Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I'd probably go Nosler and Varget. In my albeit limited experience, I seem always to find a Varget load that works well.
RL 15 and Varget are more temp stable than the others. .
I’ve heard that “however” I do not have personal experience testing the temperature stability of Reloader -15 perhaps you have and could share your findings.Reloader 15 is not temp stable.
So, @Nature Boy what decisions have you made? Where are you at in your load development?
Man I’m behind. My goal is to test a load Friday morning on the way to work and one on Saturday.
I’ve got my rounds made to test the Berger 168 and RL15. I’m currently finishing up some Nosler 165 and 4064. I also made some of the Noslers with their accuracy load using BL-C2 just to try
I’ll post some data as soon as I have some to post
I’ve got my rounds made to test the Berger 168 and RL15.
Man I’m behind. My goal is to test a load Friday morning on the way to work and one on Saturday.
I’ve got my rounds made to test the Berger 168 and RL15. I’m currently finishing up some Nosler 165 and 4064. I also made some of the Noslers with their accuracy load using BL-C2 just to try
I’ll post some data as soon as I have some to post
did you do any testing?
do you always use the best group from the wide node? i'm assuming the wide node is best for long-range shooters because of the wider range of minimal vertical dispersion.
just picking your brain here,
murf
If that holds together at 200, I wouldn't even bother.Here’s my target for the 168 Bergers and RL15
View attachment 865422
I’m using a modified OCW method where you load 3 rounds each at increasing charge weights and shoot them in order. To find the accuracy nodes you look for group centers that deviate the least from point of aim when compared to adjacent groups. No FPS data as my chrono was acting up due to the light at the range.
In this case it looks like a wide node exist between 43.2 - 43.8. Normally my next step would be to adjust seating depth but I’m limited due to having to load for mag length as this is a hunting load, not a target load.
I’ll take 43.5 and validate it at 200 with a larger sample size.
I’ll still work up some more loads with the 165 Nosler and 4064 when I get some time
I generally don’t look at the group size. I chose a charge weight in the middle of the node as defined above. If this was a target load I’d shrink the group in the next step by adjusting seating depth. As it is, the middle of the node here, 43.5g, was also the tightest.
Picking a charge in the middle of the node gives me the best chance that changes in conditions won’t take my load out of tune. That would apply to either target shooting or hunting. Overkill for a hunting load for sure, but it’s part of the hobby and I enjoy it so why not, right?
The data I have on RL-15 says it temp stable at 50F and lower. Above that it starts increasing at a rate of ~1.5 fps/deg F. I used it in my 6.5 CM till I started blowing primers when the ambient temp raised into the 90's. As you know here in Texas it can be in the 30's in the mornings, and 90's by mid afternoon or reverse. Did not look to see where your at in the load range, but suspect the upper end. So be careful when the temp hits the upper 80's 90's.