Originally Posted by
wabi
Got some 300gr XTPs today and took the Wolf to the range to test them. Used a target with a 2" diamond center and the first shot from a clean barrel (wiped the oil out before I loaded) was right in the top of the diamond. (sorry no pics, I forgot my camera
)
Second shot on a dirty barrel (didn't swab just to see what it would do if I had to reload quickly) was slightly left of the diamond, third & fourth shots (with a swabbed barrel before reloading) were in the diamond.
Then the group really opened up!
Next shot (5th) was 3-4" high left, next shot (6th) again in the diamond, next shot (7th) 2" left. The barrel was getting very warm at that point so I quit for the day since I had to go pick up my son from school.
Now I'm wondering (since the first 4 shots were very good) if maybe the hot barrel is the reason the rest opened up. I was shooting and immediately reloading without giving the barrel time to cool.
I'm encouraged since the first shot was right where I wanted it and the next 3 were very close. Guess it's going to take another trip to the range to check out the first shot on a clean barrel and a couple more shots with a fouled (but swabbed) bore are still good.
So far it's looking like the Wolf doesn't like a dirty or hot barrel, but may not require a fouling shot before hunting.
It's probably not a good choice for target shooting, but for hunting that first shot is usually the only one needed and it's looking good there!
Heat does effect Sabots. Good rule of thumbs is wait 5 min between shots if you are trying to score a groupl. Better rule of thumb is 15 min between shots.
Sounds like you are dialed in and ready for hunting and the load is going to do what you want to do come hunting season.
What everyone has to remember is that its First shot cold bore on a ML that counts. Not groups. I have never had a deer stand still long enough for me to shoot a group with a ML before and I suspect no one else on this board has either. Call that a hunch
The way I ultimatly determine the accuracy potential of my Ml's is by taking my Ml out to the range COLD on seperate days carrying with me the target that I started with on day one. By shot 5 I should know how all 5 shots COLD are going to fire. USusally the group is MUCH tighter than the group I try to fire in a single range period.