05-25-2019, 11:51 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-04-2019, 04:59 AM by bachekermooni.)
Went to the range yesterday morning with the equipment in the previous post in PTG reamer thread. Four loads were pre-made - the rest made at the range.
The goal was to get velocities close to 3000 FPS and possibly look at accurate loads. New Lapua brass; Hornady 90 gn ELD-X (except as noted) bullet seated 20 thou from the lands (COL = 2.1895"). I mounted the T36 for max accuracy of group development. Starting ambient 62F, ending 71F. Clean to the bare metal barrel to start with.
Listed results are in the order they were fired through out the day.
Pre-loaded:
Primer - Powder
Grains - Velocity (ies) - Notes
400 - TAC
27.0 - 2660, 2664 - Used for fouling
28.0 - 2783 - Starting load with TAC
400 - CFE
29.0 - 2698 - Starting load with CFE
Loaded at the range:
450 - TAC
28.2 - 2810
28.5 - 2857
29.0 - 2895
29.3 - 2938
29.7 - 2940
30.0 - 2994 (Eureka), 3020, 2963, 2959, 3003, 3002
After i reached approx 3000 with this load, I loaded three which were touching. Then I loaded two, first 1 inch left, second 1 inch left and down!?
Cleaned the rifle. Fired a fouler with Hornady 87 gn BTHP, 30 gn TAC, 400 (sharp edges on the primer where hit by firing pin) - no speed measured, switched to CFE
450 - CFE
30.0 - 2800
30.4 - 2845
30.8 - 3382 - What the heck!? 8-0 need to go down to 30.4
30.4 - 2930, 2867 - Very inconsistent results - forget CFE for now
Back to TAC
450 - TAC
30.0 - 3149, 3153, 3149 - What the heck 120+ over the last 30.0 load, very consistent vel though
First two were touching, third 0.75" to the left (think I pulled it).
As a parting shot I fired the other 87 gn with 30.0 gn of TAC and 400, 3035 fps - sharp primer edge where hit by firing pin.
Conclusion: 1. Definitely use 450 primers. 2. Forget CFE for now. 3. Test more with TAC to determine cause of speed change (temp? only 7-8F though). 4. Test with Fed Match Primers. 5. Start playing with 87 BTHP.
Have an awesome weekend.
The goal was to get velocities close to 3000 FPS and possibly look at accurate loads. New Lapua brass; Hornady 90 gn ELD-X (except as noted) bullet seated 20 thou from the lands (COL = 2.1895"). I mounted the T36 for max accuracy of group development. Starting ambient 62F, ending 71F. Clean to the bare metal barrel to start with.
Listed results are in the order they were fired through out the day.
Pre-loaded:
Primer - Powder
Grains - Velocity (ies) - Notes
400 - TAC
27.0 - 2660, 2664 - Used for fouling
28.0 - 2783 - Starting load with TAC
400 - CFE
29.0 - 2698 - Starting load with CFE
Loaded at the range:
450 - TAC
28.2 - 2810
28.5 - 2857
29.0 - 2895
29.3 - 2938
29.7 - 2940
30.0 - 2994 (Eureka), 3020, 2963, 2959, 3003, 3002
After i reached approx 3000 with this load, I loaded three which were touching. Then I loaded two, first 1 inch left, second 1 inch left and down!?
Cleaned the rifle. Fired a fouler with Hornady 87 gn BTHP, 30 gn TAC, 400 (sharp edges on the primer where hit by firing pin) - no speed measured, switched to CFE
450 - CFE
30.0 - 2800
30.4 - 2845
30.8 - 3382 - What the heck!? 8-0 need to go down to 30.4
30.4 - 2930, 2867 - Very inconsistent results - forget CFE for now
Back to TAC
450 - TAC
30.0 - 3149, 3153, 3149 - What the heck 120+ over the last 30.0 load, very consistent vel though
First two were touching, third 0.75" to the left (think I pulled it).
As a parting shot I fired the other 87 gn with 30.0 gn of TAC and 400, 3035 fps - sharp primer edge where hit by firing pin.
Conclusion: 1. Definitely use 450 primers. 2. Forget CFE for now. 3. Test more with TAC to determine cause of speed change (temp? only 7-8F though). 4. Test with Fed Match Primers. 5. Start playing with 87 BTHP.
Have an awesome weekend.