Hey guys,

It's been a while since I've posted, but I had a minute and thought I would just check in. I can't believe another hunting season is almost behind us. My season will crescendo this next week as I head to the Northeastern part of my home state, PA, in pursuit of Whitetails and Black Bear. I just wanted wish everyone good luck if there are any hunts coming up before the year ends or would like to hear how everyone's fall has been so far. I've been lucky to get out every Saturday since Oct. 17 to either small game hunt (bagged a couple squirrels and three pheasants), hang a new deer stand, or sight rifles all while keeping my bosses at work and m.y MBA program professors happy. I hope to be back here on a more frequent basis, I miss the camaraderie. I wish you all the best.

Regards

Saw this link on Facebook > Field & Stream:

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/2014/01/wolf-trapping-co-op-idaho-pays-500-reimbursement?src=SOC&dom=fb

Seems like an admirable cause. I don't live in Idaho or anywhere nearby but I'm thinking of donating. I wonder if other states have any groups similar to this one.

I was just poking around on the Weatherby site and noticed there is no synthetic model in the Mark V line up anymore. Looked back at the 2013 catalog and it looks like it was left out back then already. Is this old news? or have others overlooked it's omission from the line as well? The synthetic was a more affordable way to get into the Mark V line up but at the same time I don't have a favorable view of injection molded stocks and think it cheapened the line-up a little. Wondering what your guys think about it? If it's been previously discussed just point me to the thread.

Guys, I've had my head in the sand for the last 4 months so maybe you all talked about them already, but I just saw today that Nosler is making a long range accubond. I see that they issued the press release in the fall of 2012. Has anyone been able to get their hands on them yet? Midwayusa has the status as, "coming soon." If the listed BC's are accurate, look out berger.

I'm not sure if any of you guys have ever heard of, or visited, www.realguns.com before. I find it to be an interesting site offering decent reviews on guns and gear. Along with some of the rifle reviews the author includes load data for the rifle tested and how each load grouped and performed in that particular rifle. Over the summer I started a spreadsheet, collecting load data from the websites for Alliant, Barnes, Hodgdon, and Nosler. My goal was to compile all the free data out there into one place for the calibers I either load for, or am mildly interested in. In addition to the manufacturers already listed, I added the data from realguns to my spreadsheet for the calibers that I wanted data for and that the author Joe had tested.

Before continuing on, I would like to mention that all of the loads from realguns are max loads for that individual rifle and under no circumstances should be used in any of your rifles without safely working up to said load. From what I can tell, they are HOT.

Anyway, I was bored the other day and started to think. Normally when I am thinking, rifles and reloading are the subjects that run through my head. Rifles and Reloading quickly boil down to accuracy and so my project began. I started to look at the data I had collected from realguns and started pulling out the loads that produced sub half minute groups from each rifle/cartridge combo. I was curious to see if there was a particular powder, primer, or combo of both that consistently produced tight groups regardless of gun and cartridge. What I've found is that Joe, the author of realguns, has a thing for ATK Industries and the products they produce when it comes to primers and powders. After that, I don't and wouldn't put much stock in what I've found considering the small sample size and the singular source for the information, but I will share it anyway because anyone struggling with an inaccurate rifle is looking for any advantage or glimpse of wisdom available. I will list the rifle and cartridge tested, the total amount of loads tested in that rifle, how many of those tested loads produced sub 1/2 minute groups @ 100 yards, and that rifles average group size for all loads tested. Got it?
Here it goes:
1. Howa Hogue 1500 - 7mm WSM. 37 loads tested, 18 were 1/2 minute or better, 0.6 inch avg group size.
2. Win M70 Super Shadow - 270 WSM, 57 tested, 14 1/2 moa, 0.8 avg
3. Win Comp Classic - 243 Win, 35, 7, 0.8
4. Rem 700 BDL - 7mm Rem Mag, 52, 10, 0.8
5. Rem 700 Sendero SF II - 264 Win Mag, 21, 2, 0.8
6. Rem 700 Mountain Rifle - 25-06 Rem, 39, 8, 0.9
7. Weatherby Mark V Accumark - 338-378 Wby, 38, 5, 0.9
8. Weatherby Mark V Ultralight - 257 Wby, 49, 5, 0.9
9. CZ 550 FS - 6.5x55 SW, 15, 1, 0.9
10. Rem 700 SPS - 300 WSM, 32, 1, 0.9
11. Win M70 - 270 Win, 19, 2, 1.0
12. Ruger M77 Hawkeye African - 338 Win Mag, 37, 1, 1.0
13. Rem 700 Mountain Rifle LSS - 7mm-08, 42, 1, 1.0
14. CZ 550 American - 30-06, 42, 1, 1.1

So now that you have the context, this is what the data produced. Reloader 22 produced 21 groups that were 1/2 inch or smaller. IMR 7828 produced 20. RL 25 produced 8, RL 19 produced 7. Both RS Magnum and AA MagPro produced 5 each. There were other powders that produced 2 or 1 group, but you guys are already bored to death so I will sprint to the finish. For primers, CCI 250 accounted for 50 of the 76 half inch (or better) groups. CCI 200 17, Fed 215 7, and CCI BR2 and Fed 210 each had 1 a piece. The top combo was IMR 7828 & CCI 250 producing 17 half inch groups across the list of sample rifles, RL 22 & CCI 250 had 9, RL 22 & CCI 200 had 7. AA Magpro, RL 25, and RS Magnum all produced 5 when coupled with a CCI 250. RL 19 & CCI 250 had 4, as did RL 22 & Fed 215. So there you have it. Does it mean anything? Probably not. But if you are struggling with a Magnum, you might want to grab a pound of IMR 7828 or RL 22 and a box of CCI 250s. Have trouble with a standard round, maybe try RL 22 & a CCI 200. Always reference your reloading manuals for the amount of powder to start with and carefully work towards max. Be safe, have fun, and good shooting to ya.

In addition to reloading manuals, I was wondering what websites you guys visit when you want load data for a cartridge. I usually check out Alliant, Barnes, Hodgdon, & Nosler. I will also email Berger if I plan on using their bullets. Any other good websites I haven't mentioned?

My younger brother hammered (dropped him in his tracks) this Tom at 25 yards with his SA-08 Deluxe and No.6 Winchester Supreme's earlier this morning. Carlson's Ported Turkey Choke. 20+ lbs, 1 1/8 spurs, 10 1/4 beard. Northeastern Pennsylvania. I'm sitting at work...