Bolt action load data

[Fredman]

I?ve been looking for load data for bolt actions. I own both hand books and tried several searches here.
What do you guys do for bolt guns? Slowly work up above AR max loads checking for pressure signs?

Thanks,

Terry

[Klem]

Terry,

Max loads for AR's should be no different from your bolt gun. Same calibre, same max pressure advice. AR's are less forgiving being more fragile so if you exceed max pressure limits expect something to break. Bolt guns tend to be more robust so you can be over max safe working loads and not notice anything more than your brass being hammered. You should be able to get away with longer COAL's in a bolt gun, not being restricted by the 58mm AR mag length. This will changes the amount of powder which in turn gives the same pressure. For example, an extra 2mm of OAL can let you load an extra 0.5gn of powder.

I use Quickload to establish a safe working limit for the COAL. Then go low and ladder up while watching the gun, cases and velocty for signs. This, and checking online for similar experiences from manufacturers and shooters.

[Fredman]

Thanks Klem! I know in some manuals they have load data for semi and hotter loads for bolt. 223 is what I remember.
Some loads in the Grendel manual seem a little stout. I’ll pick a bullet and work it up.

[tdbru]

by keeping loads to SAAMI specs, you should enjoy long brass life and long barrel life, the latter having a big dependency upon rate of fire, which for a bolt gun will likely be less than an AR of course. one can always "hot rod" loads, and you proceed at your risk by doing that. Sure, there are bolt actions that are build for extreme chamber pressures, but one of the joys of the 6.5 Grendel is modest recoil, moderate cost, good accuracy, and moderate weight on the bolt guns. a caliber that you can shoot a lot without breaking the bank, or your shoulder. if you need a lot more performance than the 6.5 Grendel, in the same bullet diameter, might i suggest the 6.5-300 Weatherby?? the MkV action is incredibly strong. and you can get very high velocities out of it in 6.5mm land. and you won't have to risk being nicknamed "shrapnel" either. enjoy the 6.5 Grendel for what it is. no reason not to load it to SAAMI spec pressure if you so wish, but if you need more performance in 6.5mm bore sizes, there are a lot of other options for more performance while exposing yourself to a lot less risk of injury. and the above is simply my opinion. you're entitled to your own as well.
-tdru

[A5BLASTER]

I?ve been looking for load data for bolt actions. I own both hand books and tried several searches here.
What do you guys do for bolt guns? Slowly work up above AR max loads checking for pressure signs?

Thanks,

Terry

Work up over the chronagrah in 2 or 3 tenth increases in charge weight. Stop when you see a spike or dump in velocity.

Let the rifle and components tell you what's max in your chamber.

Just remember pressure signs on the brass and primer means your past sammi pressure limit.

[Fredman]

Thanks all for helping me understand. I own 2 Grendels. One 16” Faxton that I can’t imagine ever wanting another deer rifle, and a 20” with a Lilja barrel. I have two nice 223s that just sit there in the safe. In fact that might be lovers because there now is a 22 Nosler next to them! That might have been an accident.
The bolt action belongs to a friend who was trying to come up with a load for the new Sierra gamechangers. 130g 22” barrel, 8208 at 2311 FPS I believe. He was disappointed.
From your help above and searches on this site, I believe the following.
1- 8208 is not the best powder for 130g bullets.
2- it could be possible to achieve 2500 FPS or better with 130g and the right powder. [BWild97 shows a couple of 2600 FPS loads for the 129 and 130 grain bullets].
3- he Might be better off with 120-123 bullets.

Please let me know if you think I’m not on track, and thanks for your help.

Terry

[A5BLASTER]

Thanks all for helping me understand. I own 2 Grendels. One 16” Faxton that I can’t imagine ever wanting another deer rifle, and a 20” with a Lilja barrel. I have two nice 223s that just sit there in the safe. In fact that might be lovers because there now is a 22 Nosler next to them! That might have been an accident.
The bolt action belongs to a friend who was trying to come up with a load for the new Sierra gamechangers. 130g 22” barrel, 8208 at 2311 FPS I believe. He was disappointed.
From your help above and searches on this site, I believe the following.
1- 8208 is not the best powder for 130g bullets.
2- it could be possible to achieve 2500 FPS or better with 130g and the right powder. [BWild97 shows a couple of 2600 FPS loads for the 129 and 130 grain bullets].
3- he Might be better off with 120-123 bullets.

