Sierra SBT 140 grain and RL16

[mobenzowner]

Gonna load up a few of these for a hunting load in the Tc Compass.  Sierra lists the charge range as 35.0 - 43.5.  Like to get around 2650 to 2750 fps in velocity since it will be a hunting load. 

Question 1.)  You all load in .2 or .3 grain increments on the 6.5?

Question 2.)  Thinking about starting in the 41.5gr range and going up to 42.5gr.  Sound about right out of the 22" barrell?

Thanks

[gman47564]

If your using ocw testing use .3. If your using a 10 shot velocity ladder to test use .2

[mobenzowner]

Thanks Gman.  I have always used OCW but may just give the 10 shot Saterlee a try on this one.

[mobenzowner]

Did the 10 shot Saterlee test Saturday.   Again using RE16 and Sierra 140 SBT's.  Bullets were seated .020" off the lands and rounds were shot from a TC Compass.  Temps were 85 degrees and wind around 10 mph.

41.1    2586
41.3    2601
41.5    2641
41.7    2653
41.9    No Read
42.1    2663
42.3    2691
42.5    2696
42.7    2738
42.9    2740

Two potential nodes stuck out to me.  Unfortunately one centered on 41.9 where I had a "Did not read".  I based this on the readings of 41.7 and 42.1 having and ES of 10.   Second node I explored was 42.8 based upon the ES of 2 between 42.7 and 42.9.  I loaded 5 each of 41.9 and 42.8.   For 5 shots the 41.9 shot about 3" at 200 yards.   The 42.8 charge had less than .25" vertical spread at 200 yds with about a 2" horizontal spread.  The ES on that load was 15 and the SD was 6.24.  Looks like I need to work on trigger control and scope parallax. 

One thing I will note, I was shooting from a Caldwell dft 2.  Normally I use a rest and rear bag.  Looking for help on the horizontal dispersion and any suggestions other than what I have noted above?  Anyone else ever have this when shooting for a Caldwell lead sled dft2?

Thanks