My wife claims my study/computer room/hobby room looks like the Borg have invaded since I started reloading. She keeps saying that she'll be happy when it gets warmer and I can move this operation to the barn/workshop.
All that aside, I have been acquiring reloading equipment and components since I purchased my first Handi in December '06. Working with H4831 and IMR4831 using Nosler 100gr. BTs, I loaded up a couple of batches covering the range from .5gr above min. to near max. loads according to several data sources. I used Win. cases and Win. primers. I loaded a couple of extra min. load to use as fouling shots, since I had cleaned the barrel when I had everything apart for a trigger job.
On the 100 yd bench, I fired the first two fouling shots at someone else's left-behind target without even checking where they landed at that time. Then I started through the IMR batch and found good grouping with all shots in the 53gr to 54.5gr range. But when I walked down the range to check that target I saw that the first two fouling shots using the minimum load were only about 1/4" apart, as well.
I had loaded a batch of 1 ea. in mixed fed. and rem. cases using the IMR and Speer 100 gr. Spitzers in .5 gr. increments. Again, those grouped up nicely in the 53 - 54.5 gr. range. When I say nicely, I mean 4 shots covered by a nickle.
The batch with H4831 also hit a sweet-spot at 52.5 - 53gr. but then began to open up the grouping quickly above that.
Just how good should the 25-06 get with handloads? Should I be satisfied with this grouping or can it get better if I try other powders, etc.? I have not done the o-ring or anything else to the forearm, but the shots do not seem to be stringing. The foream does contact the barrel all the way down both sides so I am considering a light sanding in the barrel channel to relieve that.
The interesting part of the day was that I was the first shooter to arrive at the range. The second was a guy who looked familiar. He proceeded to uncase a Buffalo Classic. I had not seen one in person so I walked over to talk. He looked familiar because he is a salesman at the Cabelas down the road about 8 miles from the range. He was shooting some factory ammo and also some handload he had done with some American Pioneer powder. He forced me to take a shot with his BC and I really liked it. He offered to let me shoot more but I did not want to take advantage. That 45-70 is fun. Even though it was his day off, he confided that a couple of BCs were on the way to the store and ...
Anyway, the third shooter to arrive used a dolly to bring about 5-6 gun cases down to the benches. He pulled out a new Survivor and later a more seasoned Ultra in 25-06 and was shooting on the 50 yd bench.
All in all a good range day.
I am off to the lease in East Texas tomorrow to shoot some at longer ranges. Hopefully, I'll see some coyotes or pigs.
