snuffy
Member
Hi, I'm new here. I started expansions tests last summer with the then new 30 cal. 165 Hornady interbond bullet. Both Nozler and Hornady have come out with a 180 grain in their bonded bullets. Finally a dirrect comparison can be made. I use gallon milk jugs to test expansion. I will post results as soon as I do the tests next week or so.
I finally had time and good weather at the same time today. The range road was open as well, so off I went to shoot some groups for load workup on the 180 accubond Nozler and 180 interbond Hornady. This was in my Browning 300 WSM, 23 inch BBL.
The powder I chose is Alliant reloader-19. I looked in the sierra manual for their 180 grainers, their top load is 70.5 grains. So I started at 68.5, went up 1.0 gr. At a time to 70.5. Mainly I wanted to test for pressure and see if any would group under an inch. AFTER loading this test run of 3 each, I looked at Speer and Hornady’s data. They’re extremely conservative, their top load is 68.5 R-19! So I loaded 2 each at 67.0 and 2 at 68.0.
Now for the pleasant surprise!
Accubond interbond
67.0 2952 av 2973 av
68.0 3006 av 3044 av
68.5 3026 av 3059 av
69.5 3080 av 3103 av
I got chicken, did not fire the 70.5 loads. Hornady and Speer were telling me I was well over max. The appearance of the fired shells, no hard sticky bolt lift and steady climb of velocities said I was still safe. (These were brand new Norma cases.) Upon measuring the expansion ring I know I could-should have fired the 70.5 loads. I hate skatin on thin ice.
Here’s the best group, it was 68.5 R-19. win large rifle primers, new Norma brass. It measure .900.
These velocities are well above what they were supposed to be. I’m at a loss to explain how I got over 3100 fps with the 69.5 load with the Horn IB. The 69.5 load shot a 1.7 inch group. I will pick the 68.5 load for expansion testing at least for the IB
The accu bonds didn’t shoot much for groups, the best was at 69.5, 1.770. I will probably use that load for expansion testing as it’s real close to the same velocity as the 68.5 load for the IB.
Looks like a good start, I should be ready to do some expansion testing next week, weather permitting. I’m also going to include some .308 loads for both the AB and IB, to research lower velocities. If I have time and jugs, I’m also going to try some 139 gr IB’s in my boys 7-08.
I finally had time and good weather at the same time today. The range road was open as well, so off I went to shoot some groups for load workup on the 180 accubond Nozler and 180 interbond Hornady. This was in my Browning 300 WSM, 23 inch BBL.
The powder I chose is Alliant reloader-19. I looked in the sierra manual for their 180 grainers, their top load is 70.5 grains. So I started at 68.5, went up 1.0 gr. At a time to 70.5. Mainly I wanted to test for pressure and see if any would group under an inch. AFTER loading this test run of 3 each, I looked at Speer and Hornady’s data. They’re extremely conservative, their top load is 68.5 R-19! So I loaded 2 each at 67.0 and 2 at 68.0.
Now for the pleasant surprise!
Accubond interbond
67.0 2952 av 2973 av
68.0 3006 av 3044 av
68.5 3026 av 3059 av
69.5 3080 av 3103 av
I got chicken, did not fire the 70.5 loads. Hornady and Speer were telling me I was well over max. The appearance of the fired shells, no hard sticky bolt lift and steady climb of velocities said I was still safe. (These were brand new Norma cases.) Upon measuring the expansion ring I know I could-should have fired the 70.5 loads. I hate skatin on thin ice.
Here’s the best group, it was 68.5 R-19. win large rifle primers, new Norma brass. It measure .900.
These velocities are well above what they were supposed to be. I’m at a loss to explain how I got over 3100 fps with the 69.5 load with the Horn IB. The 69.5 load shot a 1.7 inch group. I will pick the 68.5 load for expansion testing at least for the IB
The accu bonds didn’t shoot much for groups, the best was at 69.5, 1.770. I will probably use that load for expansion testing as it’s real close to the same velocity as the 68.5 load for the IB.
Looks like a good start, I should be ready to do some expansion testing next week, weather permitting. I’m also going to include some .308 loads for both the AB and IB, to research lower velocities. If I have time and jugs, I’m also going to try some 139 gr IB’s in my boys 7-08.