18" PSA Upper Handloading Results

[MORGAJ1]

I've spent a considerable amount of time lately handloading for my PSA upper and I thought I'd share the results. I shot about 100 rounds of various loads as break-in before shooting for accuracy. All were loaded with Hornady brass and CCI-400 primers to the bullet manufacturer's suggested length. I prefer CCI-41's, but can't find them. Groups are 3 shots tested at 100 yards off a Caldwell Rock BR rest and Protektor rear bag. My loading procedure is FL size, trim brass, uniform primer pockets/flash holes, tumble, salt bath anneal, tumble again, neck size with Lee Collet die, load, crimp. These are the loads that I was comfortable with. Please consult a loading handbook and start with the lowest load recommended by the handbook. Here are my results:

1. Nosler Ballistic Tip 100gr:
a. 28.5gr TAC - 1.06 MOA
b. 29.2gr TAC - 0.67 MOA
c. 29.5gr TAC - 0.60 MOA

2. Nosler Ballistic Tip 120gr:
a. 26.5gr IMR 8208XBR - 0.76 MOA
b. 27gr IMR 8208XBR - 0.68 MOA
c. 27.5gr IMR 8208XBR - 0.47 MOA

3. Hornady Interlock SP 129gr:
a. 26gr H4895 - 1.11 MOA
b. 26.3gr H4895 - 1.61 MOA
c. 26.6gr H4895 - 1.01 MOA
d. 26.8gr IMR 8208XBR - 1.74 MOA
e. 27.1gr IMR 8208XBR - 1.74 MOA
f. 27.4gr IMR 8208XBR - 1.97 MOA

4. Sierra Pro Hunter 120gr:
a. 26.8gr IMR 8208XBR - 0.8 MOA
b. 27.1gr IMR 8208XBR - 1.07 MOA
c. 27.3gr IMR 8208XBR - 0.44 MOA
d. 26.8gr H4895 - 0.72 MOA
e. 27.1gr H4895 - 0.80 MOA
f. 27.4gr H4895 - 0.80 MOA

I have plenty of the Sierra PH, so will be using this with 27.3gr IMR 8208XBR, with an MPBR of roughly 250 years. This should be a good load for deer and hogs.

[Mad Charlie]

Velocities?

[1Shot]

Dang you must think that load for the 120 Sierra pro hunter has an unbelievable fast muzzle velocity to be able to have a MPBR out to 250 "YEARS". LOL I know danged spell check auto correct? That is what I blame it on.
Looks like you have that rifle shooting great. I killed one deer with the 120 Pro Hunter out of my 18" Oden Works barrel but my velocity was 2550 fps with 28.5 grs IMR 8208, Hornady case and CCI 450. It is on the softer side. Shot on the deer was about 60 yards off hand. I hit just a tad higher up on the shoulder than I wanted. Bullet penetrated the onside scapula took out about 4" of vertebra then penetrated the offside scapula but did not exit the hide. BANG FLOP. I did not really take the time to look for the bullet and saw no fragments. I was in a hurry and it was COLD and WINDY and getting late at night and I did a gutless butchering which takes me an average of 19 minutes from start to finish and all the meat is deboned off the deer. You have to use what you can get these days but if you run into some Speer 120 Gold Dots latch onto them. They are AWESOME both accuracy wise and impact wise. Good luck.

[MORGAJ1]

Velocities?

Like an idiot, I left the chronograph at home. Will have it with me on the next trip.

[ported45]

All other bullets I have tried I was able to load at loading manual lengths in my Ruger Predator except your #3. I can't get ANYWHERE near the Hornady manual COAL length on that one!!

I load it short with 26.0 XBR as a plinking round @ 100 yards. No idea what the velocity is, but my daughter punches golf balls with that plinking load.

[ofhs93]

Question....is this the PSA 18" upper with the rifle length GS? If so...did you do anything to tweak the upper from stock?