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> Load Development (help me please)
Load Development (help me please)
@ 05:38 am (GMT) |
Ben GradyHi GuysI went to the range today to test my first loads. I couldn't find a sweet spot or even get close. Best group was 25mm/1". It was a very hot day 31 degrees. I was shooting for about five hours and the last few groups the barrel was getting hot. The first few shots the rifle hit me hard as I was holding it to tight, once I relaxed a bit the recoil disappeared was pleasant to shoot. The bullets were seated .3mm sst off the lands and .5mm speers. Below are the target pics. Any way does any one have any ideas for me to try to reduce the group sizes. URL=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/landrover11/media/20150305_172912.jpg.html]  [/url]
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Replies
@ 09:26 am (GMT) |
Andy StewartRe: Load Development (help me please)Quote: Hi Nathan
I did follow your book procedures with my first SST load development and primers were flattening at 59.5gr 2217 so I backed off 1 grain. My SST 117gr load is 80.83 OAL .25mm off the lands, so similar to yours. And my SST velocity is 3122 fps ave from 25" barrel. For some reason the prohunters are 100 fps faster with the same powder load. I guess I have two options. 1/ Start again with reduced loads are work up, then sort out seating depth. 2/ Continue seating deeper with the loads I have and see what happens. I agree with you that safety is the main concern. So starting again may be the best option. Starting book load is 55gr AR2217 2935fps (probably faster in my rifle) So do I go 55gr, 55.5, 56, 56.5, 57, 57.5 and 58gr. I already have 58.5gr. Do I need to start at the lowest load or start mid way? Say 56.5gr? And see what happens. Do I seat the pro hunters deeper than .25mm off the lands (say 79mm ) or leave it at 79.20mm OAL for a start. What would you do? at this stage, I will follow your recommendation. Thanks again for the guidance, Ben All rifles are different, if velocity is the requirement, you work up until you achieve the velocity you want, or run into pressure signs then have to back things up, primers can be a somewhat arbitrary tell, more accurate is the case itself, the ADI max loads are intended to be safe in just about anything in that calibre, without reference to the specific merits of any given action, all rifles are different. Currently running the 117 Sierra at 3200 and the 100 TTSX at 3400 at only just over book max, (25" 2506) and have NO pressure signs, and this has been typical for me over 20 yrs loading for 2506 when using decent actions with quality decent length barrels and quality brass.. Happen to have access to a reamer and dies for .25 Gibbs, some what faster than 2506, equals .257Wby in the same action and barrel, and most load to higher pressures to make the big gains over 2506, same argument: all rifles are different. |
@ 04:24 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Load Development (help me please)Hi Ben, with the PH bullet, I like to beither .5mm off or 1mm off. I never get too close to the lands with the more traditional soft point hunting bullets and so far, this has worked very well in practice.There is no "should" in this instance, am just relating my own experiences. |
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@ 07:29 pm (GMT) |
Ben GradyRe: Load Development (help me please)Hi GuysJust an update, if anyone was slightly interested in this thread. 25-06 Rem on a P17 (M17) Action. My load development stopped as I had a elbow operation but now I a am ready to go. Just to re-cap. I had a new heavy Bradley Barrel fitted. Original groups were bad 11/2 -2+". I docked 15mm off the end of my barrel because Chris Murphy saw tooling marks right at the muzzle. Straight away groups dropped and the Federal 117gr factory ammo was 4 shots touching and fowl shot not far away. My home loads were about an inch group. There was also fouling along one of the grooves so I have hand lapped the throat in case there was a reaming burr. Velocities were high but no pressure signs showing at book max. I have now added a suppressor as I have a 11 month pup T J, who goes hunting with me. He has started indicating which is neat. I don't want him to become gun shy. He doesn't flinch with my mates suppressed 30.06 going off. So a trip to the range to re-sight it in and tinker loads is called for. |
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@ 07:41 pm (GMT) |
Ben GradyRe: Load Development (help me please)[img][url=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/landrover11/media/2015-12-11%2017.53.20.jpg.html][img]http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h413/landrover11/2015-12-11%2017.53.20.jpg[/img][/url] |
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@ 07:42 pm (GMT) |
Ben GradyRe: Load Development (help me please)[imghttp://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h413/landrover11/2015-12-11%2017.53.20.jpg] |
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@ 07:43 pm (GMT) |
Ben GradyRe: Load Development (help me please)[img]http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h413/landrover11/2015-12-11%2017.53.20.jpg |
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@ 07:46 pm (GMT) |
Ben GradyRe: Load Development (help me please)[/[url=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/landrover11/media/2015-12-11%2017.53.20.jpg.html] [/url]]
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