Grendel Load Test

 Took the Grendel to the range late this morning. What I consider high temperature and high humidity caused water to condense on the rifle, that is stored in air conditioning. The scope lenses also fogged, so I had to wait to start shooting.

I had 3 loads each with 2 different powders. The groups were inconsistent at best. Seems the Grendel is a bit finnicky about powder charge weights. A 0.3 grain difference can be significant. To make things worse, after getting home, I noticed that the linear compensator had loosened. Now I'll need to redo the experiment.

Oh well, a bad day at the range is better than a good day at work.

6.5 Grendel

 Made it to the range yesterday with the AR 6.5 Grendel.  I had 8 experimental hand loads using 2 different powders all with the same bullet (120 Gr Sierra). Two of the loads were promising with 3 shot groups of 1" & 1 1/8". I'll be loading more of of those and trying a different powder as well. At some point I'll experiment with different positions of the linear compensator mounted on the barrel. The weight will modify the harmonics of the barrel, frequently resulting in tighter groups.

Trip West

A few decades ago the Boss and I took our first trip west to the Black Hills of South Dakota. We liked it there, and with some pressure from me, we went back there recently. This time I was pulling a fifth wheel camping trailer. We drove through Indiana going and coming on the worse interstate highways I've ever been on. I70, I65 and I74 are all in terrible shape. At least I70 is being reconstructed. A couple of years ago I broke a band on my truck tire driving on I70.

 - - - - - 

While away a local company cleared our leaching field. He claims all is now working as required, and the septic tank should not overflow. Maybe in the spring, with all the rain we get, I'll know if that is true.

Crappy Situation

Bought this house 14 years ago because it was near my workplace and has room for the 90yo father in law. It's always had a slow working leaching field maybe due to the old clay tile and/or the soil in this area. Making a long story short, had the tank pumped and just 2 weeks later it was full to overflowing again. Had a drain plumber out and determined that the leaching field is basically noy working. 

Had a guy here Friday who specializes is repairing leaching fields. Supposed to get a general range of cost estimate Monday to fix the field. Unfortunately some of it is under the asphalt where the 5th wheel camper is parked. If there is a collapse they'll need to dig and replace. I expect this will cost several thousands of $.

Swiss K31

 Made it to the range again today for a short session with the Swiss K31. Managed to fire  3, three shot groups in an inch and a five shot group slightly larger. The old rifle is original except for a 2-7x scout scope. Was pushing a Sierra 180SPT at 2530f/s with IMR4350.

So now the Ishapore (308) and the Swiss (7.5x55) are zeroed with minute of angle ammo.

I brought the AR 6.5 Grendel, but forgot about the magazines. Crap, got a lot of ammo testing to do.

Ishapore Ammo

 Took the Ishapore back to the range to adjust zero and double check the load. (IMR4064 and Sierra 165 grain HPBT). After adjusting zero, fired a 5 shot. 1" group at 100 yards. It has a 2-8x scout scope mounted.

Looks like I'll be having issues getting any more powder. IMR4064  seems rare, and N140 with a very similar burn rate was a no-go at 2 on-line sources I checked.  It has a shortened barrel so I probably need to stay with that burn rate and bullet velocity.

Success

Put a linear compensator on the short barreled Ishapore and the extra weight on the end of the barrel had positive results. I tried 3 different loads and all had smaller groups than before. In fact one produced minute of angle. 

I also tried 5 different loads in the Swiss K31. Two loads gave me minute of angle, one with 180 grain bullet and the other 165 grain.

 Both had low power variable scout scopes mounted. If my eldest son was there, the groups would have been smaller. He can outshoot me with a rifle every time.

Next up is trying different 6.5 Grendel loads in the recently modified AR. The small case my make it more challenging.