Day out Shooting with CFE223, 123gr A-MAX, 107gr SMK 16" Grendel

[LRRPF52]

2500fps would definitely be nice. I would like a die that I could use to swage the 129gr SST boat tails longer, which would increase the BC a lot. Even so, .485 is pretty high, but not comparable to the 130gr Berger.

I'm interested to see if I can get 2400fps from my 16", as I have reached pretty high with the 123gr A-MAX, much farther than I really thought it would go. The 129gr SST takes up a lot more room in the case than the 123gr pills do, so not only is there a capacity issue, but a potential earlier pressure one as well.

[LRRPF52]

I found this post from 2006 about 14.5" and 16" Grendel velocities:

90 TNT, 30 gr. Benchmark
16" 2730 fps
14.5" 2660 fps

100 Scenar, 27.5 gr. Accurate 2460
16" 2597 fps
14.5" 2540 fps

123 Scenar Factory
16" 2472 fps
14.5" 2426 fps

129 SST, 29.0 gr. BL(C)-2
16" 2302 fps
14.5" 2267 fps

These are all pressure safe loadings published by AA.

[XcountryRider]

What do you think CFE223 could do for the 125gr Nosler partisan. Thats an under used hunting round among the horde.

[LRRPF52]

The Nosler Partition resists being swaged into the rifling more because of the wall, so it's more like a solid as far as start pressure is concerned.

I've been playing with Joe's Shooter's Notes Velocity Estimator, and it is surprisingly accurate in telling what you will get, velocity-wise. I entered my last start load from this previous range session, of 31.1gr under the 123gr A-MAX, and entered in:

Bullet dia: .264"
Case volume (H2O): 35.2
Bullet weight: 123gr
Barrel length: 16"
case length: 1.520"
Known muzzle velocity: 2489 fps
Charge weight: 31.1gr

You can then enter in new variables to find the mv. I tested it out some by entering my pressure ladder, and it was within 5fps correlation for all the charge weights I entered. I then entered a 129gr projectile weight, and played with it some more. It's a neat little program that I highly recommend. Enter in some data that you have with your known mv and charge weight, then play with the numbers to get some very accurate predictions:

http://shootersnotes.com/Velinfo.php

[XcountryRider]

The Nosler Partition resists being swaged into the rifling more because of the wall, so it's more like a solid as far as start pressure is concerned.

I've been playing with Joe's Shooter's Notes Velocity Estimator, and it is surprisingly accurate in telling what you will get, velocity-wise. I entered my last start load from this previous range session, of 31.1gr under the 123gr A-MAX, and entered in:

Bullet dia: .264"
Case volume (H2O): 35.2
Bullet weight: 123gr
Barrel length: 16"
case length: 1.520"
Known muzzle velocity: 2489 fps
Charge weight: 31.1gr

You can then enter in new variables to find the mv. I tested it out some by entering my pressure ladder, and it was within 5fps correlation for all the charge weights I entered. I then entered a 129gr projectile weight, and played with it some more. It's a neat little program that I highly recommend. Enter in some data that you have with your known mv and charge weight, then play with the numbers to get some very accurate predictions:

http://shootersnotes.com/Velinfo.php

Hey thats cool thanks for sharing. It says my 18in should give me a MV 2593fps with 31.8gr of CFE223.

[XcountryRider]

I used your data and then re-calibrated using Bwild97 data for his 129gr SST with CCI450 loaded to 2.27 and interestingly your and his both came up with about 2465fps for my 18in with 30.8gr of CFE223. Thats effective a 410 yard effective hunting range!!

[XcountryRider]

Its saying 30gr of CFE223 with a 140gr pill would have a MV of 2428fps with a 24in barrel which is an effective hunting range of about 415yards and for a 18in barrel a MV of 2320fps which is a 350 yard hunting range. To put that in perspective the 6.8SPC has about a 350yard hunting range with the 120gr SST with a 18in barrel using factory loads.

[XcountryRider]

That software was pretty close. With my 18in Liberty barrel and A 123gr SST loaded to 2.272 col with 31.8gr of CFE223 had a velocity of 2585fps. Elevation was 1000ft at 73f.

[cory]

Its saying 30gr of CFE223 with a 140gr pill would have a MV of 2428fps with a 24in barrel which is an effective hunting range of about 415yards and for a 18in barrel a MV of 2320fps which is a 350 yard hunting range. To put that in perspective the 6.8SPC has about a 350yard hunting range with the 120gr SST with a 18in barrel using factory loads.

At 30gr of CFE I got 2328fps with the 140gr SST and 2370fps with the 140gr Nosler.

[XcountryRider]

At 30gr of CFE I got 2328fps with the 140gr SST and 2370fps with the 140gr Nosler.

What barrel length?

[cory]

24"

[LRRPF52]

Once we get the 129gr Nosler Accubond LR's, it will be fun to see what we can do with CFE223 in this cartridge.

Here's some data from Bwild97 with the 129gr SST from his 24":

129gr SST
CFE223 31.0gr
CCI 450
2.270" COL
24" BBL
2662fps

[XcountryRider]

Once we get the 129gr Nosler Accubond LR's, it will be fun to see what we can do with CFE223 in this cartridge.

Here's some data from Bwild97 with the 129gr SST from his 24":

129gr SST
CFE223 31.0gr
CCI 450
2.270" COL
24" BBL
2662fps

At 30.8gr today I was at 2600fps for the 129gr SST with my 18in. I did not go higher.

[LRRPF52]

At 30.8gr today I was at 2600fps for the 129gr SST with my 18in. I did not go higher.

Holy crap. Your barrel definitely builds pressure faster. What velocities were you getting and what were the charge weights? Did you use a longer COL?

[XcountryRider]

Col was 2.27 29.9 was at 2350, 30.3 around 2490, I errored out on 30.6 and only got 2 readings on 30.8 and they were 2594 and 2601.when you look at bwild's data you'll notice that he had a velocity jump as well.