Curious if any of you have worked up loads for a rifle equiped with a Shepherd - with the graduated yardage/rangefinder circles laying along the bottom vertical crosshair?

In order for the circles to work right, trajectory has to be perfect. Rifle is a TRG-S in 300 Win Mag. Shepherd says that a .490 bc bullet at about 2900 should be about right, but that many other combos will satisfy the circles too...

I've been loading for a long time and feel comfortable that I can work up an accurate load without too much grief. What I'm struggling with is how to satisfy the trajectory at the same time without wearing out the barrel and my patience.

Thought maybe I might run off some ladder tests with the bullets I'd like to work, and see if any 'nodes' develope close to where external ballistics seem right. Then fine tune from there. It's just wierd having the trajectory be primary, and accuracy of secondary importance...

Any thoughts appreciated.

I did this last summer for a friend. He wanted to shoot a 190 grn bullet out of his 300 win mag but wanted the trajectory to match his scope. After about 100 rounds I was able to match the powder and bullet to his scope. it doesn't match exactly every circle but is withing a couple of inches at 200, 300, 400, and 600 yards if not right on.

Just figured my BC on bullet and what the drop was at 600 yards then backed out to what the velocity needed to be to get the right average for all the different ranges and then tweaked the load to get that muzzle velocity and wallah.

He took a feral hog at 611 yards that year using that load and held dead on the 600 yard pin.

quote:

Originally posted by hayseed51:
...In order for the circles to work right, trajectory has to be perfect. ....

Hey Hayseed, Or perhaps it should be "Hay Hayseed" , Anyway, the Shepard Scope will work with ANY Trajectory, B.C., Velocity, or Sight-In "you" choose. The only difference is the Circles will no longer be in multiples of "100yds". The Trick is to pick either the Reticle Center or any one of the Circles and sight it in there. Then move your Target until the other Points-of-Impact align with a different Circle. And of course record that distance to create a "Drop Chart".

As you know, Game rarely stands exactly at 100yds, 200yds, 300yds, etc., from us, so you have to shoot between the Circles if you want a Precise Hit anyhow. The Shepard Circles are OK for shooting Circular Targets in 100yd increments, but even when everything is close to perfection, it never really works that way - with ANY Reticle style - for a long time.
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I got a PM from a guy who mentioned he didn't want to have to change his Load in his rifle - because - he had purchased a special Reticle in his Leupold Scope which was set up exactly for his current Load. He was thinking each Alignment Point needed to be an exact multiple of 100yds too. But, things are going to change, Bullet Profile, Primer Mix, Powder Burn-Rate, distance to the Lead, Bore Condition, etc., so it is a futile effort to believe a Load will retain the exact same Trajectory in one specific rifle for even 300-400 shots.
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So, you can compound your Reloading difficulty to "try" and get a Load to fit the parameters of ANY specific Reticle(not just a Shepard), or simply find the very best Load for your rifle and then see where the Points-of-Impact align with the Sighting Points, or Circles in your Shepard. Either way you go, you will need to occasionally re-adjust the Load, and/or Change the Drop Chart.
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By the way, I wrote a lengthy(very VERY lengthy) set of Instructions on How to Use A Mil-Dot Reticle that could either help or totally confuse you. It can be difficult to grasp just how easy it is to use. Same tricks can apply to your Shepard Scope Circles, but since they are randomly spaced, the Math changes a bit. Since we still have to verify the actual Points-of-Impact though, getting close with the math works fine.

I just looked at the Link and the last time the software was adjusted, the Inch Symbol ( " ) has been altered to three strange characters. So, when you see them, just think "Inch".

Best of luck to you.

quote:

Loading for Shepherd scope?

I don't care how you load 'em, they gonna be hard to chamber!

I actually called the company to help a buddy with this exact topic. I talked to Mr. Shepard. What a character!

You need to buy the scope with the reticle matched to your caliber then you can actually adjust the reticle slightly to match any load trajectory differences you may have.

Call Shepard and talk to him. It's very entertaining!

OK guys, thanks for the input. I guess like most things, ya just gotta jump in and start paddling. Scope does have the P1 reticle, so I think it's as close as it gets for a 300. Got a nice selection from bulletsamples.com coming and hope to see what the rifle likes and doesn't. Personally rooting for the 200 Accubond - we'll see.

HC - A great observation about using the circles in drop chart fashion... May just do that and develop load only for accuracy - like normal.

Thanks guys

I wouldn't stress about shooting the barrel out trying to get it adjusted. My first Shepherd lasted less than 100 rounds. The second one, even less.

I don't want to be negative about setting up that scope but tell me your just joking with us ?.

I've never seen a scope which would do trajectory's from .17 -300 Win Mag . Good luck with that

!.

