Barrel Twist vs. Bullet Weight

[bwaites]

Bill;

I'm just breaking into the 6.5G, having just finished assembling a 24" 1:9 barreled rig and my particular interest was also in the Nosler BTs. I'm no stranger to reloading and I'm at that point in a new caliber where I'm in the information sponge mode. Other folks more knowledgeable than me have advised using powders 12 or more steps faster than BL-C(2). You've been around the block. Elaborate on how to get all the energy out of slower powders. I always like to come in light, slow and work up on a new caliber.

Thanks,

Hoot

Hoot, the BLC2 is too slow for the 100 grain bullet, at least if it is going to be shot at extended range, at least theoretically! But like your sig line says, "In Practice, there is."

I don't like it, its really dirty, and I now use XTerminator with those bullets. I lost a tiny bit of accuracy, picked up a little bit of velocity, and in the end it was a push, except that it runs much cleaner. I suspect that part of the reason its so dirty is that its really a little slow for the light bullets.

At 120 grain bullets and the 123's, though, its very close to Alexanders factory powder velocities, in fact about as close as you can get. Its still dirtier than I like, but better suited to that weight. Accurate 2520 and Ram TAC might be a hair faster, but 2520 is more temp sensitive to me, (I shoot when its anywhere from 20-110 degrees in the shade). Others have suggested the same thing, so I don't think its all me.

However, I load very little BLC2 now, and mostly use TAC and XTerminator. They run cleaner and are very close to as accurate. Since I didn't start using them until my barrel had lots of round down it, I can't be 100% sure it isn't some barrel and some powder in the difference.

I've tried the new 8208, but not in the 108 Lapuas yet, and I've heard some good things, so I'll probably give that a try.

Bill