Bolt rifle for dedicated handloaders

[Von Gruff]

Okay, after all this time, here are the initial pics and report. I got the inletting finished last night and then did the bedding so this morning I finished the shaping and got things to the stage that I could get a first coat of oil on it and then impaitence kicked in and I decided I could finish the oiling AFTER I had been to try it out. Five shots to get it on at 25 yds then a few more to get it somewhere close at a hundred. Only had preped the one box of Hornady Grendels so fireforming to my GM chamber, but will do for now. At least I know it will be a shooter. Weight is right on 6 lb 12 scoped and ready to go and 7 lb 6 with the suppressor on board. Had limited rounds but with four into .58 I guess there is something good to look forward to. Next time out I will take the chrono to see what the factory Hornady A Max's are doing as a fireforming velocity.



.84 -.264 =.58

[ricsmall]

very nice stuff gruff! Im going to hazard a guess and say you didnt buy that rest at your local gun store! You are one creative guy, keep up the good work. And one day, maybe some details on the rest.

[Smack Water Jack]

Been watching with interest mate, looking really good

Jack

[Von Gruff]

Have just done a water capacity test on a factory Hornady Grendel fireformed to my GM chamber and with a bare weight of 120.5 gn and a plus water weight of 158.1gn have a water capacity of 37.6gn so would be interested to get a comparative water capacity of a Hornady grendel fired case in a Grendel chamber to see what capacvity gain I have. There is a 2 gain loss in the Winchester 7.62x39 case FF to the GM chamber with a 35.8 water capacity. I didn't fire any of my Lapua cases yet (7.62x39) but should do soon.
Have a 2.475 magazine capacity and with cases loaded to 2.400 have the 123gn A Max at .025 from engagment so have room to play a bit with OAL depending on range results.
Took couple more pics but the stock is a utilitarian affair rather than a show pony so form and function were the aim with light weight being desirable.

[adamjp]

Looking good, when worked a bit those little actions are a gem aren't they. Make for a nice lightweight rifle and the Grendel hits hard for the cartridge size.

Look forward to seeing some loads developed. What bullets do you intend to use?

[Von Gruff]

Have 123gn A Max's, CCI 450's with CFE223 and BL-C2 to start but also have the 127gn Cast bullet with 2208-Varget, 2207-H4198, and Blue Dot to get me off the mark. Once I get the A max's sorted I may try the STT's. (they are supposed to be here by about Feb but I have had delivery dates before that were wildly optomistic) anyway the A Max has a great rep and I should be able to run it past 2650 from my 21 in barrel and that should give it a reasonable reach with expansion.

[Von Gruff]

Okay here is the first real shooting results. Was up at 5am this morning and away by 6am to get some shooting in before the early morning breeze that often kicks in - but didn't this morning so it was calm. clear and mild at about 14 degrees C.
Target at 200yds
Chrono at 15 yds
Hornady fireformed brass
CCI 450's
123gn A Max's
OAL 2.400
21 inch barrel
1 in 8 twist.

Ladder test with CFE 223 and BL-C2

6 am - daylight but before sun over the hills.






I did not bother with the marking rounds with different coloured pens. I would fire one round of CFE and one of BL-C2 at thier respective targets and walk down range and mark them on the paper and this allowed me to have a more controlled temperature for the barrel at each shot. Did the slow deep breathing to slow heart rate after the walk but got a reasonable similar condition for each shot so results are of some value.




I dont know what happened with shot no 10 in the CFE 223 test as it was way down in expected velocity although I suspect I may have loaded it at 31.4 rather than 32.4 as it is very close to the no 7 shot of 31.5 giving 2608, but 7, 8 &9 are in .741 c/c at 200 but will run another test with the 7 through 12 loads and will run the bL-C2 9 through 12 loads again as with a 1.14 c/c at 200yds for the 4 different powder levels this definately shows some promise.
Some interesting times over the next few weeks. but it does look as if I should get a reasonable load in the close to 2700fps range with the CFE but maybe only into 2550 - 2575 area with the BL-C2

[louieprkr]

I'm not sure what to be more jealous of, your knowledge, resourcefulness, or your range!

