Fired the accurate bullet

[rdnck]

Don,

I know it's the thing to do, try the loads again, but one feels like they're wasting powder and lead doing it. But, the challenge is what I look at as a whole. Time-tested loads are what one really wants.

Robert

I would go with load 1. The load is giving nice round groups on the gong, which is what you want to shoot. Groups on a target won't be the same size and shape as groups from the same load on a gong. This is due to the way your eye acquires the target with its background as compared to the gong and its background. In the same vein, I find that I shoot better and more consistently at game than I do at targets or gongs. I suspect it is because animals provide a non reflective surface in the sight picture and thus less optical distortion.

Another thing is that load 1 has a thinner wad next to the bullet which will release from the bullet quicker and cleaner than the thick felt wad and thus allow the bullet to achieve stability quicker than the other load. This contributes to the smaller, round group. Shoot straight, rdnck.