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- Jan 5, 2022
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After shooting my last buck I became concerned with the accuracy of my ML II. Initially I thought I simply made a bad shot, which could still be partially to blame. I have been doing some intense testing at 100yrds with a variety of load combinations. My recent tests have included the following powders/bullets/sabots:
Accurate 5744
N120
H4198
I have tested the following bullets:
Hornady 250gr SST
Hornady 250gr FTX
Hornady 250gr XTP
Remington 250gr Accutip (Barnes Bullet)
Hornady 325gr FTX
Barnes 300gr Original Spitzer
Speer 300gr Deep Curl
Parker 300gr Ballistic Extreme
I used mmp short black sabots for all .451/.452 bullets and mmp orange sabots for all .458 bullets
To summarize my results:
1) I did not get any 250gr bullets to group well (all 3 shot groups at 100yrds were 4 inches or greater) with 44grns of Accurate 5744
2) All 300/325gr bullets performed far better than any 250gr bullet, but only using N120 and H4198. When using 44grns of Accurate 5744 groupings were poor for 300gr bullets.
3) I got my best two groups from Hornady 325gr FTX bullets and the Barnes 300gr Original Spitzer (2.5 inch groups with 60 grns of H4198 and 57grns of N120)
I was shooting from a Cadlwell lead sled at 100yrds. Temps were around 20 degrees. I allowed the barrel to cool for 10min between shots.
I had been shooting 1 inch groups before this season using 300gr Barnes Original Spitzers with 57 grns of N120, and have no idea why I can't get back there, unless it's a problem with the barrel or scope. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Accurate 5744
N120
H4198
I have tested the following bullets:
Hornady 250gr SST
Hornady 250gr FTX
Hornady 250gr XTP
Remington 250gr Accutip (Barnes Bullet)
Hornady 325gr FTX
Barnes 300gr Original Spitzer
Speer 300gr Deep Curl
Parker 300gr Ballistic Extreme
I used mmp short black sabots for all .451/.452 bullets and mmp orange sabots for all .458 bullets
To summarize my results:
1) I did not get any 250gr bullets to group well (all 3 shot groups at 100yrds were 4 inches or greater) with 44grns of Accurate 5744
2) All 300/325gr bullets performed far better than any 250gr bullet, but only using N120 and H4198. When using 44grns of Accurate 5744 groupings were poor for 300gr bullets.
3) I got my best two groups from Hornady 325gr FTX bullets and the Barnes 300gr Original Spitzer (2.5 inch groups with 60 grns of H4198 and 57grns of N120)
I was shooting from a Cadlwell lead sled at 100yrds. Temps were around 20 degrees. I allowed the barrel to cool for 10min between shots.
I had been shooting 1 inch groups before this season using 300gr Barnes Original Spitzers with 57 grns of N120, and have no idea why I can't get back there, unless it's a problem with the barrel or scope. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.