Question about new workup...

[jwrowland77]

Ok, my original workup was:

SMK 175gr
2000-MR 43gr-47.5gr (settled on 47.5)
Lapua Brass
CCI 250.

Now, I want to do a workup with some Winchester brass. When I did my workup with IMR4895, I also found the case capacity of both. Lapua had less capacity and was heavier than the Winchester brass. Also, when I did my original workup with the 2000-MR powder, from about 43gr up to 45gr, I was way less than impressed with it. From 45.5gr up to 47.5gr, it shot great and I loved the performance.

My question is, and I'm basing this off of case capacity and the Winchester having more internal capacity and being lighter, Can I start my workup for the 2000-MR and Winchester brass at 45 and workup to 47.5 safely?

I'm thinking yes I can do it safely, but wanted to hear from the veteran reloaders. What says the veteran reloaders?

I'm thinking some other things too about the max charge but I won't go into that here as I don't want any really new reloaders getting any ideas.

 

[Walkalong]

I would say yes.

My question is, if you were not excited about the 2000MR powder, and you are starting mostly from scratch again, why not change powders? Or did I read that wrong?

 

[jwrowland77]

I would say yes.



My question is, if you were not excited about the 2000MR powder, and you are starting mostly from scratch again, why not change powders? Or did I read that wrong?

Oh I'm excited about it. It just didn't start doing good until the upper end of the scale. I just don't want to waste components in the lower part of the range when I know it ain't going to shoot well. That's why I was wondering about starting at mid-range and going up. I just have a lot of Win brass and wanted to use it.

I actually have loved the 2000-MR powder....just not on the low end. It works awesome close to max or at max.

 

[Walkalong]

Agh, I understand, and yes, why waste components getting back to a velocity your barrel/powder/bullet likes.

 

[jwrowland77]

Agh, I understand, and yes, why waste components getting back to a velocity your barrel/powder/bullet likes.

Exactly. Ok, I feel a bit more confident in my thinking then with the Win brass having that larger internal capacity. Thanks Walkalong.

 

[243winxb]

Can I start my workup for the 2000-MR and Winchester brass at 45 and workup to 47.5 safely?

I vote yes.

 

[jwrowland77]

Tested this morning and had 0 issues with the Win brass as compared to the Lapua brass that has the smaller internal capacity.

THE FOLLOWING DATA IS ABOVE MAX. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU START LOW AND WORK UP. THIS IS FOR MY RIFLE AND RESULTS ARE HOW IT REACTED IN MY RIFLE. PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

The max charge on the Alliant site is 47.7 with a 175gr bullet.

Along with testing the Win brass with the charge I have that works, I decided to continue the workup with the Win brass that has a larger internal capacity. Knowing the capacity of the Lapua brass and Win brass, I decided to step it up a little.

I made two more sets of 5 rounds each. 5 at 47.8 and 5 at 48.1.

After shooting, I had 0 signs of high pressure. Bolt lifted like normal, no flattened primers.

I actually had better accuracy than with previous loads. MV avg was 2700 at the 47.8gr charge and 2725 at the 48.1gr charge. SD was within normal of what I've seen with previous loads, around the 15 mark.

Just wanted to share my results. Remember, these hot loads were shot in MY rifle and may not act the same in YOUR rifle.