Recently acquired a Long Ranger in .223/5.56 so I can use what I already have for ammo.
The extra 4" (20" barrel) gives it a little velocity boost over my AR (~150 fps).
Shoots nice and brass comes out relatively cool (can catch with my hand, if I wanted to).
It is fun to work a lever action while shooting! Helps conserve ammo as well.
Not sure what a range report is exactly, but here's some numbers acquired with a Magnetospeed Sporter chronograph (the values circled with red are repeat values, left them in the calculations):
Looks like 25.5 grains has the best extreme spread and standard deviation.
A range report is nothing more than a review of what you think of your rifle, how it shoots, how it grouped shots at whatever distances you shot and most important pictures of the target and rifle.
I do not know how experienced you are with reloading or shooting but many novice shooters seem to chase speed when they reload it's the cool factor for them. I always reload for accuracy and which ever loads gives me the best group is what I stick with. I shoot all my different loads without really knowing velocities as accuracy is my goal. Once I find the load with the smallest group shot. I load 10 additional rounds of the exact same load and run them through a chrono. I do this afterwards because the magneto speed chrono will change your point of impact, but it does not matter because now I am only interested in getting a 10 shot averag for velocity so that I am aware of the ballistics for that round at with that load at various distances.
Loads with 55 grain bullets and 27 grain seems really hot to me. I get my most accurate rounds around 25.4 grains of H335 (this is with 50 and 52 grain bullets). That hot load may be OK in your rifle, but I think in mine it would be waaaay over pressure or at least bordering on over pressure.
I'm a couple of 10ths under you for my best load, RC. 55 grain FMJs and H-335 powder in all 3 of my ARs. Higher velocity means nothing without accuracy. Just means you are beating up your rifle and brass for nothing if you go chasing maximum velocities.:twocents:
The intention was to find where the curve flattens for velocity, supposedly that is better for accuracy. I only shot this at the 25 yard range to get some numbers. I also shot my AR for some numbers as well. The AR settled out at 25.4 grains, so I'm loading that for both so I don't have to keep everything separate. Going up to 27 grains was just to get some data. I agree that max velocity does not correlate to best accuracy from everything I've read.
The next step is going to 100 yards with a lead sled. Last time I tried one of these it didn't really hold the aim by itself, even with max weight loaded on it (I think it was 20 or 25 lbs).
Is there a technique for keep the sled from moving around or do you just re-aim for each shot?
I was really hoping to take the human variable out of it.
I have never owned a lead sled, but saw someone using one at the range. He had nothing but trouble with it. Needs to have a very solid structure under it. I just use sand bags and try to repeat everything perfectly.
I have a lead sled but haven't used it in years, I would have to fight the resident spiders to be able to use it. I use a rest and a sandbag when I shoot.
Usually when I’m going for real accuracy I’ll lean against a tree.
BTW that is a slick looking rifle. Good score.
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