension and it's where I believe it needs to be on a Ruger American which is really bloody tight.
There is no contact whatsoever on the floopy fore end.
So my initial thought is that it might not be in love with the 75gr A Max, but I'm wondering if my velocities are a tad slow and aren't stabilizing the bullet?
Oh, I apologize in not mentioning that the COAL is 2.430" with the A Max - they're just so giving the lands a bit of a peck on the cheek.
Half of me thinks I might insert a wee plastic shim into the fore end to see if the barrel prefers a tiny bit of dampening and try the last of my Varget again.
Anyway folks, if anyone feels like weighing in I'd love to hear some thoughts on the subject if any of you gentle readers are so inclined.
Thanks in advance and all the best to you all this weekend.
Dwayne