IMR White Hots on the Range

I was able to get out on the range as i received a bulk supply of both 250gr Ballistic Tip and 300gr Hollow Point Thor Conicals. These conicals are in my opinion the Ultimate conical made to date. Made of Copper, they will not over expand or fragment into pieces like other Lead-Jacketed Conicals/Sabots.

I first wanted to check the scope out at 50 yards and so i loaded up Two White Hots, a 300 grain Thor and a Winchester W209 Primer. These primers are very clean inside the New Optima's Action and have for me, Have been very accurate in a lot of my rifles that I've owned over the years.

My first and second shot at 50 yards were Aprx 3" to the left and 4" High. I made the adjustments, took One more final shot and it was center and 1 1/2" High. Perfect for 100 yards.

Taking the rifle inside to clean, i simply used windex on a cotton patch and used Two patches to fully clean the bore. I followed up by cleaning the face of the breech plug with the same cleaner.

It was pretty sunny and god awful hot out so i decided to hold back on the 100 yard range until it clouded up. Once the sky clouded up i ended up doing some shooting in a light drizzle. It was a relief from the blistering heat i am normally shooting in.

The rifle i am shooting the IMR White Hots out of is the New CVA Optima .50cal with 416 Stainless Steel barrel. The trigger i estimate at about 3lbs with No Grit and No over travel. CVA is putting some excellent triggers on their new model rifles, Including an Adjustable trigger on both the Apex and Accura V2! These guns offer shooters more on a less expensive rifle than what you will find on a rifle that costs twice as much.

The Optima Sports the new Durasight Dead On Mount System and is of Medium Height. The scope is a Konus Pro 3-10x44 with 30-30 Reticle.

Using the same load as previously i was happy to see that i was on target at 100 yards and so after shooting my 3 shots, i adjusted my scope. I COULD have had a Perfect group but as things go, My hand was on the control arm lever of the Caldwell FCX Lead Sled and i lightly pulled to the right as i squeezed the trigger on shot #2. That would be the shot to the far right. Shots One and Three were perfect. After i was finishing shooting this, i actually took the ATV back home and got one more load to double check. It went directly between shots One and Three. For the first time out on the Range with the IMR White Hots and getting the group that i did, I was impressed to say the least.

I only took a picture of my first 100 range target as that's all i did with the 300gr Thors. I soon switched to the 250gr Thor and that's when the trouble started.

I had first started out with clean bore and used Three White Hot Pellets and a 250gr Thor. Rifle shot high as it should due to that extra Pellet. I took Two more shots and ended up with a 3" group, which isn't very good considering the rifle wears a scope and the rest i am using is Solid. Figuring that it was the Magnum charge causing the issue, i took the rifle back home, cleaned it and headed out again with the standard 100gr White Hot charge.

Using the 100gr Load of White Hots, i proceeded to fire my first shot, took note as to where it hit and then reloaded. Normally i do my my head phones off while reloading but today it was a good thing i did not as i caught a sound that was really out of place. I had just dropped Two White Hots down and pushed the Thor on top.... I turned pointed the rifle barrel down so i could break the action to prime and that's when i heard that sound.... Tink.... I went and pointed the barrel up again and again... Tink... The Optima has the Quick Release Breech Plug and today, it was a great thing to have. After inspecting the rifle and removing the sling, thinking that what was making the sound, i found that my Projectile was caught up on some Crud in the bore.

This is whats called a Crud Ring, it's been known to cause the shooter to load up and short start the projectile as he or she pushed down all the way and thought the bullet was on top of the powder. It almost got me today, but luckily the Caldwell G3 Head Set picked up that faint sound and i was able to push the bullet on top of the powder. I also used a black dot sticky and once the bullet was seated, i make a Temporary Mark on my range rod to ensure that i was properly seating the projectile after each shot. Surprisingly my group size increased! A 5" group isn't acceptable in my rifles so i will be spending some time on the range with an assortment of primers and see if i can fix that. Primers can make a huge difference in achieving a good consistent group.

Addressing the Crud ring issue, I am using the Winchester W209 primers and for some reason, i even get a crud ring with Pyrodex RS and Goex when using these Primers. I don't believe these are full strength primers like CCI or Federal primers, but they are still strong enough to set off Blackhorn209 which does require a very hot primer. That tells me that these primers have to much heat and causing the crud ring. I will be looking for the lower Temp Winchester 777 primers or the CCI Inline MZL primers. These Two primers are filty * Black soot* When fired, but they both in the past have reduced the crud ring greatly.

While i was shooting the 300gr Thor with 100gr White Hots, i did notice a slight crud ring but it was very soft, not the hard crusted crud ring like i get with the 250 gr Thors. Could bullet weight really play a part in this? I have no clue but i certainly will be spending a great deal of time on the range with the 250 and 300gr Thors with the White Hots and see what i can come up with. Maybe the heavier bullet aids in a better burn of the powder, reducing the crud ring?..... I'll just have to test and test some more before i can come up with some kind of answer.

Overall, The IMR White Hots are showing some fantastic groups with the Thor conicals.

Take note of the Hollow Base or "Skirt" On the Thor Bullets. This "Skirt" flares out and seals the bore of gases. The IMR White Hots sit perfectly up into the bullet. I can not wait to Chronograph and see what kind of speeds i can push with this set up!