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Looking pretty good.

auk1124 I had similar results with Lever 28.8 was best group with a SD of 14 and 29.0 opened up a little with 108 ELD-M bullets. 29.4 was best SDs and highest charge so far.

Thank you sir. I have a box of 108s and will try some of them soon.

auk1124
What have you decided, is/was it your load or the scope? I learned a long time ago to ONLY change one thing at a time. In reading your post, (and I may be wrong) it sounds like you changed your load and your scope. Either way, your groups look good.

I repeated my 105 grain loads with a different scope - similar groups. (I didn't bother taking another photo of them with the different scope). At that point I switched to trying the 95 SSTs. For whatever reason, the hornady 105s just aren't doing great with my build.

Have some Berger 88 grain test loads to try next, soon as I get to the range again.

Edit to add, that is probably being too harsh on the 105s. That max load of 2520 is a decent one inch or so group with the 105s. I would hunt deer around here with that one without a second's hesitation. I have this build set up as a range toy though, and will keep looking for range toy loads.

I had a 260 that would not shoot Hornady 120 bullets less than an inch no matter what I did. It was a new build with a Brux 1-8 twist and I was about to scrap the barrel. Changed bullets and it was/is a one hole shooter.
A barrel wants what a barrel wants....

Just an FYI…..I picked up a copy of Fall 2021 Rifle Sporting Firearms Journal (magazine) at my local Bass Pro/Cabelas today since I’m building a 6mm Arc. The magazine profiles, with reloading data and results, the top 10 6mm rifle cartridges….24 Nosler, 240 Wby, 6Creed, 243, 6Arc, 6Norma BR, 6Rem, 6-284, 6x45 and 243 WSSM.

I thought it was a timely article considering……

Thanks to all that have shared their results. 👍

Major dumbazz moment. I loaded the Berger 88s to the lands by measuring CBTO. Never bothered to check OAL before hitting the range. Doh! I just turned my AR into a single shot.

I had forgot how long those Berger 88s are.

Berger 88s loaded to lands (beyond mag length in my barrel), worn out brass, CCI 400, Lever.

Left is 31.6 grains of Lever out of a clean, cold barrel. I believe this would do better from a fouled barrel, but still ain't bad, somewhere around .8 or .9 inches.

Right is 31.3 grains of Lever, about .65 inches. Hotter groups opened up. Max load of Lever gave me vertical stringing again.

I need to reload a few of these to mag length and see what happens.

Are you back with the Athlon scope for testing loads out?

Been bit on the lands vs mag length before as well. It happens

I still have the replacement scope on it, an Athlon Midas Tac 6-24. I need to load a few of these better loads, shoot a group or two with the Midas Tac, and then switch back to the Ares and see what happens.

CFE 223 with the 88s was not as accurate for me as Lever, but plenty good for hunting. A max load of 30.9 grains of CFE 223 gave me a 1.1 inch group with the 88 Bergers.

Had to load the Berger 88s with 17 thousandths of jump to just barely squeeze them into the mag. Groups opened up. Best group was about an inch.

Unless I want to cut a slot into a mag, which I don't, I am gonna consider the berger 88s to not be worth the price of admission. At least in my barrel.

Auk,

I got out and tested some 105 gr Hornady Match billets today. I got .77” 5 shot groups with 26.8 gr of A2520, and .84” 5 shot groups at 26.6 gr. My other two loads didn’t perform very wel above and below didn’t perform very well. I’m about done testing for the time being and will go back for shooting factory loads, as I need more brass.

2520 is looking like a good choice for me with the 105s as well. Did you seat your 105s to the lands of your barrel, or were you jumping them?

The bullets have some jump. I seated them just under mag length. I’m going to play with seating depths a little, but not a ton. If I can repeat or improve the grouping, then I’m leaving it alone at that point.

A max load of Lever, Starline 2x grendel brass, CCI 400, and a 108 eld loaded to the lands. About a .85 to .90 group. The flyer was shot no. 5 and I feel like that one was on me. Still a good group.

CFE 223 sprayed the 108s like a shotgun in my barrel. I am about to give up on CFE 223 - I have never got anything other than mediocre or downright bad accuracy with it in anything I've tried it in. At this point it seems like a waste of components to continue fooling with it.



Edit to add, the shot at the extreme top of the pic is from a different group. If I had shot that bad a group I wouldn't be taking a cell phone pic of it. Lol

It is fascinating,to watch someone chase their tail,in such a way. This schit is VERY fhuqking EASY,if you simply let it be. Am thinking someone mentioned Lever',Starline,400's and 108's some time ago. Hint.(grin)

Nice to see someone with a clue,if only for a change.




Groups that aren't round,simply SCREAM "mechanical!". If load development takes more than (5) shots,you are fhuqking up. Hint.....................

Great video!

I enjoy trying different stuff. Not so much chasing my tail, as just dicking around with a few different bullets. I have some Berger 95 grain VLDs I'm going to try too. Right now the 108s are leading the pack though. Gonna definitely load up some more of them.

Screw it, Midway has their 10 round AR Stoner / ASC grendel mags on sale for eleven bucks. Grabbed one, and a couple of minutes with a dremel gave me a Berger VLD box. Functions perfectly.