I'm a big fan of high sectional density bullets for killing the large bodied deer up here in Maine. I'm also a fan of the round nose profile for its "better" performance through incidental brush/branch strikes that often occur when stalking through the thick woods up here. I recall reading how those 2 things are better optimized with moderate velocities as well. So I had a box of these 160gr Hornady Round Nose for my Creedmoor and I needed something to occupy my mind today besides work. I love trying unusual combinations of things and it struck me, why not try to launch these through the Grendel. I have an obsurdly accurate 16", Triad 3R rifling, midlength/midweight barrel made by Harrison Beane of AR Performance. I ran some numbers through Quickload and hit the reloading bench. I ended up with the following load:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16044[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16045[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16046[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16047[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16048[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16049[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16050[/ATTACH]
USUAL DISCLAIMER: The combination of components I used worked safely in MY rifle. I am presenting the results of MY efforts to develop a load in MY rifle. YOUR rifle is not the same as MINE. Any attempt to use MY data for YOUR rifle should be worked up through the SOP for load development. There is no guarantee MY load will be safe in YOUR rifle otherwise.
Hornady brass, 30.1gr Reloder 17, Rem 7.5 primer, 160gr Hornady RN #2640, 2.290" COL.
MV avg = 2232fps; SD = 3.1 (4 rounds); accuracy = roughly 3/4 moa (had new scope to zero + wanted gel test data to determine if worth pursuing further = answer was definite "yes!". Accuracy testing soon...)
Gel data: view = entrance right/exit left; muzzle velocity @ 10feet = 2233fps; Clear-Gel Block placed at 101 lasered yards; Penetration: Passed through 18" of gel and came to rest through a couple layers of a backing made of a folded tarp; Permanent cavity: started expansion ~0.5", ~1.25" at its widest at ~7", fragmentation started ~11", ~17" long in total.
Recovered bullet: weighed 120.6gr; 0.490" at its widest point of mushroom.
Environmental data: 60deg F, 54% RH, 550' ASL
I'll admit, I was shocked by not only the velocity I got from the 16" barrel, but by the performance of the bullet at 100 yards. It wasn't a "marginal" result at all and was in fact absolutely perfect!
If I have time tomorrow I hope to get some accuracy data.
BB
ETA: environmental data, rifling correction, perm cavity details
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16044[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16045[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16046[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16047[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16048[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16049[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]16050[/ATTACH]
USUAL DISCLAIMER: The combination of components I used worked safely in MY rifle. I am presenting the results of MY efforts to develop a load in MY rifle. YOUR rifle is not the same as MINE. Any attempt to use MY data for YOUR rifle should be worked up through the SOP for load development. There is no guarantee MY load will be safe in YOUR rifle otherwise.
Hornady brass, 30.1gr Reloder 17, Rem 7.5 primer, 160gr Hornady RN #2640, 2.290" COL.
MV avg = 2232fps; SD = 3.1 (4 rounds); accuracy = roughly 3/4 moa (had new scope to zero + wanted gel test data to determine if worth pursuing further = answer was definite "yes!". Accuracy testing soon...)
Gel data: view = entrance right/exit left; muzzle velocity @ 10feet = 2233fps; Clear-Gel Block placed at 101 lasered yards; Penetration: Passed through 18" of gel and came to rest through a couple layers of a backing made of a folded tarp; Permanent cavity: started expansion ~0.5", ~1.25" at its widest at ~7", fragmentation started ~11", ~17" long in total.
Recovered bullet: weighed 120.6gr; 0.490" at its widest point of mushroom.
Environmental data: 60deg F, 54% RH, 550' ASL
I'll admit, I was shocked by not only the velocity I got from the 16" barrel, but by the performance of the bullet at 100 yards. It wasn't a "marginal" result at all and was in fact absolutely perfect!
If I have time tomorrow I hope to get some accuracy data.
BB
ETA: environmental data, rifling correction, perm cavity details