Preload or not ?

G

Greg 79 F150

Guest
Are we preloaders handicapping ourselves out of the winners circle for the 200 yard BR matches on the average ? Can we consistently compete well against the " loadem' at the range" gang ?
 
FBecigneul said:
Well, he knew how to shoot.
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I would definitely agree he knew how to shoot nobody is going to beat 300 other guys by pure accident !

Getting back to the original question I preload for my 30BR I do not find the changes in temp and humidity have near the effect on the 30 they do on the 6PPC I preloaded for the 6 PPC only when I had to (I was running match) with the 30 I load at rage only if I run out of loads.
 
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I read this saved download whenever I contemplate bench loading ...

The majority of top 6PPC competitors load ammo on match day, playing with load weights to suit the charge to temperature and humidity. While this allows you to get peak velocity on a cool day, and avoid over-charges in very hot conditions, bench loading can be a huge distraction and isn't essential.

Hall of Famer Jim Borden: "I have my ammunition already loaded for [major matches]. It's working, both rifles are Agging in the 'low Ones', with a load of about 29.0gr N133, running about 3300 fps."

"Loading to conditions on match day can kill you. All you can do is go by memory and guess-timates. If your rifle has good vibration control, you'll typically have an accuracy window of 100-125 fps."

"I set preloads for velocity in the middle of the accuracy window which lets me shoot in any conditions. Studies by Jack Jackson convinced me we could let ammo sit for as long as a year and accuracy will hold."

Source: http://www.6mmbr.com/6ppc.html Loading Strategies - Should You Load on The Bench
 
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Glenn Chism said:
The only way to determine if preloading works for 200yd matches is to, Load em up and Shoot em in the Match. Some guy won a Super Shoot a few years back with preloads. Don't remember his name. If you're having success with preloads,why change.


I've never preloaded for a match. I can't say that one method has an advantage over the other. A HOF shooter instructed me to load at the range,in case I needed to change something to keep my rifle in tune. I still haven't learned how to do that.

If I thought I could trust my rifle to stay in tune all day long,I would not hesitate to preload. That would give me more time to think about those conditions that I missed, that caused my overall standing to suffer.

Its all about pulling the trigger at the right time.

Hope this helps
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Good reply and I agree totally.

This was my line of thinking also. Years ago I used to load at the range but seeing I am now getting long in the tooth, I need to conserve my time and energy to concentrate on actual shooting, rather than toting loading gear around ....


P.S. Doesnt look like I need to test any more loads right now anyway. Just talked to our match director and our BR match for 2-24 has been cancelled. Some nimrod(s) let two rounds get over the berms and thru the neighbors barn roof. My club has closed all ranges except the shotgun divisions. A sign of the times I am afraid.
 
over the berm

The same thing happened at our range it took two years to reopen and about 40.000 in upgrades...
 
Speaking of ranges and gun safety and somewhat OT ...

My club raised all the berms at the 100/200/300 BR/Hi Power rifle range a couple of years ago. We think the problem is coming from the general usage range, which has a 50 and 100 yard berm both having been raised twice . ...

It takes a lot of money to operate a good sportsman club and the expense of implementing even more safety measures because of a few reckless gun handling members, is more than just troublesome......

These club closures cause good standing members to drop out of the club, which makes the financial bottom line get even worse. Not really a bright future for the competition shooters to have a place to shoot, it is getting tougher and tougher to keep ranges open....

I sincerely hope I am wrong on this viewpoint though. We have not heard much from the anti gun sector this passed year in light of the many school / church / domestic gun carnages. I suspect it has something to do with it being a election year maybe ? With a new prez coming in the year 2009, it could be a rough year for us gun owners to maintain our liberties . jmo
 
Sometimes ya kin...

and sometimes ya can't. I have to preload at local matches. If my load holds up I can shoot pretty well. Other days I get a good target or two and then shoot poorly when the load goes to 'ell. It's happened too many times for this not to be true.

