Today target results trying to dial in new .45 Pacnor

[bowbender6]

s120.photobucket.com/user/bowbender6/media/target20141218_183744_resized.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

Not very impressive. My factory .50 could shoot a better, but loaded hard. Today should at least give me a baseline. Don’t know what to try tomorrow. I have a lot of N120. These barrels seem to shoot moa for most here.

All 200SST knurled to .404__Loaded firm with one hand

30 degrees light wind

Group1______2.8 moa
H4198__60grains_Hornady Tan Sabot
2534 fps
2501
2549

Group 2______2.8 moa
H4198__60grains_Harv Blue Sabot
2487 fps
No read
2534

Group 3 _________2.7 moa
H4198__60grains_ Harv Blue Crush Rib Sabot
2564 fps
2583
2569
2588

Group 4 __________ 2.2 moa
10/50 4759/H4198_ Harv Blue Sabot
2635 fps
2650 fps
No read

[Deleted]

[lakeplainshunter]

Those groups look vertical to me. Do you have a bedding or barrel floating issue?

[rambler]

What are you shooting with?

[Deleted]

I realize group two is 2.8 moa but you have two touching and then the other is high but still in line with other two. Are you mic n all the bullets, make sure they are all the same? Another thing where are you placing your rest on the forearm? I'd try to get the rest back by the attachment screw for the stock to action. At least get the rest as far back on the forearm as you can go. Another thing make sure the stock is not touching the barrel if it's close or touching that will cause all kinds of accuracy issues.

[jeff]

I know I'll catch a lot of disagreement on this statement, but I stand behind it. Messing with the bearing surface on a bullet will influence bullet flight! jeff~

[lakeplainshunter]

Do you have the studs removed from the Stock when shooting off of a Rest?

[Deleted]

Dec 18, 2014 19:53:32 GMT -5 jeff said:

I know I'll catch a lot of disagreement on this statement, but I stand behind it. Messing with the bearing surface on a bullet will influence bullet flight! jeff~

If you feel this is a true statement have you tried these

www.midwayusa.com/product/487934/hornady-xtp-bullets-41-caliber-410-diameter-210-grain-jacketed-hollow-point-box-of-100?cm_vc=ProductFinding

If you feel knurling up the bullet to give a tighter fit will cause accuracy issues, then if you tried these then you wouldn't have to knurl. I know their is a guy who uses these in his sml with good success.

Not saying your statement is not valid just wondering if you have tried this? Knurling might cause accuracy issues this is just another way to eliminate anther error other than sabot.

[jeff]

I am not the one having accuracy issues, I have used them 41 cal and they are very accurate. I have knurled bullets since having pacnor 50's built before the 45 cal craze and I have knurled the 40 cal and still have minimal success. Have you tried indexing your sabots? jeff~

[bowbender6]

Sabots indexed. Bedded and barrel floated. Shoot off lead sled with 25 lbs weight, felt pads on feet so it slides back the same hopefully (thanks Richard). I have five other guns shooting moa with this setup. I am not a competition trigger guy though.
Thanks

[Deleted]

Never tried index sabots I got tired of having great groups then the heat getting to the sabots and ruining the accuracy. Switched to sabotless and never looked back. Accuracy from sabotless is very repeatable and allot easier to achieve less than moa. I would love to shoot a high BC bullet and sabot but I don't trust the sabot.

[lineman]

I would try 62 gns of h4198 all of my PACloved that load, since Illinois is 44 cal went to sabotless ain look back. If I squirrel hunt then I go back to sabots an the 200sst an 30 gns of N110.

[Deleted]

I would clean the heck out of that barrel and make sure you don't have any plastic fouling from a blown sabot. Clean it really well and ditch the lead sled for a range session and see if you have any more success.

[lineman]

X-2 on Myers129 that gun should shoot. I've built at least 10 an all shot moa out to 300 yds. That's the end of my backyard range.

[1afox]

Let someone else shoot it. See what they can do. That gun should shoot close to one ragged hole at 100.

[dans]

Are you using a cooling rod or allowing 15 minutes between shots? That group with two nearly touching and one out is the typical savage syndrome caused by a too warm barrel. Also run a ladder test and up the powder 1 grain at a time and see if the groups close up. Try a felt or fiber wad under the sabot. Keep posting results that gun will shoot.

[Deleted]

I have never used a cooling rod. Never had any issues with barrel heat throwing shots at 100yds using sabots. I'm not one to wait 15min between shots either. 30+min to shoot a 3 shot group. Possible condensation in the barrel from cooling rod? Not for me. Is the tang free floated on the stock? That's if its a Savage. I can't remember what action you got the barrel on.

As Dave D always says get some 200gr XTP's and shoot them. See if it groups them as they are a true flat base bullet.

If your bore is as loose as it seems you need to try it sabotless. Get some Barnes 250 TEZ's and some Eastern Maine wool wads. See if they fit the bore. If they seem tight clean your bore with JB or 40x Bore Cleaner finished with oiled patches to clean up the mess. If they go down with some resistance, great! Put 60gr H4198 down the bore, place a wad in the bore, bullet on top of wad and run them down together seating hard on the charge. If that combo don't print 1" or less at 100yds I would be shocked.

[bowbender6]

Cooling yes 15 min between shots. 30 degrees here. The range is right out my walkout basement. So I just leave the gun out go inside untill it cools.

45omega- I think that is what I will try today. I have both those bullets. I can get the Barnes copper bullets to go through my barrel drop.

The group in the middle of the target was sabotless.I was fouling the barrel and just seeing if sabot less would fit and fire.
Bullets were- 260 hex and one 250ftx ( which was not the flyer) that I had to hammer down the barrel.

Should I clean between shots sabotless if the fit is too tight?

Thanks

[jims]

I had a barrel I had to clean between shots so I could use a bullet unsized but that was a pain for me. Better to use a sizing devise with a fouled barrel IMO.

[bowbender6]

Thanks -jims - I might clean between shots to try until I can get a die

[bowbender6]

Still shooting today and will post target later but tried 60 gr of N120. 200sst knurled to .404 and crush rib sabot. group was under 1" at 90 yards and a little over 2700 fps. Now going to shoot at 170 yards.

[jeff]

You shouldn't have to knurl a 200g SST in a pacnor. I just built my 3rd one and after the 3rd shot it's a ragged hole with shot after shot at a 110 yards. That is with 60 grains of H4198. I went to 10/50 of N110 &4198 after 200 yards and still have MOA with the sst and light blue sabot, indexed. jeff~

[Deleted]

I usually clean my bore after 20-30 shots sabotless. I don't clean between shots. Since you were able to get a 250 FTX down the bore the Parkers should fit perfect at .451 diameter. Bullets for my Pacnor need sized thru a .449 die. Your barrel is a lot looser.

[jims]

Bowbender: ; It looks as if you are getting it dialed in.

[bowbender6]

yep done shooting for the day - got some groups I am satisfied with -will post day 2 targets sometime tonight -

[Mid_Tn_Plowboy]

Just a thought. Try shooting from a front rest and rear bag. I moderately hold the forearm. My Sav/Pac shoots different from a sled than from a rest. I feel the sled limits the rearward movement but may cause the muzzle to jump.