200 FPS

[benelli_dude2002]

Hey Scotty does 200 fps in the same caliber make a difference on paper at 200 yards? I was out shooting yesterday and comparing factory to handloads and I noticed a big drop in the handloads at 200 yards. both were 50 gr in 22-250. I was surprised to see a bullet hit the sand about a foot below the target once too. I didn't get that great of groups at 100 yd with the handloads either. However the factory loads I was quite pleased with. My friend loaded them to 3600 fps and the factory noted on the box at 3800 fps. I mean I was almost off the paper at 200 yards with the handloads ( 8x10 inches ) just along the bottom was where the bullets were going. The best group I got with the handloads at 100 yd was about 1.5 inches and with the factory loads I had all 3 touching each other on the paper. Just wondering what you would suggest? I shoot a Remington 700 with a heavy barrel topped with a Burris 4x16x44 so with this set up i did see that one hit the sand. Thanks in advance! Brian

[JEV]

Having been handloading for a few years now there is one thing I have found, its that each rifle likes and dislikes certain loads. 200FPS should not be making that much difference at 200yrds. I would think a half inch would be more resonable. I myself shoot a Remington heavy barrel in the .223 and it took some time to work up a load that it liked. One thing I can say in my experiance is that my handloads will outshoot any of the factory loads I've tried. My little .223 is a real tack driver when I can hold her there. It's probably one of my favorite rifles to shoot. But, I would double check the load data. Either the handloads aren't hitting the right velocity, or the factory are burning a little hotter than they say. Just my thoughts anyways....

[Fisher Dave]

Were these hand loads made with factory bullets? Or were they poured by the guy who loaded them for you? One of 2 things was the problem with the hand loads.. either the bullets were imperfect or inconsistant, or the powder charge was inconsistant, or bad powder.... I guess bad primers could do it too... make that a 3rd possibility. If you have old powder, or primers, it is possible to make poor loads without knowing it.

A change in velocity in itself wont cause an inconsistant pattern, It will just cause the bullet to have a different point of impact, but should be consistant with the same loads.

I shot competetively for many years on KD ranges (up to 600 yards regularly) .. all of my rounds were reloads and held greater accuracy than factory rounds when I used good quality factory bullets. Poured bullets worked ok, but did have a margin of inconsistancy.

A good load that works well for a particular rifle built for accuracy can keep bullets in a dinner plate at 600 yards... Just keep in mind all loads dont work well in all rifles, some loads will outperform others by far.