Been on the bench alot breaking in the new T/C Endevor barrel. Got it finished and started working on my load and groups. Found out some interesting details with the load combo I'm shooting that may help out a few shooters.
I shoot the Nikon Omega scope which has the circles for out to 250 yards. The scope is made for a 150 grain powder charge and a 250 grain shockwave bullet. I shoot 3 pellets of the Triple 7 powder. The catch was the Barnes TMZ bullets are boattails so they shoot a bit flaters than the other 250 grain bullet.
As most know, the crosshair on the Omega scope is to be zero at 100 yards. Then the circles fall in the order of 150, 200, 225, and 250. With the boattail Barnes bullet, (which in my opinion is the best grouping, best terminal performance bullet made), I did zero it at 100 shooting bullet holes. Itshot about1.5 inches high with the 150 circle at 150 yards. The 200 circle shot 3 inches high at 200 yardsand held a1.5 inch group. I stayed with the 200 circle to shot 225 yards dead bullseye and used the 225 circle at 250 yards for a group of just over 3.5 inches. Guess to find out where the final 250 circle will hit I'll have to push a target out to 275 and see hat that does. When I held the 250 circle on at 250 yards it group 3 shots 7 to 8 inches high.
Mymain point is if you shoot this load-bullet combo, don't assume that if your zerod at 100 yards then you can take the shot at 250 without checking your set-up. I'm guessing that if I did shot the shockwave bullet then it would be closer to Nikons figures but the boatail design is the cause for the flatter carry of the shots. I used to shoot the 250 grain shockwave bullets and although I found all deer I shot with it, only one of themlefta followable bloodtrail. After some ballistic gel testing I was displeased with the expansion of both the bonded and unbonded 250 gr bullets so I switched to the Barnes bullets which have did massive damage to a bull elk, 2 Texas whitetail, an Iowa whitetail, and many Florida hogs.
Good report Capt.. That's some mighty fine shooting you're doing there. I agree with you regarding the terminal performance of the Barnes bullets. But DANG, they are pricey! In my in-line, I just hang with the 300 grainGold Dotsfor my maximum 150 yard shots - and they perform mighty well. With the amount of shooting I do, I could buy a new gun for the price difference between GDs & Barnes.
__________________
My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
Capt Billy, that is a great report. Good shooting. And that was a point I was trying to make in a different post about the BDC. Even if the load is not the standard load to make that scope work, you can do some testing as you did, and learn where these extra marks will hit.
That load you're shooting should be a good one.
__________________
"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."
Been on the bench alot breaking in the new T/C Endevor barrel. Got it finished and started working on my load and groups. Found out some interesting details with the load combo I'm shooting that may help out a few shooters.
I shoot the Nikon Omega scope which has the circles for out to 250 yards. The scope is made for a 150 grain powder charge and a 250 grain shockwave bullet. I shoot 3 pellets of the Triple 7 powder. The catch was the Barnes TMZ bullets are boattails so they shoot a bit flaters than the other 250 grain bullet.
As most know, the crosshair on the Omega scope is to be zero at 100 yards. Then the circles fall in the order of 150, 200, 225, and 250. With the boattail Barnes bullet, (which in my opinion is the best grouping, best terminal performance bullet made), I did zero it at 100 shooting bullet holes. Itshot about1.5 inches high with the 150 circle at 150 yards. The 200 circle shot 3 inches high at 200 yardsand held a1.5 inch group. I stayed with the 200 circle to shot 225 yards dead bullseye and used the 225 circle at 250 yards for a group of just over 3.5 inches. Guess to find out where the final 250 circle will hit I'll have to push a target out to 275 and see hat that does. When I held the 250 circle on at 250 yards it group 3 shots 7 to 8 inches high.
Mymain point is if you shoot this load-bullet combo, don't assume that if your zerod at 100 yards then you can take the shot at 250 without checking your set-up. I'm guessing that if I did shot the shockwave bullet then it would be closer to Nikons figures but the boatail design is the cause for the flatter carry of the shots. I used to shoot the 250 grain shockwave bullets and although I found all deer I shot with it, only one of themlefta followable bloodtrail. After some ballistic gel testing I was displeased with the expansion of both the bonded and unbonded 250 gr bullets so I switched to the Barnes bullets which have did massive damage to a bull elk, 2 Texas whitetail, an Iowa whitetail, and many Florida hogs.
Bingo! Your results on Terminal performance are consistent with what guys report over on the Savage forum and the favorite bullet over there for Long Range shooting is the 290g TMZ or the 300g Barnes Origonal, which has a BC of .291. The SW 300g has a BC of .25. The Left Hand did these ballistics gel tests:
Nice shooting and good report. My BIL just sent me 8 of the Barnes Spitfires. I think they are the 285s. I'll weigh them before I shoot them so I know. If they group maybe I'll hunt with them. Maybe I can get my BIL to cough up some more. Or maybe I'll trade him.
__________________
Be sure you are right, then go ahead. - Davy Crockett (1786-1836)
Been on the bench alot breaking in the new T/C Endevor barrel. Got it finished and started working on my load and groups. Found out some interesting details with the load combo I'm shooting that may help out a few shooters.
I shoot the Nikon Omega scope which has the circles for out to 250 yards. The scope is made for a 150 grain powder charge and a 250 grain shockwave bullet. I shoot 3 pellets of the Triple 7 powder. The catch was the Barnes TMZ bullets are boattails so they shoot a bit flaters than the other 250 grain bullet.
As most know, the crosshair on the Omega scope is to be zero at 100 yards. Then the circles fall in the order of 150, 200, 225, and 250. With the boattail Barnes bullet, (which in my opinion is the best grouping, best terminal performance bullet made), I did zero it at 100 shooting bullet holes. Itshot about1.5 inches high with the 150 circle at 150 yards. The 200 circle shot 3 inches high at 200 yardsand held a1.5 inch group. I stayed with the 200 circle to shot 225 yards dead bullseye and used the 225 circle at 250 yards for a group of just over 3.5 inches. Guess to find out where the final 250 circle will hit I'll have to push a target out to 275 and see hat that does. When I held the 250 circle on at 250 yards it group 3 shots 7 to 8 inches high.
Mymain point is if you shoot this load-bullet combo, don't assume that if your zerod at 100 yards then you can take the shot at 250 without checking your set-up. I'm guessing that if I did shot the shockwave bullet then it would be closer to Nikons figures but the boatail design is the cause for the flatter carry of the shots. I used to shoot the 250 grain shockwave bullets and although I found all deer I shot with it, only one of themlefta followable bloodtrail. After some ballistic gel testing I was displeased with the expansion of both the bonded and unbonded 250 gr bullets so I switched to the Barnes bullets which have did massive damage to a bull elk, 2 Texas whitetail, an Iowa whitetail, and many Florida hogs.
Bingo! Your results on Terminal performance are consistent with what guys report over on the Savage forum and the favorite bullet over there for Long Range shooting is the 290g TMZ or the 300g Barnes Origonal, which has a BC of .291. The SW 300g has a BC of .25. The Left Hand did these ballistics gel tests:
Endevor .50 cal. - TMZ 250 - 150 777
