For all you hardcore shooters...i need help!!
 

Hey all,
I'm in need of some help...i'm trying to work up a load for a nebraska hunt in december. been shooting the last couple days at 100 yards and the oddest thing is happening. No matter what load combo i try, with every 3 shot group i'm touching 2 out of 3 bullets...sometimes shots 1 and 3, and sometimes shots 2 and 3. Is this dumb luck, or is there a cause? Should I be happy or frustrated?? In some cases, shot 1 is clean bore, and in others it's dirty. Let me know your thoughts....here are scans of the targets with load info..thanks a bunch...

With all shots, I'm using a traditions pursuit xlt thumbhole, winchester primers, Blackhorn 209, and varying bullets and sabots.(240 grain dead center, 260 grain dead center, 200 grain shockwave) ( harvester crush rib .40 sabot as well as orange .40 sabot that comes with the dead center bullets)

by the way, that's a quarter for reference...

I have shot the 200 gr shockwaves in one of my ML for many years. I only use about 85 to 90 grns of powder behind them as I found that to be the most accurate out of my rifle. I could shoot 5 shots accurately with that load combo and open sights. I think I killed about 12 deer during Nebraskas December ML season over the last few years with that load. Are you shooting open sights? I am not sure if Nebraskas Has changed in two years but scopes were not allowed unless they are 1X in the ML season.

muzzypower - Try indexing your sabots. I was surprised at the consistency increase I seen. Some load them with the petals touching a certain amount of lands but I simply make sure that I line up one of the petals with the front sight (as a refrence to the 12 o'clock position) That way the lands and groves are gripping the sabot the same way every shot.

The animal wont no the difference. The sabots you are using are MMP sabots. I find more consistent shooting with Harvesters. I would also suggets weighing your loads by weight if you are going to be that picky in your group size.

You have all of the hunting accuracy you need right there muzzypower. But still, we all want one-inch groups if we can get them.

In my opinion, the first thing you have to do is shoot some five shot groups. Right now you don't know if you're shooting 1/2" groups with an occasional very minor flyer, or 2" groups in which two of the shots happen to be next to each other.

Whatever the bore's conditions...keep them repeatable. You're probably going to hunt on a cold, clean bore. Shoot on a cold, clean bore--every shot, when sighting.

that's a good question regarding the scope...i'm currently shooting an omega bdc 3-9...guess i should check the regs

i like the 200 grain shockwave...it shoots good for me but think it's probably a bit too light if confronted with a 200 yard shot.

shooting the blackhorn 209, i figured that when we get there we'd shoot the rifles to make sure there on...and then i'd just leave the bore dirty for the week.

the load i'm really hoping to use is the 260 grain dead center with 110 or 120 grains bh209..both groups are good. I have 260/300 scorpion pt golds as well but they haven't shot quite as well.

checked the regs and variable power is fine