CZ 550 .243 accuracy (pics)

[hunt127588]

I finally found a load my CZ 550 in .243 likes. Below is a picture of a target I shot at 125 yards using once fired brass with 35.5 gr. of Varget with a Sierra 85 gr. HPBT and an OAL of 2.615:

[7x57mm]

Hunt: looks a lot better than what you were describing back in January. What happened? Was it just the load, or what was it causing your shotgun patterns? Have a nice day, but only if you want to have one. Tom Purdom

[hunt127588]

Tom,
I'm not sure whether it was the ammo or the scope or a combination of both. I replaced the Burris scope temporarily with an old Bushnell which is what I was using when I shot this. I also starting reloading for this gun...I went out and bought a Forster Co-Ax press and Bench Rest dies and started loading Sierra 85 gr. BTHP. I did some ladder testing with 35.2, 35.5, 35.8 and 36.1 gr. of Varget. All of the loads shot under an inch @ 125 yds and this was with a 10 mph crosswind. After seeing the results I got from my own loads, I think this gun is just really finicky with 100 gr loads. I haven't had a 100 gr. load shoot well in this gun. I plan on doing some 100 gr. handloads to see if that is the issue. I also recently sent the Burris FFII scope back to Burris under warranty. They replaced the internals and sent it back so now it's time to test that as well. Stay tuned...

[flintlock]

Yep, looks like your gun likes it ....but the deer won't.... :grin:
How fast are you pushing them???

[hunt127588]

To be honest, I don't know as I don't have a chronograph (yet). The book mentions that 35.2 gr. pushes them around 2900 fps. I would imagine somewhere close to that. The BC of these bullets is around .293 so I don't see any long range shots being taken with it. All of my deer have been taken less than 100 yards.

[7x57mm]

Hunt: I'll bet the problem was with your scope. I just got through ordering a new scope today from Optic Zone and I talked scopes for a while. I was told that virtually every scope maker will turn out a scope that is a lemon once in a while. So, you, or I, go to the store, pick out the scope still in the box wrapped in plastic, take it home, install it on our rifle and feel confident that all will be okay. You'll certainly know for sure if you will take some of the loads which were all over the paper and shoot them in your CZ 550 American with the old scope on it, the one that you shot the tighter groups with. If your groups tighten up you'll know it was the scope. Then go ahead and re-install the Burris scope and see what happens. You know for certain the Bushnell produces better accuracy, so that is a good baseline from which to start. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that things are going better for you. Tom Purdom

[jrhen]

I bet if you play with your OAL you could get that group little tighter.

[hunt127588]

I bet if you play with your OAL you could get that group little tighter.

This was the first set of reloads I had ever made, let alone shoot. On my first 20 rounds, I tried doing some ladder testing. I loaded 5 rds each of the following loads:

35.2 gr
35.5 gr
35.8 gr
36.1 gr

Each of the four different loads grouped right around 1" or less. It just so happened that the 35.5 gr and and 36.1 gr grouped the best. I haven't even loaded up any hotter charges yet to see how they group. Therefore, I feel as though I still have some work ahead of me yet to see what this thing will do. This shooting was also done with an _old_ Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 which is on there temporarily. I plan on putting my Burris FFII back on it when time dictates. I'm using a Forster Co-Ax press and Forster Bench Rest Ultra comp. dies. It should be fun playing with it.