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+--- Thread: 120g pro hunter (/showthread.php?tid=20722)
120g pro hunter - Chance-dg - 02-29-2020
I am looking for a good load for the 120g pro hunter (I have 200 on hand) and a couple lbs of CFE 223. I did a couple of searches for this but came up empty.
120g pro hunter - grayfox - 03-01-2020
1Shot uses the 120 pro hunter and the gold dot in his Grrs, maybe he will weigh in for you.
But note, the Sierra load data does not show anything for CFE223.
120g pro hunter - grayfox - 03-01-2020
I might also add, looking at your moving back to MT, CFE will disappoint you w/ its temp variability out there...
120g pro hunter - grayfox - 03-01-2020
I just found a copy of my post from May 2019, on gold dots and Pro hinters, with CFE.
This was of course for my rifle, YMMV so beware. a 20" Howa HB bolt-action, not an AR.
Quote:
First results with 120's (pro hunter and gold dot) and CFE
I took some CFE223 powder and worked up 2 ladders, for the 120 pro hunter and the 120 gold dot.
I used a range of 30.8-31.0, 31.2, 31.4 for both bullets, using Hornday 1x brass and cci450's.
This is all for my howa 20" HB, and I had tested OAL's for both bullets, the pro hunters look to go 2.240, the Gold dots 2.340.
The pro hunters I seated at 2.215" and gold dots 2.240 (I had used this before with a few GD's I shot).
Each powder charge was for 3 rounds, mostly to see where I was regarding MV's out of this barrel.
I didn't see much in way of data compilations on the forum for either (my search-fu I guess may be lazy! lol!).
120 Pro Hunter
30.8: Avg 2510, sd 11.
31.0: Avg 2518, sd 10
31.2: Avg 2537, sd 7
31.4: Avg 2540, sd 13
120 Gold Dot:
30.8: 2477, sd 15
31.0: 2465, sd 30 (this one had a 2430 - really low for some reason)
31.2: 2497, sd 18
31.4: 2522, sd 14
No conclusions this early on, everything shot well. Groups were generally ~1.0-1.25 with a couple of stonehenges, but not my primary focus for this setup.
I'll probably do some more with the pro hunters at 31.2.
Also, the pro hunters had maybe a bit harder bolt lift at the 31.4 but no flattened primers.
120g pro hunter - Popeye212 - 03-01-2020
8208xbr works very well it. CFE was a no go in my Grendel.
120g pro hunter - Chance-dg - 03-01-2020
thanks for all the above....my searches came up empty as well and Sierra has no info for CFE223.....I found out it is a bit temp unstable as well....glad I only have 1 lb of it. I am looking for a great hunting bullet and loads for MT antelope and deer hunting......my initial choices have been unwise (lack of adequate research). for Tennessee, on my place, factory Hornady 123g ELD M's work great (under 100 yd opportunities)
I have not purchased any other Grendel specific powders yet....looking for recommendations and pet loads from the hoard. I picked up 2 boxes of 130g Swift Siroccos at a good price to try and a box of Sierra 130g Game changers plus my couple of boxes of 120g Pro Hunters as a start.
8208xbr looks to be a good place to start and maybe Nosler 129g ABLR may be a better choice than the Swifts for long range. Depends on how well my 2 Grendels like them
I started to function test my newest build yesterday with an 18" WC Hunter weight fluted barrel......not bearing down my 1st 6 shots with factory ELDs were <3/4 inch at 100 yds. More initial accuracy than my 16" Group Buy barrel. Very pleased with this WC barrel
I just can't afford to buy 6 or 7 different powders and bullets looking for a good hunting load for <400 yd hunting
120g pro hunter - Popeye212 - 03-01-2020
ARcomp is good with it also.
120g pro hunter - grayfox - 03-02-2020
For decent speed, in 120 class bullets (and the 100 gr ttsx w/ 8208xbr) I think the best temp stability powders for you would be either AR Comp and/or Xbr, now these are not Varget/H4350 stable powders but do have somewhere like 0.6 ft/s/degF sensitivities.
If your barrel likes the sst it's a good shooter, also the 120 gold dot, and 120 Nosler BT. these have .500-.460 type BC's to give you some distance for western hunts... I also have a 100 ttsx load (0.359 BC) at ~2650 that's good for maybe 250-275 yds for deer, using Xbr.
