09-14-2023, 12:04 AM
Received the new Preferred barrel blanks barrel, and a howage nut, right about 9.5-10 weeks delivered.
Mounted it up into the Howa, and took out for an initial spin.
I Like what I see.
Second trip was today, so about 40 rounds down-pipe so far.
I think I found my load.
First the Barnes 115 factory is running 2520, SD of ~8 if I recall (don't have my notes from that one in front of me). Good grouping but I didn't measure it, certainly under 1"/100 yds.
But I also did 3 ladders to see how some of my powders would line up. Ar Comp, CFE, H335.
All 3 ran fast but in line with what I figured. Primers, Fed 205's. OALs 2.270 give or take, the brass, Starline brass, 0x fired. All at 100 yds outside. Temps ran 81-85 deg F today. Winds light and variable.
CFE, 30.7-31.6 gr in 0.3's, 2545- to 2591 at 31.6,
Ar Comp, 27.3-28.2 in 0.3 jumps, topped out 28.3 at 2603. Of the 3. this one graphs (excel) out at very much linear, no dips or big bumps, meaning to me the powder is well-behaving.
H335, this one seemed faster than the others and was a bit worried if over pressure, 29.1-30.0 in 0.3's. H335 at the top was 2694, which by my estimates is close or over pressure for a bolt action.
So I picked 2, Ar Comp and H335 for some closer looks.
Loaded Ar Comp, 4 each 27.2, 28.0 and 28.2.
For H335 I backed off some, to 27.5 and 28.3. I set the bullets deeper for these H335's, to 2.250, since the powder didn't take up as much room at these loads.
Ar Comp: 27.2, 2532, SD- 10.1 (+1 fouler, a 100 ttsx that is discounted). 0.672" ctc.
Ar Comp: 28.0, 2596, sd-8.1, 0.380" ctc
and 28.2: 2598, sd-9.9, 0.741" ctc
All groups (even with the magnetospeed) looked decent, with 28.0 looking the best, at 0.380" c-t-c.
H335,
27.5: 2536 Avg, 10.1 sd. 0.631" ctc
28.3: 2615, sd 7.9, 0.892 ctc. This last one in my grt simulation, was high press at 56.7 ksi, so this one would be bolt action only.
The 28.0 Ar Comp, was est with grt at 51.8 ksi.
Mounted it up into the Howa, and took out for an initial spin.
I Like what I see.
Second trip was today, so about 40 rounds down-pipe so far.
I think I found my load.
First the Barnes 115 factory is running 2520, SD of ~8 if I recall (don't have my notes from that one in front of me). Good grouping but I didn't measure it, certainly under 1"/100 yds.
But I also did 3 ladders to see how some of my powders would line up. Ar Comp, CFE, H335.
All 3 ran fast but in line with what I figured. Primers, Fed 205's. OALs 2.270 give or take, the brass, Starline brass, 0x fired. All at 100 yds outside. Temps ran 81-85 deg F today. Winds light and variable.
CFE, 30.7-31.6 gr in 0.3's, 2545- to 2591 at 31.6,
Ar Comp, 27.3-28.2 in 0.3 jumps, topped out 28.3 at 2603. Of the 3. this one graphs (excel) out at very much linear, no dips or big bumps, meaning to me the powder is well-behaving.
H335, this one seemed faster than the others and was a bit worried if over pressure, 29.1-30.0 in 0.3's. H335 at the top was 2694, which by my estimates is close or over pressure for a bolt action.
So I picked 2, Ar Comp and H335 for some closer looks.
Loaded Ar Comp, 4 each 27.2, 28.0 and 28.2.
For H335 I backed off some, to 27.5 and 28.3. I set the bullets deeper for these H335's, to 2.250, since the powder didn't take up as much room at these loads.
Ar Comp: 27.2, 2532, SD- 10.1 (+1 fouler, a 100 ttsx that is discounted). 0.672" ctc.
Ar Comp: 28.0, 2596, sd-8.1, 0.380" ctc
and 28.2: 2598, sd-9.9, 0.741" ctc
All groups (even with the magnetospeed) looked decent, with 28.0 looking the best, at 0.380" c-t-c.
H335,
27.5: 2536 Avg, 10.1 sd. 0.631" ctc
28.3: 2615, sd 7.9, 0.892 ctc. This last one in my grt simulation, was high press at 56.7 ksi, so this one would be bolt action only.
The 28.0 Ar Comp, was est with grt at 51.8 ksi.
"Down the floor, out the door, Go Brandon Go!!!!!"