Awesome project.... Keep us posted!

[Von Gruff]

It was another early start this morning and I took my loads of 31.5 - 32.7 CFE 223 and 32.1-33.3 of BL-C2. I know some on here decry the use of three shot groups but I am confident enough of reading my results to use it for preliminary testing. I decided to curtail anymore testing of the BL-C2 even though in the 33-33.3 range it was showing nice round groups in the 1 1/4 at 200yds. The CFE 223 loads showed a node just over 2700fps that I will chase down a bit now.




I have loaded up some 5 shot groups to re test this load and if it comes off I will be more than satisfied. The 123gn A Max at 2700fps is all that I imagined the GM case would produce for me and if I can stay in this accuracy quadrant, then this experimental light rifle will have more than justified itself and earned its intended position as my go-to hunting rifle.Will only have to swivel my bench a couple of degrees from where I set up and I can get another target set out at 350 yds and realisticly if I can get them into under 3 inches there I will be very happy and consider that I have a real 500yd rifle as at 2700fps at the chrono I will still have 1900fps and expansion, even with the A Max out at 500yds. It really does look like this GM has born out all my thoughts when I was doodling on a piece of paper.

[Euan]

It's Looking very promising Mr Gruff.
Cheers Euan.

[eljefe]

Von G,
The CFE 223 node too looks good.keep on doin it
Can we have a pre and post FF pic please? See a couple of cartridges in the rifle pics on prev page.What are they? For a home made rifle, that is one sweet shooting piece of kit!
Cheers

[Von Gruff]

Her you go eljefe. Pic on previous page was attempt to show the Grendel with the GM case but wasn't clear enough - cell pic.

Will try a couple more.

This is a Hornady Grendel and a FF and reloaded GM cartridge with OAL of 2.405


This is a Lapua x39 case with my FF cast load of 5.7 gn Red Dot with a GM -A Max


This shows the Hornady Grendel with the x39 case/ cast bullet and the GM / A Max

[eljefe]

Thanks for the close ups, Von G
Seems all the precisoneering with the fireforming and the crush fit is paying off.
Good luck on the 350m laddering and then I guess its the turn of the cast boolits?

[Von Gruff]

Well I got out again this morning even though we had heavy rain overnight (with a bit of thunder thrown in) and the ground was very wet with the creek that runs through the paddock fairly full.A light breeze this morning so not ideal but went ahead anyway and found out a couple of things, the first being that this barrel likes a few fouling shots through before it delivers, so the first couple of 5 shot groups were a little dissapointing. The average for the 4 groups was still at 1 moa with this being the best for the morning. All were with the 32.4gr CFE 223 so if nothing else that would be a reasonable load --- however I may just do a series of tests with 32.5,6, &7 just to see if there is an inprovment.


Fireformed the rest of my lapua x39 brass after the test so am all ready for some decent trialing of a few cast bullets soon, with many thanks for an able assist from eljefe who has been instramental in sourcing a pushthrough sizing die that I like to use for the actual sizing then use a lubrisizer die to lube with a die a half thou larger than the sizing die.

[Von Gruff]

Well I think I have this little rifle worked out.
I was out this morning again and run a few more groups through at the 32.4 for a reasonable return and holding in the .5-.6 region



But it was the 32.6 gn loads that really got my attention and decided me on my future loads. the wind was getting to be a factor by this time and I only use two staples on the top of the target so that any breeze will fluter the page and I only shoot when it is still. The bull rushes in the middle distance work like a wind flag and I can feel the breeze on my face at the bench and even though I missed the wind call on one shot and blew the group. it does look as if a sub half inch result should be gettable.




Next day out will be scope setting for the 200 zero and trying at 350yds