As always, work up and use a chrony to find your sweet spots MV-wise.
If you don't have the Grendel Handbooks (vol 1 and 2) then go to AR15 buildbox section of the vendor part of this forum, order them, they will give you lots of info as well as lots of load data to pick from.
There are some western hunters on here, maybe they have some advice for you also! I love the west and have hunted there some but (lately) not firing any shots....
For the 129 Ablr and adequate distance, the only powder I personally have tried is the CFE... fwiw. but it is a great bullet.
120g pro hunter - VASCAR2 - 03-02-2020
Ive loaded 30.5 and 31.0 grains CFE223 powder and CCI 450 primers in both Lapua and Hornady cases with 120 grain Sierra Pro Hunters. Most of my Pro Hunters were factory seconds but still shot good for me out to 200-300 yards.
A Friend goes to Wy every year to hunt antelope and usually gets one every year. He has taken most antelope with the 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip and around 29.5 grains of Accurate 2520 in Hornady brass. When Accurate 2520 was unavailable for a few years he switched to 31.0 grains of CFE223. This friends first 6.5 Grendel is 24 inch AA which he used to take an antelope at 416 yards with 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. He has used an 18 inch 6.5 Grendel the last few years with good results. My Friend usually verifies his zero upon arrival in Wy and usually hunts around 7200 feet ASL. Since he lives at much lower elevation in the midwest and the different temperature range verifying his zero has helped off set change in velocity with lower temperature.
120g pro hunter - 1Shot - 03-02-2020
I have not tried any CFE223 but I found great accuracy and velocity with IMR 8208 with the 120 PH as well as the Gold Dot. With the PH in MY RIFLES the MAX load of 28.5 grs IMR 8208, Hornady case, CCI 450 COAL 2.250 is the ticket. Average velocity in 18" right at 2550 fps. I killed a deer with this bullet this season. Shot was about 60 yards off hand. Bullet hit about 1 1/2" higher than I intended in the shoulder as the deer stood broad side. Bang flop. Bullet did not exit the off side because after penetrating the scapula it hit the vertebra then smashed into the off side scapula. I found no bullet or saw any fragments in my limited quick look. It was cold and windy and I was tired so I did a gutless butchering in a hurry. From previous usage of the 120 PH in my 6.5x55 I imagine at the 2400ish fps impact velocity to that much bone that the core separated from the jacket which would have fully expanded and parts may have broken off. It is untelling how many deer I have killed with the 120 PH from point blank to a tad over 500 yards. It is a deer killer and it reacts like most Sierra hunting bullets do in any caliber. Put the lighter for caliber ones through the shoulders at medium to high velocity for caliber and they usually exhibit what I described. Lots of times you will just find the jacket fully expanded under the hide on the off side. Put the same bullet through the chest behind the shoulder you will get an exit most of the time. Dear are just as dead as any other bullet will do tough.
120g pro hunter - Chance-dg - 03-02-2020
Thanks for this.....gives me some options and info
I function tested this WC barrel and Brownells BCG on Saturday....this build runs smooth as silk and my first 6 shots from this new barrel with 123g factory black ELD M went into a <3/4 inch group at 105 yds. wasn't bearing down just function testing. fired an additional 20 rounds (my wife shot about 10 0f these rounds) of Hornady factory 123g Gunner hollow points to same POA total group was about 3" overall with a couple of flyers ..I was really impressed with this WC barrel... .case heads and FP strikes all looked good and uniform
120g pro hunter - cwlongshot - 04-06-2020
I like this bullet. Used it a few times in my Swede.
For the Grendel I use Benchmark powder, With this vel is from my HOWA shoots sub MOA. Velocity near 2700 FPS.
Very happy with this load so far.
CW
120g pro hunter - wiguy - 04-09-2020
My TAC is getting low, found some 8208 locally. Im just finishing up some 223 varmint loads, may switch to some 9mm before I go back to rifle.
120g pro hunter - Hivemessiah - 04-10-2020
I use 28 gr H322 for those currently.Right at sea level. Its a little hot but my particular build likes it.
I have also used CFE223 and H335.