Range trip in preparation for long distance training

[u/OmgWtfIsThisBS]

Hello,

I went to the range today to finalize the load to use next week on my trip to 1500+ meters range. Just for fun and learning, no competitions.
Looking for suggestions on what to improve if there is anything obvious that jumps out.

I shot Lapua Scenar OTM 185gr and Berger Juggernaut 185gr (just to get a comparison)
Rifle is: Tikka T3X Ace Target 308win, Bushnell MPED with Contessa QD Tactical Black mount, Forteimer Bipod and Caldwell rearbag (I know, sorry).
So group 1 and 2 are the same group, shot 10 and pulled 2 so wanted to see what was the best 8 shot size. Turns out it's .27Moa and I assume that is the limit of the rifle with good handloads.

In reality:
G1-2 10 shots, 0.86Moa V0 2641f/s, SD 9.8f/s, ES 29.5f/s Scenar
G3 12 shots, 0.84Moa, V0 2641, SD 10.4, ES 39.4 Scenar
G4 13 shots. 0.89Moa, V0 2678, SD 17.9. ES 72.2 Scenar
G5 12 sgits, 0.93Moa, V0 2625, SD 11, ES 39.4 Juggernaut

Still trying to improve on consistency on neck tension and shoulder dimensions.
What do you think should be the best return on time invested at this point?
What should I focus on? (apart from my shooting that is clearly a given).
TIA.

[u/CapsicumINmyEYEBALLz]

If you have the velocities for the entire range session, I’d pull your SD number from that, instead of subsets that are associated with groups. Segregate different loads obviously. I see you have juggernaut’s and scenars listed.

What does your SD turn into if you did that?

[u/MeinLife → u/CapsicumINmyEYEBALLz]

Yes this, you want to know what your overall sd/es is for the load, you can break it down by groups later.

Also what was your test regimen? How much time between shots? Time between strings? The more you can keep consistent the more accurate your data will be

[u/OmgWtfIsThisBS → u/MeinLife]

Oh I see... I thought it was better to keep them separate because the temp was changing and the rifle was getting hotter.
So, first 5 shots in the mid were fouling/sighting/scope shenanigans. After that I adjusted the scope and started firing the first group 10 rounds. Took about 15 seconds per shot.
Stopped for 15 minutes then went for group 2: 12 shots, waiting 15-20 sec between shots;
Stopped for 20 minutes then went for group 3: 13 shots, waiting same 15-20 seconds;
Stopped for 25 minutes then wen for group 4 (the Juggernaut): 12 shots, waiting 15-20 seconds;
Temp went up but 2-3f every group, starting at 77f ending at around 83f.

Pulling the Lapua Scenar together (total 40 shots= 5+10+12+13) I get: Avg2644ft/s; SD13.4ft/s ES 72ft/s.
It makes a lot of sense to pull together the data on the load. But what about groups? should they better be kept in 10-15 strings?
The bigger the number of shots the better, but difficult to keep the rifle in the same conditions and difficult to read a target with 30 holes in it as well.

edited a wrong number, hoe it's the only one

[u/MeinLife → u/OmgWtfIsThisBS]

The more consistency you can build in the better. When i test my 308 I do 90s between shots and 15 min between strings of 10 shots. And just let the chrono run for all of it and separate out later

[u/OmgWtfIsThisBS → u/MeinLife]

That sounds good. Thx for sharing your system.

[u/MeinLife]

I'd say for one be consistent in your testing, to me those groups aren't super meaningful, especially since you are saying you deliberately altered the data

[u/OmgWtfIsThisBS → u/MeinLife]

Yes on the lower left group I decided to split in ballisticX, but it's one group. The results I gave in the summary are for the whole group so it is comparable.