Finally scored some ABLR - Powder choice?

[trubulator]

Shooters Pro has blems in stock, so I ordered some. I'd like to gin up a hunting load for my 16" barrel upper. I have TAC, 335, Varget, a little H4895 and 2520 on hand. I have a pound of CFE 223 but would rather use something more temp stable as my hunting can be at 20 or 80 degrees. Which powder of these would you try? Ranges can be on the long side, so velocity and accuracy matter too.

[EastTNHunter]

Tac and H4895 worked for me. The ABLR was seating depth sensitive in my rifles, but yours may be different

[gldprimr]

I had excellent results with Shooters World Match Rifle which I ‘think’ has a similar burn rate to 2520 so I’d probably give 2520 a try. To be clear I haven’t used 2520. If not that then H4895 of what you have on hand.

[trubulator]

Tac and H4895 worked for me. The ABLR was seating depth sensitive in my rifles, but yours may be different

How so with the seating depth? This is my tightest chambered barrel, so I will be checking with the Hornady doo wacky before I load.

[gldprimr]

Nosler’s ABLR like many VLD bullets like a jump to lands. Nosler recommends starting at 0.050” off lands though in my rifles I have seated deeper for best accuracy.

[Fess]

... so I will be checking with the Hornady doo wacky before I load.

Hey........ this is a classy site and precise language is important. Hornady makes a "doo HICKEY", dagnabit!
(mumble, mumble.... doo wacky..... nobody will know what he's talking about....mumble, mumble.)

[trubulator]

Hey........ this is a classy site and precise language is important. Hornady makes a "doo HICKEY", dagnabit!
(mumble, mumble.... doo wacky..... nobody will know what he's talking about....mumble, mumble.)

Hahaha. I meant the OAL to the lands thingy where you use the modified case and the bullet of your choice. It was very interesting to compare my 3 different barrels with SSTs. The Wilson barrel had a much tighter chamber.

[Old Bob]

Are you referring to Nosler's 129gr ABLR bullets? If so, where did you find them? I've looked for them & can't find them anywhere.

[trubulator]

They are blems, but they are available: https://www.shootersproshop.com/6-5mm-12...-blem.html

Another member suggested the in stock alerts on this site and they popped up last night.

[Old Bob]

Thanks for the link trubulator. They would only let me order one box of Nosler 129gr ABLR Blems. Wanted to buy two.

[trubulator]

Thanks for the link trubulator. They would only let me order one box of Nosler 129gr ABLR Blems. Wanted to buy two.

Maybe they ran out. This shortage sure has gone on a long time.

[Fess]

I have grown less fond of blems after listening to a bunch of the Hornady podcasts. Apparently that is how they sell bullets that failed their quality standards (including accuracy requirements) but are still considered in-spec for a looser standard. For example, the SAAMI range for Grendel bullet diameter is 0.2643 to 0.2613, but a minimum spec bullet may produce terrible accuracy in most guns. I remember some people complaining about the "undersized" FMJ bullets in the Wolf ammo, but they were still within the SAAMI spec, just nearer the bottom of it.

[VASCAR2]

Shooter’s Pro Shop sell over runs and I get better accuracy out of the over runs compared to the blem bullets. I mostly shoot any factory seconds from Sierra or blem Nosler bullets at shorter range. Shooter’s Pro Shop also give a military discount for those that have served.

The overrun Nosler packaging is exactly like the commercially sold bullets but are stamped not for retail sale. I’m more apt to purchase Nosler over runs compared to blems from SPS.

[trubulator]

Shooter’s Pro Shop sell over runs and I get better accuracy out of the over runs compared to the blem bullets. I mostly shoot any factory seconds from Sierra or blem Nosler bullets at shorter range. Shooter’s Pro Shop also give a military discount for those that have served.

The overrun Nosler packaging is exactly like the commercially sold bullets but are stamped not for retail sale. I’m more apt to purchase Nosler over runs compared to blems from SPS.

I've previously bought overruns from them. This will be my first blem purchase. I guess we will see what they are like. Can't find non-blem anywhere.

[Bobke]

Have used a large handful of blems from SPS, and have found acceptable accuracy if you sort by ogival length. Have seen as much as .024 variance in ogive for 129gr ABLR’s in a box of 100 bullets. 30.0gr of CFE223 and CCI 41’s was good for 2400fps in 20” Bartlein barrel with good accuracy, once sorted.

[BluteEhre]

26gr 8208xbr was the ticket for my rifle. Doesn't get top speed awards but was very consistent. .5moa 2300fps out of 20". 2.26"

[Harpoon1]

Shooters Pro has blems in stock, so I ordered some. I'd like to gin up a hunting load for my 16" barrel upper. I have TAC, 335, Varget, a little H4895 and 2520 on hand. I have a pound of CFE 223 but would rather use something more temp stable as my hunting can be at 20 or 80 degrees. Which powder of these would you try? Ranges can be on the long side, so velocity and accuracy matter too.

I get this is probably not what you want to hear but, “temperature stability” for hunting rounds, inside of 400, maybe 500 yards is way overblown and frankly not really an issue! IMO Temp stability (+/- FPS and vertical displacement) is only an issue out past like 600+! Look don’’t take my word for it, do your own research, crunch the numbers! I think you’ll find, inside of at least 400 yds, there other things that are more important. FWIW, all of the factory Hornady Grendel ammo I’ve ever torn apart, is filled with a double based spherical “temperature unstable” powder!

A little common sense goes a long way! Don’t do max performance load development in sub freezing temps and then take that load to AZ or TX for a summer hog hunt! Right? I would wager most people hunt in 20-80f degree weather range and that doesn't seem to be a problem with Hornady factory ammo and their use of spherical powder! IMO

Every gun/chamber is different but for that weight class of bullet, 129-130, CFE223/Lever is going to be hard to beat. I prefer Lever, at least in bolt guns. Burns cleaner and seems more consistent!

[biodsl]

Every gun/chamber is different but for that weight class of bullet, 129-130, CFE223/Lever is going to be hard to beat. I prefer Lever, at least in bolt guns. Burns cleaner and seems more consistent!

I'm finding this to be true in my ARs, especially with the 6ARC. However, since I'm sitting on a few pounds of CFE, it will be a while before I totally switch over to Lever.