RANGE REPORT (ACCURAZING MY 336W)Very disappointingly, I forgot to swap my front blade back to the target insert before heading off to the range. The difference between the realised (target) accuracy between these two sights is measurable, and all my previously data has been collected using the target insert. Take the following diagrams:
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The "blade" is fantastic for hunting purposes (due to the maximised visibility), but it's not so great for precision target work. It works O-K when you have a square, highly contrasting target, but is particularly tricky to use with the red circular targets as currently provided by the SSAA at ANZAC range.
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Here's what it looks with the target insert; obviously
much easier to use in conjunction with the round targets. Very disappointing indeed that I forgot to bring it
Say la vie, I had to roll with the punches, so I'll report my findings anyway.STEP 1 - NAKEDNice and cool at this point, using my uber-pleasant Trail Boss loads. I could tell it really wanted to group:
- naked.jpg (410.21 KiB) Viewed 5895 times
This is just an example from a few samples. Whilst this is not sub 2moa, almost certainly it would have grouped under 2moa if I had the target insert or better yet, a scope. From how it felt, I feel completely naked it would have come close to 1moa.
STEP 2 - FOREND BACK ONAnother example from a few samples. Screws not super tight, and the forend was sanded back slightly to loosen the forend band (as talked about in my earlier post). Pretty similar accuracy, but rather interestingly the point-of-impact (POI) changed slightly down and to the right:
- foreGrip.jpg (387.28 KiB) Viewed 5895 times
STEP 3 - FULLY REASSEMBLEDMagazine and front barrel band back on now, again paying attention not to over-tighten the screws. I took the whole "tight, then half a turn back" strategy. POI changed again, notably higher, but it's grouping just as tightly - YAY!
- reassembled.jpg (367 KiB) Viewed 5895 times
2206H HOT HUNTING LEAD LOADSA side project is to also use my checkless lead projectiles as hunting loads - this was something I've failed at in the past using Topscore and Hawkesbury Rivers (as the lead was just too soft to push past 1400fps, a bit too slow to be ethical on deer). On the contrary, I was able to push the Westcastings projectiles up to ~1800fps whilst still maintaining stabilisation (without excessive fouling). At these velocities they're a rather stiff 800ft-lb of energy at 100m. They shoot practically flat enough to use at varying ranges inside 100m without much holdover. The rifle was getting pretty hot by this point (and I was rushing), so again, I'm confident they'd be
much tighter in a cold clean barrel (with the target insert/scope):
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These will be my go-to in the field, and I'll keep plinking with Trail Boss.
IN CONCLUSIONWhilst the results weren't consistently sub 2moa, I have no doubt that after the forend alterations my 336W is shooting
measurably more accurately. As spoken about at the start of this post, it's quite difficult to shoot moa with a blade sight. I know from experience that the target insert will shrink my groups by 0.5moa - 1moa, so I am fairly confident in saying that my rifle should now shoot less than or equal to 2moa. Overall, a big success in my eyes!
If I get time, I shall post some more results using the target sights as proof - probably around mid November.