P1A, PE1 & V1A P1, PE & V1 P2 & V2 P3
RIFLE CALIBER BULLET WEIGHT RIFLE CALIBER BULLET WEIGHT RIFLE CALIBER BULLET WEIGHT RIFLE CALIBER BULLET WEIGHT
.224 Wea. 55gr. .17 Rem. 25gr. 223 55gr. 222 Rem. 55gr.
.240 Wea. 87gr. .222 Rem 40gr. 250 Sav. 87gr. 250 Sav. 100gr.
.240 Wea 90gr. .22-250 55gr. 250 Sav. 100gr. 6.5 x 55 Swe. 140gr.
.240 Wea 95gr. 220 Swift 60gr. 257 Rob. 100gr. 308 Win. 110gr.
.240 Wea 100gr. 243 80gr. 25-06 Rem 120gr. 308 Win. 150gr.
.257 Wea 87gr. 243 100gr. 264 140gr. 30-06 150gr.
.243 Laz. SPT FR 85gr. 6mm Rem. 100gr. 270 150gr. 30-06 180gr.
.257 Wea. 100gr. 250 Sav. 87gr. 7mm-08 140gr. 375 H&H.m 270gr.
6.71 Laz (.264) 100gr. 25-06 87gr. 280 165gr. 375 H&H 300gr.
.257 Wea. 115gr. 25-06 100gr. 284 Win 150gr. 300 Sav 150gr.
.270 Wea 100gr. 25-06 117gr. 308 Win 150gr. 308 Win. 150gr.
.270 Wea 130gr. 25-06 120gr. 308 Win 168gr. 30-06 165gr.
.270 Wea 140gr. 6.5 100gr. 308 Win 165gr. 30-06 200gr.
.270 Wea 150gr. 6.5 140gr. 30-06 150gr. 8mm Rem.m 220gr.
7mm S.T.W. 140gr. 264 Win.m 140gr. 30-06 165gr. 350 Rem.m 200gr.
7mm Wea. 139gr. 330 Dak 225gr. 30-06 180gr. 7mm Mauser 140gr.
7mm Wea 140gr. 338 Win.m 210gr. 30-06 200gr. 7.57 Mauser 140gr.
7mm Wea 150gr. 270 Win 130gr. 338 Win.m 250gr. 7 x 30 Watek ALL
7mm Wea 160gr. 270 Win 150gr. 300 H&H.m 180gr. 8 x 57 Mauser 196gr.
7mm Dak 140gr. 7mm Rem.m 140gr. 5.56 Nato 55gr. 8mm Rem. Mag 220gr.
7mm S.A Ultra Mag 140gr. 7mm Rem.m 150gr. 5.56 Nato 62gr. 35 Whelen 225gr.
7.82 Laz. 150gr. 7mm Rem.m 165gr. 7.62 Nato 137gr.
.284 Laz. F.B. 140gr. 7mm Rem.m 175gr. 7.62 Nato 184gr.
300 Rem. Ultra Mag 180gr. 7mm S.A. Ultra Mag. 160gr. 7.62 x 54 R 184gr.
.300 Wea 150gr. 300 Win.m 200gr. 7.64 Bren 140gr.
.300 Wea 165gr. 300 Win.m 180gr. 300 H&H Mag 180gr.
.300 Wea 180gr. 300 Win.S.M. 180gr.
.300 Wea 200gr. 300 Win.m. 150gr.

I guess I can toss my Zeiss and calc doping book now . Second thought I'll keep it as it's taken

a fair number of years to build the data on all those calibers I shoot !!!.

Doc - Gotta say I had the same feelings before the nephew bought the Shepard - and I still might - seems pretty gimicky. All the calibers listed fit into the 5 reticles as groups, of course, and some just run out of gas on the circles after a certain yardage -17s and 22s only match up for a few hundred yards generally. I do much agree that even for a particular cal, much less a grouping of cals, finding an exact matching trajectory would be like finding a needle in a hayseed...er haystack.

All this changes when viewed in light of HC's suggestion of building a drop chart from the circles. One can approach load developement in the normal way, using good aero bullets driven up close to the 300s potential. No compromises.

One thing that I do like about the scope is that by having different elements of the reticle on different focal planes, it does give an easy way to check how square you're addressing the occular lens. It's quite apparent how square your cheekweld is by looking closely at the intersection of the two elements. Nice - keeps you centered up.

The TRG-S was a gift to the nephew from me. I would not have taken a chance on the Shepard if it was me, but he's enamored with the concept, and we're gonna make the best out of it. We shall see.

kelbro - Care to elaborate - recoil, what?

Thanks again

It appeared to be related to recoil but one was on a 30-06 and the other a 270. I don't load over max. Seldom even to max. Never dropped or dinged and they got to the point that they wouldn't hold zero. I'll stick with Leupold and Zeiss from now on.

Huh - that don't sound good. Did they make it right with you? I know they talk a good guarantee...

Yes, they did. Good folks.

Hey Hayseed, There is still a chance or two(maybe a lot more ) that you can still get the Bullet you are using to shoot close enough to the Shepherd Formula that the Circles will work fine for you. Just as it did for Harold and Rcamuglia.

I got my cart before the horse with my first post. I should have said the above and encouraged your efforts first. Then..., I should have mentioned there was an easy way around the problem if your combination just doesn't want to follow the Shepherd Trajectory close enough to make it useful.

I've not heard of Shepherd Scopes being fragile. So, I'd be interested in what you find too. I've been running some "Inexpensive Scope Tests" for a couple of years now. Had a couple of very minor issues, which did not make the Scopes un-usable, but their manufacturers took excellent care of the problems and did so quickly.

I've had Leupolds quit on me, so buying one of them does not mean you will "never" have a problem. The cheapest scope I'm Testing has a "Better Guaranty" than Leupold. It is a very cheap Optronics and even if you run over it with your truck they "claim" that they will Replace it. Your only cost would be Shipping the remains back to them.

The Scopes seem to get better and better each year to me. We are blessed with a whole array of choices and I hope your Shepherd does well for you.