No. 4 "Compensation" Tests

Both of them

The initial sight adjustment & the follow up group with the 3031 were fired at the bottom black paster.

The sighting rounds for the Varget at the upper paster at the neck junction just to separate the 2 groups. there was no additional sight adjustment for that group.

There should be 10 rounds on each of the orange/white targets.

The green silhouette is actually several practice & check rounds. the upper (Varget) group should be 7 rounds, numbered with one down way low inside the larger bottom group fired separately.

I'm mailing you 2 cases.

Both fired in the No4 Mk2.

One was partial full length resized after firing.

The ziploc bags have labels inside.

Sorry about the ugly little lube dent  I schpritzed spray lube rather generously as the die was bone dry & so was the case & I only resized a single round.

But, also had very good 10 shot groups with 40.0 gr at 200 yds.  It seems the No. 4 without scope handled the velocity variations just fine. Throw a scope on and it doesn’t like the large ES values.

I’m not sure why that was the case. I wonder if the formulation changed? Could be any number of reasons. But at 100% load density, Its hard to beat for the .30 Cal rifle cartridges in the range of 2400 to 2800 fps, like the .308 Win. 

That’s the most likely explanation. I wonder if Hodgdon reduced the charge weights from the ADI AR 2208 data when it first came out?  I’ve been loading Varget since 2017 and the Hodgdon website data for Varget matched that of ADI 2208 since then. 

I’ve got my 174 gr SMK loads assembled for running a Ladder Test once I get the rifle back from Brian (BDL).  PPU Cases, WLR Primers, 3.05 in OAL.  I’ll do this test at 600 yards, this is where performance really counts in the CMP Vintage Sniper Matches. 

I’ve loaded 40.0 gr to 42.1 gr Varget in 0.3 gr increments, 5 rounds of each charge weight.  This should cover average muzzle velocities from about 2350 to 2500 fps.  I will shoot these in a “Round Robin” style so environmental and barrel fouling/heating effects are spread out evenly over the 8 different charge weights. With any luck, I’ll find the “accuracy node” where vertical spreads are reduced substantially at 600 yds. 

I say with no hesitation that Brian does exceptional work, and he knows what he is doing when it comes to Lee Enfield rifles (and, many others). It was a turn key solution, he took care of all the issues I had with this rifle.  I had a NOS Long Branch fore-end and handguard set that Brian fitted to the barreled action and finished with raw linseed.  

There were a few issues with the rifle I knew of which he corrected:

1) Excessive bolt head overturn

2) Headspace was a hair under minimum (actually less than 1/2 a hair thickness under!)

3) Re-solder scope bracket front pad to body and replaced the screws

And some issues I didn’t know about that he also corrected:

1) The rifle had a No. 5 type Trigger Guard, since I don’t have a No. 5 rifle, I never new this

2) Extractor was not correct, likely a repro (this rifle had weak empty case ejection, but not anymore!)

3) Several other bits were replaced that needed it.  

The T is now back in full military spec.  The fore-end is bedded per military requirements. This is actually quite important for using the rifle in CMP Vintage Sniper Rifle Matches. 

Tomorrow’s weather looks good for test shooting. I will sight it in at 200 yds, then move out for initial grouping test at 300 and 600 yds. If time permits, I’ll work thru the ladder test at 600 yds which is a round robin style test of my Match Load:

PPU Case

WLR Primer

Varget Powder charge weight varying from 40.0 to 42.1 grains in 0.3 grain increments

174 gr Sierra MatchKing

3.05” OAL

The process is to shoot one round of the eight different powder charges and repeat 4 times for a total of 40 rounds.  I’m looking for a load that is relatively insensitive to muzzle velocity variation in terms of vertical spread (i.e. compensates at this range).   That is a load where -0.3 and +0.3 grains falls at the same elevation mean point of impact with good vertical spreads. 

All Right!

Glad to hear the issues were tracked down & rectified.

Would you believe the "C gauge is still lost in the ozone somewhere along with a set of print ink carts a .345 "Patriot" bore brush, 2 dummy "AA" batteries & some other bits & pieces?

Last seen "in transit" from where to where unknown.