working up a load

able1

December 15, 2009 16:56

Question : When I work up loads for my .223 and go to the range I like to shoot at the 50 yard targets. I don't have to walk so far to change and set up targets and I can see better. Can you normally assume that the 50 yard group would open up only a small amount at 100 yards assuming I did my part and the wind and other veriables stayed the same. Sorry for the long post.[:(][:(][:(]

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  Tailgunner1954

  December 16, 2009 00:32

  Nope, you can't assume that.
  The bullet may well be still be "wobbling" around at 50yd and be settled down by 100yd.
  Either set up several targets, or find some with multiple bulls (archary "5 spot" targets work well, but are fairly expensive) and set those up at 100.
  
  BTW, 50yd is for working up handgun loads and sighting in 22lr's

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  sandwarrior

  December 16, 2009 04:19

  able1,
  
  Welcome to the forum, as I haven't seen your name before. And BTW, that's not a long post at all.
  
  In theory a 1/2" group @ 50 will be a 1" group @ 100. That 100 yd. group would then double @ 200 giving you 2" Triple @ 300 giving you a 3" group. But, like tailgunner1954 said the bullet might not be stable. You also have to learn how to call wind. That will spread your groups out too. Parallax also plays a part in shooting tight groups. In short that means your reticle and focus are focused/aligned together on the target. If not, you might move around behind the scope differently and the crosshairs aim at the wrong place. If parallax is set for 300 and you're shooting at 100 you would have the same problem. Shooting position also makes a difference. Little things make big differences at long range.
  
  The short answer is there are a lot of little things that aren't magnified enough at 50 yds. that do get magnified at longer ranges.

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