Please let me know if you think I’m not on track, and thanks for your help.

Terry

If his bolt actions mag system allows handloads at are a lil over 2.300 coal.

I would give h4895 a try are ar-comp. I'm useing h4895 with the 129 ablr from my CZ varmint grendel and getting great speed. Now the load is compressed and I so have to vibra settle the powder but it's a very very very accurate load.

Johnnys reloading bench on you tube has some data with the 129 ablr and ar-comp as well that y'all might find intresting.

I would change powder and rework the load. I haven't tryed the gamechangers and probably won't because the 129 ablr has all the bc and sd I could ever want for 1000 yard shooting and for hunting.

Hope this helps.

[LRRPF52]

My Howa 22" pressure ladder testing with 123gr and 129gr SST

I used LeveRevolution under both and got plenty of speed.

123gr SST
Federal brass 1x fired 1.208" headspace to shoulder datum
Rem 7 1/2 SRP
Hodgdon's LEVERevolution
COL: 2.250"
Temp: 60˚F on range thermometer
Chrony Beta Master 15ft from muzzle

29.8 2453
30.1 2465
30.4 2499
30.7 2517
31.0 2534
31.3 2596
31.6 2608
31.9 2605
32.2 2658 (This averages 51,551psi in a SAAMI chamber.)

129gr SST
Lapua brass 1.215" headspace to datum
Rem 7 1/2 SRP
LEVERevolution
COL: 2.310"
60˚F

Left string was shot first, then the right one
29.3 2370 2407
29.6 2393 2400
29.9 2448 2405
30.2 2453 2404
30.5 2504 2453
30.8 Error 2475
31.1 2485 2512
31.4 2530 2523
31.7 2534 2545
32.0 2572 2572

31.2gr CFE / 123gr AMAX load
2599
2557
2582
2617
2617
2564
2586
2608
2619
2566
AVG: 2592fps. (AVG chamber pressure with this load is 46,235psi. in a SAAMI chamber.)

Hornady American Gunner 123gr BTHP
2469
2456
2465
2463
2437
AVG: 2458fps

Everything fed fine from the mag even the 129gr SSTs at 2.310" COL. I think I would choose the 129gr SST load for hunting, didn't notice too much difference in recoil. Fun little rifle to shoot.

All my primers have nice little dimples in them. I didn't see anything crazy going on with the brass, not that I rely on brass as a sign of excessive pressure, but I definitely still look at it. Even the Federal brass looks good.

[Fredman]

LR, thank you. I’ll pass this on.

[Doorman63]

Working up loads for my 20” Howa heavy barrel.

Starline brass
123 SMK
Win 748 and TAC powder
I used Sierra’s data for the ladders working down from max in .3gr
I should have some Chrono data this weekend at my accuracy nodes.

[s3silver]

A5Blaster - what’s the barrel length and speed are you getting with the 129 and h4895?

I loaded a few with h4895 and 127 lrx and was getting a little over 2400 fps from a 22” 1-8 tube. I was hoping to hit 2500. Groups weren’t too great though.

[A5BLASTER]

A5Blaster - what?s the barrel length and speed are you getting with the 129 and h4895?

I loaded a few with h4895 and 127 lrx and was getting a little over 2400 fps from a 22? 1-8 tube. I was hoping to hit 2500. Groups weren?t too great though.

Factory CZ barrel is 25.5 inchs and my load averages 2636 fps. Starline brass and cci450 primer. If you can't seat them at 2.300 are longer you probably can't reach this speed. And it's not safe for the ar.

[s3silver]

Factory CZ barrel is 25.5 inchs and my load averages 2636 fps. Starline brass and cci450 primer. If you can't seat them at 2.300 are longer you probably can't reach this speed. And it's not safe for the ar.

It’s for my Savage Grendel using Lapua brass. Can’t remember exactly but col is 2.3” and some change. Yes, this is definitely not for the ar. May have to try them in some Hornady and Starline brass. But then again the lrx is a mono...