2nd Range Session w/ Optima Elite
11-03-2008, 01:21 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: MD
Posts: 281
2nd Range Session w/ Optima Elite
Well, I am not too happy after this 2nd session. I was shooting the same load that I liked from the first time. 90gr Shockeys and 200gr SW's. The last time I shot a 1 1/4" 3 shot group @ 100yds. This time all I only got about a 3" group. I followed the same routine, spit patch and dry patch after every shot. I haven't been happy with how hard the SW's load in my Elite, so I picked up some 250gr SST HS/LD. The definitely loaded easier, but still snug. I think I ended up with about a 3.5" group with those. I did notice that I was getting a little bit of a crud ring with the Shockeys this time out. The spit patch was taking care of it, but I don't remember having that last time. I can't wait to use the rest of the Shockeys up and try some BH209.
Some days you get the group - some days the group eludes you. That's shooting for `ya.
11-03-2008, 04:10 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,482
RE: 2nd Range Session w/ Optima Elite
I'd switch over to the BH209. Shockey's tends to not give the best accuracy- American Rifleman did a test awhile back and Shockey's was at the bottom of the pile when it came to consistency and accuracy.
11-03-2008, 04:29 PM
#4
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: 2nd Range Session w/ Optima Elite
I will not tell you what powder to shoot, but if you are going to have to swab between shots.. what's the advantage of Shockey's Gold? I would shoot Pyrodex RS or Triple Se7en powder.
Start with 100 grains of powder and see what happens.
Start with 100 grains of powder and see what happens.
11-03-2008, 07:14 PM
#6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location:
Posts: 391
RE: 2nd Range Session w/ Optima Elite
Let your barrel cool down for a few minutes between shots. I shoot my optima and then reload right away, set it to the side for a few minutes and shoot again and repeat. The few minute cool down has helped a lot with tighter groups!
11-03-2008, 07:34 PM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,585
RE: 2nd Range Session w/ Optima Elite
All APP powders are inconsistent unless you take special measures to keep them dehydrated.
I suggest that you try BH209 if you can get some it is consistent under all the conditions I have used it under, if it is not available to you the try Pyrodex it is still the standard by which we judge some like 777 if you don't end up with a crud ring that you have to scrub out every shot it is a good powder. Lee
I suggest that you try BH209 if you can get some it is consistent under all the conditions I have used it under, if it is not available to you the try Pyrodex it is still the standard by which we judge some like 777 if you don't end up with a crud ring that you have to scrub out every shot it is a good powder. Lee
