CKweigand
Member
The Setup:
RCBS Rock Chucker
Hornady FL sizing die without Expander
21st Century Expander Mandrel .306''
RCBS Chargemaster 1500
Hornady Bullet Seating Die
New Unfired PPU Brass
Federal 210 Primers
Varget Powder
Berger #30418 185 Gr. Juggernauts seated @ 2.242'' CBTO
Tikka Tac A1 308 Win.
24'' Bbl 1:11 Twist
So I'm working on a load with the above mentioned bullet. I loaded up rounds .020'' less than Max mag length. All I'm trying to do at this point is find a consistent powder charge. Not looking at groups just yet. in fact the 24 rounds that I tested I just shot in the dirt over the chrono.
I loaded 24 rounds starting at 38.2 grains of Varget and worked up to 42.8 in .2 gr increments. No pressure signs were detected.
Here are the results...
38.2 - 2314 fps
38.4 - 2349
38.6 - 2358
38.8 - 2352
39.0 - 2378
39.2 - 2373
39.4 - 2353
39.6 - 2381
40.0 - 2404
40.2 - 2462
40.4 - 2461
40.6 - 2467
40.8 - 2486
41.0 - 2501
41.2 - 2521
41.4 - 2533
41.6 - 2554
41.8 - 2615
42.0 - 2610
42.2 - 2576
42.4 - 2622
42.6 - 2591
42.8 - 2639
Looking at the above results I'm considering retesting the 40.2- 40.6 and as well the 41.8-42.4
However, If I were to settle on the data above and not retest I would probably go with a charge weight of 40.4 gr. and from there tune the load to the rifle via seating depth.
I would like to see a higher velocity though as I'm considering entering PRS and knowing that some shots would go past 800 yds I'm thinking faster velocity would help me in less mils of elevation that far out. But I wanted to open up to you guys and see what you would do with the data given or how you would interpret it. Again, I'm thinking 40.4 is the way to go as of now and then load 5 at the given seating length. and then 5 more .003" deeper in the case and so on and so on until I find a consistent node that provides the smallest group. Should I try to go faster? re-test the 41.8-42.4 group? What would you do with the data given? Thanks.
CK
RCBS Rock Chucker
Hornady FL sizing die without Expander
21st Century Expander Mandrel .306''
RCBS Chargemaster 1500
Hornady Bullet Seating Die
New Unfired PPU Brass
Federal 210 Primers
Varget Powder
Berger #30418 185 Gr. Juggernauts seated @ 2.242'' CBTO
Tikka Tac A1 308 Win.
24'' Bbl 1:11 Twist
So I'm working on a load with the above mentioned bullet. I loaded up rounds .020'' less than Max mag length. All I'm trying to do at this point is find a consistent powder charge. Not looking at groups just yet. in fact the 24 rounds that I tested I just shot in the dirt over the chrono.
I loaded 24 rounds starting at 38.2 grains of Varget and worked up to 42.8 in .2 gr increments. No pressure signs were detected.
Here are the results...
38.2 - 2314 fps
38.4 - 2349
38.6 - 2358
38.8 - 2352
39.0 - 2378
39.2 - 2373
39.4 - 2353
39.6 - 2381
40.0 - 2404
40.2 - 2462
40.4 - 2461
40.6 - 2467
40.8 - 2486
41.0 - 2501
41.2 - 2521
41.4 - 2533
41.6 - 2554
41.8 - 2615
42.0 - 2610
42.2 - 2576
42.4 - 2622
42.6 - 2591
42.8 - 2639
Looking at the above results I'm considering retesting the 40.2- 40.6 and as well the 41.8-42.4
However, If I were to settle on the data above and not retest I would probably go with a charge weight of 40.4 gr. and from there tune the load to the rifle via seating depth.
I would like to see a higher velocity though as I'm considering entering PRS and knowing that some shots would go past 800 yds I'm thinking faster velocity would help me in less mils of elevation that far out. But I wanted to open up to you guys and see what you would do with the data given or how you would interpret it. Again, I'm thinking 40.4 is the way to go as of now and then load 5 at the given seating length. and then 5 more .003" deeper in the case and so on and so on until I find a consistent node that provides the smallest group. Should I try to go faster? re-test the 41.8-42.4 group? What would you do with the data given? Thanks.
CK