Hello.
I dont know if I should call Agent Scully on this one? This is what we call a "X-files experience"!
I was shoting of the bench with my 22-250 on sunday. It's a Remington with a 1:14" twist and 26" lenght on the barrel. I was working up some loads for 60 grs.Sierra HP bullets that I have molycoated. I started with Vv.N140:
(All 5 shot groups at 100m)
32 grs. OK(approx. 1/2 MOA)
33 grs. OK(approx. 1/2 MOA)
34 grs. only 3 holes??? (approx.1 MOA)
35 grs. OK(approx. 1 MOA)Slight extractor-marks.

And Vv.N150:
34 grs. GREAT(Approx. 1/4 MOA!!)
35 grs. OK (Approx. 1 MOA)

What the heck happened with the 34 grs. load with the N140 powder??? I'm sure I pulled of the shots perfectly, and no strange bang! I saw the 3 first ones on the white on the target. I fired the 4'th and thought it was in the black spot I was aiming at, fired the 5'th and did'nt see that one either. When I walked over to see I only found the 3 first holes!!! I only had 5 pcs. of each load so I could'nt check it again. This have ruined my sleep.
Did the bullet explode?? If so, why didnt that happend with the load with one more grain of powder?? It was raining from time to time (I dont remember if it was raining at that time) can a very hot(fast) load explode if it hits a raindrop?? I dont think a 1:14" twist can make a 60 grainer explode.
I'm quite sure they not went in the same holes as the other 3. It was quite bad accuracy, and I studied the holes very close and couldnt find anything that indicated that. If the group was better this could have happend.
Any ideas??

[ 06-25-2002, 12:04: Message edited by: 460wby ]

I had a similar incident once before. It was during load development for my Ruger Mod 77 in .220 Swift using Hornady 50 gr V-Maxes.

I was doing what you were (climbing the ladder) with N140, but with three shot groups. Anyway, I got the following results:

36, 37, and 38 grains - decent three shot groups between 1/2-5/8".

39 grains - one bullet hole

40,41 grains - three shot groups about 1/2"

I've always wondered what happened to those two missing bullets. I KNOW I didn't pull the shots, and the bullets shot fine at higher velocities. The one hole "group" was a single bullet, of that I'm sure. I checked the cardboard backing, and had other people look at it to make sure I wasn't missing something. Too bad, I thought I had a .001" group for a while.

I think we're in the Twilight Zone....

Hey 460:

I too had a similar experience, although with a Sako 22-250 & IMR 4320. I was so mystified, that I went back out the next day and shot 4 more groups with the same load. All groups were as normal for that gun (meaning about 5/8"). I decided that I had one of those rare "moments" when I had flinched a couple of shots right into the other holes.

Prob'ly no big mystery, but I'd call Scully anyway........The truth is out there.

JimF

Maybe it was the man called "camoflage"???
He snaps bullets as they were flies!!
Thats what the song says, though!