Last year I bought a CVA Kodiak Pro in 45 cal and I've had a hard time getting it to shoot good groups. Let me say that by "good" I mean somewhere around MOA. The best I've been able to acheive is 2-3" groups with most of them being closer to 3" and a LOT of flyers. This isn't acceptable for I was intending as a "long range" gun.
Part of the problem I believe is the combination of 3F powder and Remington Kleanbore primers. After reading sabotloader's post I don't think the primer is hot enough to ignite all the powder at once and it's blowing unused powder out the barrel with charges over 100gr. I get more fouling with this than I do with 2F powder and regular Winchester primers. I've tried several loads at 120gr. and the flyers are crazy. Next year I will either switch to a hotter primer, switch back to 2F or try BH209...which will require a hotter primer anyways from what I've read.
What I ended up sighting in with was the 225gr powerbelt aerotip. I actually managed a sub MOA group with 100gr of powder. I'd much rather the 275gr or a Hornady XTP...both of which I tried. However, time ran out and I won't be able to make back to the range before the season starts. At least I'm zero'd with acceptable accuracy.
Some interesting things:
I tried the 200gr 35 Rem bullet with awful results. Too bad I found the posts on this site from guys who have already tried it AFTER I bought the bullets. Couldn't find the 180gr single shot pistol version or I would've bought that instead. The 200gr. keyholed and was all over the target at 50 yards.
Tried the 180gr 357 XTP. Time ran out on this load and the rain started up strong. With 100gr I put two shots into one hole at 50 with another shot an inch away. At 100 I acheived the same exact result...oddly enough the one shot that was off from the other two was in the same spot at 50 and 100 yards...but still only an inch off. I did have a flyer at 100 but not sure if that was the rain or barrel heat. I didn't have much time to let it cool at all really. I'll give this load another go after the season ends.
On another trip I got the 200gr 40cal XTP into 2.5" with 120gr of powder and I'm sure I can shrink that by dropping to 100. Just didn't have time to try it this time around.
275gr powerbelt grouped almost 3".
So I ended up with what would be my last choice for a good hunting bullet (out of the many that I own). I did manage a decent two shot group with the hollow point version of the 225 and 120gr of powder...those came with the gun and that's what led me to try the same weight in the aerotip. I don't like the hollowpoint version and I prefer the heavier bullet for on game performance. The gun also seemed to foul less with this bullet but that was on a different trip when it wasn't raining (I was under a covered shooting area) and therefore less humid...not sure if that can affect things. Also not sure if the rain falling can affect bullet flight. I tried not to shoot when it was coming down. I'm also not sure how hot is too hot when it comes to barrel temps. I do know that it seems to throw more flyers even when the barrel is only warm 90-100 deg. approx.
After the season I also want to try to shoot a sabotless 300 or 250gr XTP/SST but I'll want to be able to shoot more powder effectively...100gr won't cut it. I also want to try the Thor bullets. As much as I've come to loathe trying to sight in my ML it's really become addicting. Maybe it's the fact that I'm never satisfied til I've succeeded at something or maybe it's the pressure of having a good shooting gun for the part of deer season that is usually the most productive for me. Or maybe it's the fact that I can shoot my bow into an orange all day at 30 yards and shoot 1/2MOA or less with my 270 and it irritates me that I can't do the same with the ML......eh.....it's probably all of the above.
Part of the problem I believe is the combination of 3F powder and Remington Kleanbore primers. After reading sabotloader's post I don't think the primer is hot enough to ignite all the powder at once and it's blowing unused powder out the barrel with charges over 100gr. I get more fouling with this than I do with 2F powder and regular Winchester primers. I've tried several loads at 120gr. and the flyers are crazy. Next year I will either switch to a hotter primer, switch back to 2F or try BH209...which will require a hotter primer anyways from what I've read.
What I ended up sighting in with was the 225gr powerbelt aerotip. I actually managed a sub MOA group with 100gr of powder. I'd much rather the 275gr or a Hornady XTP...both of which I tried. However, time ran out and I won't be able to make back to the range before the season starts. At least I'm zero'd with acceptable accuracy.
Some interesting things:
I tried the 200gr 35 Rem bullet with awful results. Too bad I found the posts on this site from guys who have already tried it AFTER I bought the bullets. Couldn't find the 180gr single shot pistol version or I would've bought that instead. The 200gr. keyholed and was all over the target at 50 yards.
Tried the 180gr 357 XTP. Time ran out on this load and the rain started up strong. With 100gr I put two shots into one hole at 50 with another shot an inch away. At 100 I acheived the same exact result...oddly enough the one shot that was off from the other two was in the same spot at 50 and 100 yards...but still only an inch off. I did have a flyer at 100 but not sure if that was the rain or barrel heat. I didn't have much time to let it cool at all really. I'll give this load another go after the season ends.
On another trip I got the 200gr 40cal XTP into 2.5" with 120gr of powder and I'm sure I can shrink that by dropping to 100. Just didn't have time to try it this time around.
275gr powerbelt grouped almost 3".
So I ended up with what would be my last choice for a good hunting bullet (out of the many that I own). I did manage a decent two shot group with the hollow point version of the 225 and 120gr of powder...those came with the gun and that's what led me to try the same weight in the aerotip. I don't like the hollowpoint version and I prefer the heavier bullet for on game performance. The gun also seemed to foul less with this bullet but that was on a different trip when it wasn't raining (I was under a covered shooting area) and therefore less humid...not sure if that can affect things. Also not sure if the rain falling can affect bullet flight. I tried not to shoot when it was coming down. I'm also not sure how hot is too hot when it comes to barrel temps. I do know that it seems to throw more flyers even when the barrel is only warm 90-100 deg. approx.
After the season I also want to try to shoot a sabotless 300 or 250gr XTP/SST but I'll want to be able to shoot more powder effectively...100gr won't cut it. I also want to try the Thor bullets. As much as I've come to loathe trying to sight in my ML it's really become addicting. Maybe it's the fact that I'm never satisfied til I've succeeded at something or maybe it's the pressure of having a good shooting gun for the part of deer season that is usually the most productive for me. Or maybe it's the fact that I can shoot my bow into an orange all day at 30 yards and shoot 1/2MOA or less with my 270 and it irritates me that I can't do the same with the ML......eh.....it's probably all of the above.
