I hit the Garland range Friday to test some of my loads.

If these were yours would you keep working to tighten the groups up or call them good? Well, #2 needs some work but what about the others?

That's better than what I've gotten with my 6.8 out of my AR. I'd say you're good to go!

Number 1 is your load, out of what you tested.

I’d need to know more about the rifle and optic, and shooting setup.

Choot ‘em some more to verify you can replicate. If the loads replicate as well, or better, leave them alone. I would next test one load only per range visit to reduce influencing factors.

In summary, I see some dead hogs in your future

M4 AR15 20" ARP 5R with 5X25-50 Vortex Viper PST II shooting off sand bags.



These were replication rounds from previous testing.

My objective is to have hunting rounds I can shoot with confidence out to 300 yards. Above I tested Sierra 90gn HP, Spear 90gn Gold Dot, Spear 115gn Gold Dot and Cavity Back MKZ 105gn

Those are some pretty solid groups for an AR. It looks like the flyer in Group #3 is probably shooter induced, unless that was the 1st or last shot of the group.

I would stick with that one or the Cavity Back load. The reasoning for that is that I have shot a bunch of deer and hogs with the 90 grain Gold Dot and while they performed quite well for me, if you are someone who likes big blood trails, you are probably going to be disappointed. The bullets hold together very well and will punch clean holes, but not big ones. The Cavity Backs open up quite a bit more, so the internal damage and exits tend to lend themselves to bigger blood trails.
Now, if you are a CNS shooter, then the Gold Dots will put them down with the best of them.

I've gotten tighter groups with AA2200 - 105gr Cavity back MKZ & 120gr SST. Been using both for a couple years and have done well for me in the field.

My 16 “ arp with 120 factory did much better when I had real optics on the gun. I would keep working as the arp barrels I’ve had did much better

I think number 3 is your load as of now. If you took away the one flyer you’d have a solid group.

I have a 6.8 that’ll shoot .1 moa. I’ll be happy to pass along some tips others gave me. You’re going to have to try another powder (I know; more money) like AA2200 or IMR 8208. Use magnum primers too.

Looks good to me. I think one can get to the point of diminishing returns pretty quick.

Looks like I'm the dissenting opinion. Sounds like you have some pretty good rifle parts. I'd expect much better from a test load. I always look at this from a cost perspective. I guess if you have a bunch of a particular powder or component laying around then that make perfect sense. But even there I feel like there is room for improvement so I'm missing what evidence there is from this small set that would suggest investing more dollars into make more of any particular recipe/load. What am i missing?!?! I'm not trying to be a prick but asking in all honesty and ignorance. At best you can say what fireman says, set X is the best of the bunch.
However, basic question: would you call it "good?". My answer is NO. I'd at least like to find out a few more charge weights, as you decrease and increase, to know it's only getting worse with the exact same components.

The best group looks like an inch-ish. Was there more than 4 load sets? I suppose my criticism rooted in not understand how such a small sample set would lead someone to invest more whatever (time/money/parts/etc.) to any one of these particular loads.

Best I'm figuring is that I either have too high of expectations from my rifle/reloading combo or i suppose it's completely possible I waste too much whatever (time/money/parts/etc.) making way too many test samples. But I'd much rather have a bunch of "wasted" samples to prove decreases and increasing a load from any datum point was trending in the proper direction. In this instance, even if i did more charge weight samples only and none of them were any better than these, then I think all that data is useful and none of it was a waste of whatever. Btw, this is the same methodology I've used in the technical analysis part of my career.

Is this a bolt gun? Did you mean 1 MOA? .1 MOA is rare.

The 90 gr Sierra is good for jackrabbits. The other bullets are for deer & hogs.

Oh, dear Lord! Not this again! Yes, he means .1 moa. He had a one-time miracle 3 shot group and now he calls his rifle .1 moa.

I'd pick the bullet you really want to use and run a ladder on it. Your groups are kind of meh given the rifle and optic specs. It should shoot much better.

What does this say about my shooting life if I haven't even had one of these?!?!?!? I'm really missing the mark here, literally and figuratively.

I agree with your sentiment. It's much more enjoyable to see you and others passing valuable information along and seeing successes. You might be humored to know my brother owns the .1 moa 7mm-08 AR308 I built a couple months ago now; so I can't claim to have a big frame .1 moa AR anymore.

AR-15. I admit the load is not exactly the best hunting round. It's on the slow end, and uses a Nosler Competition bullet.

A .1MOA 6.8 AND a .1MOA 708???

Should've done your research first....

https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...oa-goodness-with-pics-inside#Post7423214

Besides, I don't get the point of lying about accuracy. It doesn't help any of us get better, and I can't take credit for the rifle being that accurate. It's accurate whether I'm shooting or not.

Ahh yes, now I see what Chad was talking about.

You call BS, I post the group, and now you're on to "it's just a one group miracle" like Chad stated. Let's not argue over stupid stuff; just share ideas. The one thing that confuses me is why people get so defensive about another's success. I'd rather see what knowledge I can glean from their experience.

I have a very accurate 6x45mm AR with a Shilen barrel that I actually shot 3 shots in one hole at 200 yards that best I could measure was .095 so wow I guess I had a .0475 MOA rifle. But alas,I decided that it was more important to me to keep using the rifle and shooting it than to never shoot it again so I could continue to have a .0475 MOA rifle.

I still shoot the 6.8, and it still does it. Your analogy doesn't work. It takes a very long time for accuracy to degrade save for a few burner calibers.

I'm just trying to figure out why it upsets you guys. I find it funny in a way.