After several weeks of trying many different powders and bullets I have finally settled on my load (it"s been shooting well for the better part of two weeks). My Encore likes Pyrodex pellets 3x50, I"m using the VariFlame primer set up with Federal small rifle primers, T/C Shockwave bonded bullets, but this is where I played around some and ended up using the sabot from the regular T/C shockwave bullets on the bonded bullets and it really did make a difference in my grouping. Currently shooting < 1 ¼ inch at 100 yards and at the range they have a 12 inch steal plate at 200 yards that I"m able to hit every time using the Nikon BDC 3x9 scope"my spotter says I"m hitting pretty much center of the plate (all I need to hear is the clang when the bullet gets there)!
My only concern is the temperature that I"m currently shooting at here in Phoenix, between 80 and 90 degrees most mornings. This week the forecast is for the morning temps to be in the low 70"s starting out so I"ll be out checking for changes in my load. I"m hoping there isn"t any real changes in the chosen load"temps here make it hard to plan for hunting at 50 to 60 degrees.
After several weeks of trying many different powders and bullets I have finally settled on my load (it"s been shooting well for the better part of two weeks). My Encore likes Pyrodex pellets 3x50, I"m using the VariFlame primer set up with Federal small rifle primers, T/C Shockwave bonded bullets, but this is where I played around some and ended up using the sabot from the regular T/C shockwave bullets on the bonded bullets and it really did make a difference in my grouping. Currently shooting < 1 ¼ inch at 100 yards and at the range they have a 12 inch steal plate at 200 yards that I"m able to hit every time using the Nikon BDC 3x9 scope"my spotter says I"m hitting pretty much center of the plate (all I need to hear is the clang when the bullet gets there)!
My only concern is the temperature that I"m currently shooting at here in Phoenix, between 80 and 90 degrees most mornings. This week the forecast is for the morning temps to be in the low 70"s starting out so I"ll be out checking for changes in my load. I"m hoping there isn"t any real changes in the chosen load"temps here make it hard to plan for hunting at 50 to 60 degrees.
You didn't say the weight of the SW, 250g or 300g? The bonded are the better bullet for elk, my experience with the SW also confirms your sabot theory. I shot the "black sabot SW", the easy guide SW and the bonded easy glide SW, the most accurate bullet was the black sabot SW, which I believe uses the MMP HPH12 sabot. "The tigher the sabot, the tighter the group, up to having to hammer it down", has been with I have found. I plan on using the parker Ballistic Extreme 275g with a HPH12 sabot next year for elk in Colorado, I will also use this bullet for whitetail in NY, VA and Penna. The BE come with a HPH24 sabot, with is thinner and doesn seal the bore aswell causing loss of accuracy. Sound like you got your's dialed in. Best Wishes for the hunt.
Chap Gleason
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Chapman Gleason
Purcellville Va
http://www.the-gleasons.com
Well it sounds like you have a great rifle, and a great load. It will be interesting to know what the temperature change does to your POI.
Also, how cool does it get there for hunting season. 70ºs seems kind of warm to me.. But then us Northern Wisconsin people thrive on cold I guess. (Until February, then we are sick of freezing our you know whats and we start to complain to anyone that will listen.. ) You know, I really like it when the posters tell the weather conditions of their hunt. Like Frontier Gander, hunting in T - shirts. Then you have Sabotloader in snow all bundled up nice and warm.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
yep the weather change may affect your rifle. I ran into a guy who sighted his rifle in at his home in california, came to colorado and took 2 shots at a buck and found out he was shooting 18" high! Make sure you get up to your hunting area a day or 2 ahead of time and take a couple shots to make sure its still dead on.
Sorry I didn't mention the weight...it's the 250 gr Shockwave. I tried the Barnes TMZ in 250 gr, but I kept getting the shots stringing out on me and I finally went back to what was working from the start...If I had more time maybe I could play around more with the sabots and the Barnes bullets and get an excellent grouping. And It was the Bonded bullet with the black sabot that worked best, but the regular Shockwave bullets worked well with either of the sabots that were supplied"go figure!
Cayugad,
I"ll be hunting in north central NM around 8,000 to 10,000 ft and the temp in early Oct. (hunt starts on the 6th) can be from below freezing (in the morning) to around 70 degrees in the late afternoon so I have to figure for lots of extremes.
Frontier Gander,
I plan on driving up to my hunting area 2 days before the hunt starts and getting a few shots in to verify my load"sure hope I don"t have to make any big changes. Here in Phoenix we are at about 1800 ft and the elevation will be starting around 8,000 ft and I"ll have to take that into account as well.
might have to learn to breath different too... learn to suck more oxygen out of the air. Is that what they call the high desert country? I have seen pictures of the area, and it sure is pretty there.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
I'll be hunting in the Santa Fe National Forrest and it is lots of big pines and large valleys. This area ranges from about 5,500 to over 13,000 feet at it highest point. It's not as bad as you might think and the weather last year on my brother's hunt was very nice. We had on thick hunting coats up till noon and then it was mostly shirt sleeves till later in the day. Hunting at this altitude isn't so much a game of wind sprints and just pacing ones self and having a good time. The real test is when the fun is over and the hauling begins, then it feels like your trying to suck wind through a straw at times.
Good luck AZ-I hope you get a bigun. As Frontier said about elevation, it does make a differece. I think humidity has a greater effect than temperature. However the area you are going to shouldhave fairly low humidity. I got to hunt elk in NM once, and it truly was the greatest hunt of my life. Iwas huntingon a private ranch(Floyd Lee Patterson Ranch). The ranch had 32,000 acres, and I saw 10 legal bulls on the first day. Truly a hunt of a lifetime, as they were bugling hot and heavy. I must say that it is easy to see that many bulls because thecountry is wide open and you can literally see for over a mile. Tom.
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West by God Virginia.
We need to stop using these terms today, "Sniper Rifle", "Tactical", "Assault Weapon".
Well here"s my hunting load for elk"
) You know, I really like it when the posters tell the weather conditions of their hunt. Like Frontier Gander, hunting in T - shirts. Then you have Sabotloader in snow all bundled up nice and warm.
