Hornady ELD-Match 140gr

[Second]

Order for a box of Hornady ELD-Match 140gr have been placed.
Will probably be few weeks before I have them on the leading bench at home, but this gives some time for planning.

Will be testing this bullet and see what speed and accuracy I can get. Will be using the Magnetospeed for MV-reading.
This will be done with the following components:

Gun: Rem 700 bolt gun, 20" Jury barrel 1:7,5 twist
Bullet, the 140gr ELD-M (of course)
Lapua brass
CCI400 primers
VV N140 powder

For starting load with this powder, I will probably go with 26.0gr. Step up with small increments of 0.2gr until about 28.0gr.

Any thoughts on the starting load?
I have the N140 powder at home, but also the Norma N203B.

[LRRPF52]

Looking forward to it.

Make sure you let everyone know in your posts that this is for your bolt gun.

[Second]

Looking forward to it.

Make sure you let everyone know in your posts that this is for your bolt gun.

Yes!
You are absolutely right!

Have updated #1 with info that this if for my Rem 700 bolt gun.

[Second]

I wounder if I will acutally fit 28.0gr of N140 in the case and still seat the 140gr ELD bullet enough for my gun.

I remembered that when I loaded the first 123gr Scenar with N133 it was a clear cracking when seated the bullet with 28.0gr. This was max what I could fit in the case and seat the 123gr Scenar.
But that was with Vihtavouri load data and a quite long jump to the lands with that bullet.

The 140gr ELD will probably need more case capacity, and this might be a problem If I would like to fit 28.0gr.
Have a droptube if needed.

The VV N140 and the Norma 203B might be the wrong powder for this since they both are extruded and I have a guess that they fill up the case faster than other powders.

[Second]

Probably quickest delivery ever!
Placed the order yesterday and my friend fund a box at home

IMG_2125.JPG

So the evening is saved!
Will load the first rounds tonight.

But first measure and find the Max COAL.

[Second]

Loaded up the initially rounds of 140gr ELD-M.
Powder Vihtavouri N140

First measure the COAL for my gun with this bullet.
Measured 10 times and found an average.
Used the Hornady C.O.L measure and a modified case.
IMG_2126.JPG

The COAL for this bullet ended up at: 61,4mm.
Ogive measure: 44,5mm
IMG_2127.JPGIMG_2130.JPG

Will be interesting to see what velocity I get and if there is any signs of pressure.
Will test this probably tomorrow if nothing changes. Velocity is read with a Magnetospeed Sporter.

[Sticks]

Are you using new brass, or once fired and sized?

If once fired, are you bumping the shoulder back to 2,794cm, or other?

The datum line to the case head on the Hornady modified case and a fired case will be different, and will mess with your jump if the resized case is not 2,768cm - 2,794cm

[Second]

Are you using new brass, or once fired and sized?

If once fired, are you bumping the shoulder back to 2,794cm, or other?

The datum line to the case head on the Hornady modified case and a fired case will be different, and will mess with your jump if the resized case is not 2,768cm - 2,794cm

[Sticks]

...
If the modified case is "smaller" on the datum line than my Lapua, then the bullet might be jammed in the lands? Right?
But if the modified case is "bigger/longer", the jump will be longer?

If the modified case is shorter (most likely) then your jump will be shorter with your fired/sized case.

I found it easiest to make a special case with a ever so slightly sized neck that will allow a bullet to be moved by hand (with a little effort/twisting) and chamber it with the bolt and extract while pushing with a cleaning rod from the muzzle to make sure the bullet does not give false readings by being pulled out from slightly forced into the lands. Rinse and repeat several times to get consistent readings.

You could also do the math by measuring your sized case to the datum line, and the Hornady modified case.

[Second]

[Randy99CL]

It makes sense to me to use a case that has been fire-formed to the chamber of the rifle.

I read somewhere that it only costs about $10 to buy the drill and tap to make your own cases for the Hornady COAL gauge.

Sorry I don't remember the details but I'll take the Grendel case I bought from Hornady to the hardware store and try bolts in the threads to determine the size and pitch, then buy that drill and tap.

[Second]

I measured the Hornady modified case and one sized case.
The modified case measured with the bump gauge 28,75mm (1.1318")
And the sized case measured with the bump gauge 28,73mm (1.1311")

And I measured several times, the modified case is bigger than the sized one.
With this checked, it felt safe to go to the range.

But I agree, I should get a sized case reworked to fit the Hornady COL-gauge.

[Second]

Went to the range yesterday with my loaded Hornady 140gr ELD-M
About +14 C and sunny weather.

I fired the rounds in a slow pace with minimum 1.30 minutes between each shot.
Inspected each round/case before and after the shot.
No signs of high pressure at any cases or sticky feel to the bolt lift.

This is the result:
Grendel 140gr ELD-M N140.PNG

[Sticks]

Nice. I'd be working the 27.6 to 27.8 range and moving the jump around, or keep working up the load until you start to get the early pressure signs. 2400fps or more may be doable.

[Second]

Nice. I'd be working the 27.6 to 27.8 range and moving the jump around, or keep working up the load until you start to get the early pressure signs. 2400fps or more may be doable.

Yep.
My plan also.
Maybe take 27,6, 27,7, 27,8 perhaps 27,9 and load 3 rounds each and see if I get some stable speeds.

2400 fps can be a problem with the N140 since I have problem to fit more of this powder in the case. And where I live, there is extremely hard to find different powders to chose from.
I have N160 at home, maybe try that?