thomae
07-17-2012, 03:37 PM
I finally got to shoot the 35 Whelen that I built using a 110 270 staggerfeed action and a 20" magnum (varmint?) countour Shaw barrel I purchased from Tammons.
I"ll have pictures up eventually and discuss the whole build, but for today, I just thought I'd share my initial results.
Using a cheap Simmons 3-9x40 scope I had laying around, after getting it more or less sighted in, I shot a 1.146 MOA 100 yard 3-shot group (Rice bags) and a 1.117 200 yard 3-shot group (bipod).
This was using a "random" midrange load of 53 grains of Varget and Hornady 250 grain interlock spire point bullets from the MidwayUSA blemished bullet sale. CCI 200 primers and reformed Lake City 30-06 brass that I purchased from someone else on the forum (or was it Tammons as well?)
Lessons Learned:
I need to tweak the magazine lips because the cartridges are releasing too early and then, because they are not in a nose-up position, they bump into the chamber end of the barrel instead of going into the chamber.
I need to use a different scope. The scope I was using was "gently" kissing my nose with almost every shot. I'll have to see if I have (or else purchase) one with greater eye relief.
The 35 Whelen is a real thumper from the bench. It weighs 8.6 pounds unloaded, so it is no lightweight. Hunting should be no problem, but I am glad I was wearing my PAST magnum recoil shield today.
I still have to do load development with the Hornady 250s as well as with some Nosler 225 accubonds I have.
In the photos below, please note that the lines are actually slightly less than 1 inch apart. 5 lines apart equate to 4.474 inches.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ibgy8QVvTrY/UAW8u3qAEjI/AAAAAAAABK4/zAzx913yKVs/s543/2012%252007%252017%2520First%2520100%2520yard%2520 Target%2520cropped.jpg
(...and yes, I did adjust my scope a little between targets...).
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Au1XqnOlILM/UAW8v1lifVI/AAAAAAAABLA/UFiGfk55kwk/s400/2012%252007%252017%2520First%2520200%2520yard%2520 Target%2520Cropped%2520%25282%2529.jpg
I can't wait to see what kind of groups I'll be able to work up!
I"ll have pictures up eventually and discuss the whole build, but for today, I just thought I'd share my initial results.
Using a cheap Simmons 3-9x40 scope I had laying around, after getting it more or less sighted in, I shot a 1.146 MOA 100 yard 3-shot group (Rice bags) and a 1.117 200 yard 3-shot group (bipod).
This was using a "random" midrange load of 53 grains of Varget and Hornady 250 grain interlock spire point bullets from the MidwayUSA blemished bullet sale. CCI 200 primers and reformed Lake City 30-06 brass that I purchased from someone else on the forum (or was it Tammons as well?)
Lessons Learned:
I need to tweak the magazine lips because the cartridges are releasing too early and then, because they are not in a nose-up position, they bump into the chamber end of the barrel instead of going into the chamber.
I need to use a different scope. The scope I was using was "gently" kissing my nose with almost every shot. I'll have to see if I have (or else purchase) one with greater eye relief.
The 35 Whelen is a real thumper from the bench. It weighs 8.6 pounds unloaded, so it is no lightweight. Hunting should be no problem, but I am glad I was wearing my PAST magnum recoil shield today.
I still have to do load development with the Hornady 250s as well as with some Nosler 225 accubonds I have.
In the photos below, please note that the lines are actually slightly less than 1 inch apart. 5 lines apart equate to 4.474 inches.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ibgy8QVvTrY/UAW8u3qAEjI/AAAAAAAABK4/zAzx913yKVs/s543/2012%252007%252017%2520First%2520100%2520yard%2520 Target%2520cropped.jpg
(...and yes, I did adjust my scope a little between targets...).
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Au1XqnOlILM/UAW8v1lifVI/AAAAAAAABLA/UFiGfk55kwk/s400/2012%252007%252017%2520First%2520200%2520yard%2520 Target%2520Cropped%2520%25282%2529.jpg
I can't wait to see what kind of groups I'll be able to work up!