I agree with Dick Grosbier in that the 30 BR seems to be much less sensitive to the changing weather conditions.

Dusty... bet you never tried to preload. I think you are simply going by what Billy told you... right?
 
I go by what I find that works Dick. I have to change my load sometimes 6 times a day and with the prep work I have in my brass I would have to buy a pallet to get enough that match for a day's worth of shooting. you said it yourself- sometimes the load goes to hell;) I am trying some different methods these days. we'll see how it works
 
I think I agee with Jim Borden

I have never tried to find out how different my rifles shoot during the course of the day. I shoot all 30 cal rifles so I know we are talking apples and oranges in comparison to the 6 PPC.

I plan this year to spend a few days all day at the range during the hotter weather to see what effect the change has on the HBR cases. I suspect there is an effect although I have shot some pretty high ex counts in some hot weather with preloads.

There have been times though when I have suspected that the heat has changed the way my rifes were shooting. I also plan to monitor the density altitude.
 
Dusty,

The truth about preloading is you gotta shoot a 30 or you gotta get lucky. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. This coming year I will preload at the local matches and take about 200 sized and primed cases to the Super Shoot to make sure I have plenty to shoot HV. That's all I will shoot there this year.

Are you coming to Kelbly's? You really ought to show up so you can defend yourself. It's O.K. though... I don't believe a word of what those two colonels say about you.;)
 
hey I wish preloading would work for me. if I could get away with it I would shoot a 30 and preload- maybe. I won't be at the super shoot as my work keeps me tied up alot and my vacation will be spent going moose hunting this year. I will be at rachel's glen as that is my favorite range, and I'm gonna meet up with jackie over in texas a few times. hopefully I won't miss the shoots that are 45mins away from me in pencil bluff. I'm trying some different things this year, got all new guns and some other tricks- we'll see if they work. maybe you can talk one of my 2 favorite retired army officers into preloading.:eek:
 
Richard, so your going to the SS this year? Does that mean I have to buy an expensive bottle of Scotch so you'll come to see me?? You know your always welcome!!!

Jeff Aberegg
 
Greg 79 F150 said:
P.S. Doesnt look like I need to test any more loads right now anyway. Just talked to our match director and our BR match for 2-24 has been cancelled. Some nimrod(s) let two rounds get over the berms and thru the neighbors barn roof. My club has closed all ranges except the shotgun divisions. A sign of the times I am afraid.
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Does Kelblys still have that little used rural road running behind its 200 yard berm? Its been a few years since Ive been there.

That always looked scary to me, seeing a high bed pick up truck bouncing along behind a shooting berm as you are squeezing a shot off.

I would hate to see one of the greatest ranges in the world have a problem from an over-the-berm shot....................Don
 
Don,

That's Fox Lake Road, as opposed to Dalton Fox Lake Rd. That's the way I get to Kelbly's every day. The 200 yd. berm is huge. If there are benchrest shooters so incredibly stupid as to miss the berm, I haven't met them. And, come to think of it, there's a few doozies out there.

Anyway, it isn't relevant... the shot would go way over any cars travelling on the road if some moron shot over the berm. From the road you can't see the firing line. Line of sight and all that. Should you feel concerned you might want to restrict your shooting to Phoenix. They have a mountain for a backstop.

Jeffy, make it a gentleman's single malt.

Dusty, after you shoot a moose, someone has to gut it out. I did a lot of big game hunting years back but I never could get excited about shooting or gutting a moose. Think of me when you are doing it.
 
Preloaded

I remember when Ken Rossing used to come to the Holton matches preloaded, and he always shot well.
 
Dick Wright said:
Dusty, after you shoot a moose, someone has to gut it out. I did a lot of big game hunting years back but I never could get excited about shooting or gutting a moose. Think of me when you are doing it.
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all we're gonna do is watch the outfitter do it;) looks like new brunswick is where this all will take place. still have the lottery in all the noreasters to deal with. but hey- I will pre load his 375H&H for this trip:D
 
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