Fed 215 vs W209
03-03-2014 | 10:08 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,732
Likes: 0
From: Rapid City, South Dakota
Fed 215 vs W209
This morning it was zero at dawn. After breakfast it rose to 3. Arriving up at 4700' i was 31, which really surprised me. It seems there was an 'inversion'. It was nice and warm, with no breeze. Three shots were taken using a nearly new factory breech plug utilizing the W209 primer. These shots hit dead center on the target. It was then i realized i had put on my lucky shorts this morning. The rifle was the Dream Season, and the load was 110g Blackhorn, 270g Deep Curl, green crush rib sabot, W209 primer. Range was 200 yard.
Then the breech plug was removed from the rifle, and a breech plug made to utilize rifle primers was installed. The load was the same, except the primer was changed to a Federal 215. Range was the same, 200 yard.but there had developed a very slight right to left breeze. The breeze seemed consistent, but right at the second shot there was a kinda 'puff'. This shot went further left than the other two. The 3 shots made using the 215 primer were a little higher, and left.
A trip was made to the target, and the holes photographed. Then the scope was dialed down some, and three more shots taken using the same load. These shots are lower, and more right than the first three. Then the breech plugs were switched, and 2 shots taken using the W209 primer. These shots went to join the first three made using the W209 primer, even though they should have hit some lower. Seems the bullet impact didn't follow the lower scope setting; i guess the warming barrel threw these 2 shots higher than anticipated. Once again a trip was made to the target, and the holes photographed.
Then the scope was dialed a way down, and Three more shots taken using the W209 primer. These are the lowest 3 holes on the target.
It is kinda like the wind wanted me to conclude the W209 primer, are more accurate than the Fed215 primer, and it does seem so.
Then the breech plug was removed from the rifle, and a breech plug made to utilize rifle primers was installed. The load was the same, except the primer was changed to a Federal 215. Range was the same, 200 yard.but there had developed a very slight right to left breeze. The breeze seemed consistent, but right at the second shot there was a kinda 'puff'. This shot went further left than the other two. The 3 shots made using the 215 primer were a little higher, and left.
A trip was made to the target, and the holes photographed. Then the scope was dialed down some, and three more shots taken using the same load. These shots are lower, and more right than the first three. Then the breech plugs were switched, and 2 shots taken using the W209 primer. These shots went to join the first three made using the W209 primer, even though they should have hit some lower. Seems the bullet impact didn't follow the lower scope setting; i guess the warming barrel threw these 2 shots higher than anticipated. Once again a trip was made to the target, and the holes photographed.
Then the scope was dialed a way down, and Three more shots taken using the W209 primer. These are the lowest 3 holes on the target.
It is kinda like the wind wanted me to conclude the W209 primer, are more accurate than the Fed215 primer, and it does seem so.
03-03-2014 | 04:36 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,732
Likes: 0
From: Rapid City, South Dakota
Well, we all know that tonight i will put my shorts into the dirty clothes, and washing them will guarantee that I will never again shoot such a tight group. It was indeed fun to see where each shot hit through the spotting scope, but we all can be sure, it was luck, pure and simple.
