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Good afternoon. Apologies for a long post, but I'm looking for some advice from more knowledgeable people than me on this caliber as to where to go next. Not by any means an expert at reloading, But not brand new either. Been doing it for a year or so now, 223 and 30-06.
New to me 6.5G upper, PSA, 18" riding on an RRA lower. Started researching this round several months ago for a co-worker, who wanted me to load hunting rounds for him. He has since retired and is traveling, so he sold me the RRA .223 and a PSA 6.5 Upper.
Researched loading for 123 SST, which is the round he was using and liked. Decided on IMR 8208XBR for it's low temp sensitivity. Here in S. GA it can start at 30 in the morning and be 80 by noon during hunting season. I started with once fired Hornady brass, cleaned, trimmed to 1.510. Brass was sized back 3 thousandths to 1.2140 on a Hornady comparator. Loaded with Hornady 123 SST seated to OAL 2.2450. CCI 450. Those numbers I got from reading here. I used my triple beam scale for this loading. My eyes aren't the greatest anymore with little lines, so I have some inconsistencies in my numbers. Now have, thanks to my wife, an electronic scale so I'm hoping my numbers get better.
After much reading and digesting I loaded a string of 10 rounds for a chrono test, starting at 26 and running .2 grains up each round, ending with 27.8. wasn't interested in top speed, more concerned with good speed, and not ruining his bolt. (now my bolt)
On top of that loaded additional 15 rounds, in 3 round groups for ladder/consistency testing. .3 grain increments starting at 26. what follows are my numbers, from a magneto speed.
No accuracy Info, I don't have glass for the rifle yet so I did a dirty bore sight with an excess Eotech, just so I didn't launch any over the berm. This was mostly just for chrono data.
26- 2342
26.2- 2377
26.4- 2404
26.6- 2405
26.8- 2410
27- 2487
27.2- 2477
27.4- 2498
I didn't shoot the remainder as I wasn't comfortable going above 2500. I've read some of your horror stories of 8208 falling off the cliff and breaking things. Expensive, hard to find things. Not interested.
3 round groups, which unfortunately my wife unplugged the magneto speed before I could archive, so I don't have the ES/SD numbers just the speed, as written down on paper.
26-
2352
2407
2378
26.3-
2367
2371
2407
26.6-
2418
2371
2407
26.9-
2475
2460
2447
27.2-
2459
2472
2453
So, with all that info, what's my next move?
I'm thinking based on just my single numbers I'm leaning to some 5 round groups between 26.4 to 26.8. Or is there another option to refine my numbers? I'm hoping to reduce some of those wild swings with the e-scale on the next loading.
Any help is appreciated.
New to me 6.5G upper, PSA, 18" riding on an RRA lower. Started researching this round several months ago for a co-worker, who wanted me to load hunting rounds for him. He has since retired and is traveling, so he sold me the RRA .223 and a PSA 6.5 Upper.
Researched loading for 123 SST, which is the round he was using and liked. Decided on IMR 8208XBR for it's low temp sensitivity. Here in S. GA it can start at 30 in the morning and be 80 by noon during hunting season. I started with once fired Hornady brass, cleaned, trimmed to 1.510. Brass was sized back 3 thousandths to 1.2140 on a Hornady comparator. Loaded with Hornady 123 SST seated to OAL 2.2450. CCI 450. Those numbers I got from reading here. I used my triple beam scale for this loading. My eyes aren't the greatest anymore with little lines, so I have some inconsistencies in my numbers. Now have, thanks to my wife, an electronic scale so I'm hoping my numbers get better.
After much reading and digesting I loaded a string of 10 rounds for a chrono test, starting at 26 and running .2 grains up each round, ending with 27.8. wasn't interested in top speed, more concerned with good speed, and not ruining his bolt. (now my bolt)
On top of that loaded additional 15 rounds, in 3 round groups for ladder/consistency testing. .3 grain increments starting at 26. what follows are my numbers, from a magneto speed.
No accuracy Info, I don't have glass for the rifle yet so I did a dirty bore sight with an excess Eotech, just so I didn't launch any over the berm. This was mostly just for chrono data.
26- 2342
26.2- 2377
26.4- 2404
26.6- 2405
26.8- 2410
27- 2487
27.2- 2477
27.4- 2498
I didn't shoot the remainder as I wasn't comfortable going above 2500. I've read some of your horror stories of 8208 falling off the cliff and breaking things. Expensive, hard to find things. Not interested.
3 round groups, which unfortunately my wife unplugged the magneto speed before I could archive, so I don't have the ES/SD numbers just the speed, as written down on paper.
26-
2352
2407
2378
26.3-
2367
2371
2407
26.6-
2418
2371
2407
26.9-
2475
2460
2447
27.2-
2459
2472
2453
So, with all that info, what's my next move?
I'm thinking based on just my single numbers I'm leaning to some 5 round groups between 26.4 to 26.8. Or is there another option to refine my numbers? I'm hoping to reduce some of those wild swings with the e-scale on the next loading.
Any help is appreciated.
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