Leverevolution powder data

[natebonebusta]

Anyone have the min and max for this powder? Rifle is 18.5” barreled Howa 1500. Looking to load 120 Nosler BT and 123 Hornady SST.

[Timitus]

There is this and others if you do a forum search http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthrea...revolution
This is not mine and as always start low and work up your load.

[natebonebusta]

Well I got a little Leverevolution for Christmas so I’ve loaded up some test loads. I was going to load up to 32gr but at 31.3 I started getting crunching when seating a 123sst at 2.250. So that’s my top out for testing. Should have some results soon! If it can’t do better than h335 or Tac it’ll just be a test to satisfy my curiosity.

[biodsl]

Well I got a little Leverevolution for Christmas so I’ve loaded up some test loads. I was going to load up to 32gr but at 31.3 I started getting crunching when seating a 123sst at 2.250. So that’s my top out for testing. Should have some results soon! If it can’t do better than h335 or Tac it’ll just be a test to satisfy my curiosity.

Lever should give you faster velocities than either H335 or Tac. Let us know how it turns out for you. Personally, it's my favorite power for 120 or 130 bullets.

[LRRPF52]

Hodgdon’s has published data for it now covering 7 different bullets:

90gr TNT
95gr V-MAX
100gr Nosler Partition
107gr SMK
120gr Barnes TSX
123gr SMK
129gr Hornady SP

It’s a really well-suited powder for 90-120gr since it generates some of the fastest velocities with those bullets, but with relatively-low chamber pressure.

For example:

95gr V-MAX Start load: 30.0 2,678fps 35,900 PSI--------------Max Load:--- 33.2C----- 2,982fps-----47,600 PSI

107gr SMK Start load: 28.8 2,525fps 35,900 PSI------------------ Max Load:---31.7C----- 2,753fps-----44,300 PSI

[Timitus]

Hodgdon’s has published data for it now covering 7 different bullets:

90gr TNT
95gr V-MAX
100gr Nosler Partition
107gr SMK
120gr Barnes TSX
123gr SMK
129gr Hornady SP

It’s a really well-suited powder for 90-120gr since it generates some of the fastest velocities with those bullets, but with relatively-low chamber pressure.

For example:

95gr V-MAX Start load: 30.0 2,678fps 35,900 PSI--------------Max Load:--- 33.2C----- 2,982fps-----47,600 PSI

107gr SMK Start load: 28.8 2,525fps 35,900 PSI------------------ Max Load:---31.7C----- 2,753fps-----44,300 PSI

Those velocities are based on a 24" barrel test barrel on the hodgdon data.

[Zeneffect]

So it seems the general rule of stuff the case full of Lever until you feel uncomfortable about it generally holds true.

The lower than max pressure and compressed charge indicate that they can't stuff any more powder in the case, thus the end of the usable data.

[Lemonaid]

Strangely enough, I just loaded some 120 Gold dots with lever. The Hodgdon site data:
LVR 2.200" 27.5 2,337 40,500 PSI 30.8C 2,579 48,500 PSI
I checked a case full where compression would start in a Hornady case and at 2.265 it was 32.7.
GRT reacts with horror and skull and crossbones, 67,000 psi and 2857 velocity. Excessive even for the 22 inch barrel bolt gun I am loading for.
I stopped my test loads at 31.1 grains at 2.290 to limit how many rounds I would have to tear down if I reached problems around there.
(54,000 psi and 2700 fps estimated by GRT).
YMMV, and I will have more data after a day at the range but it appears to me you can blow your face off even with Lever.

[Zeneffect]

Gordon's and lever were never really close in my experience. Even quickload required quite a bit of adjusting to the burn rate to get the numbers to jive even remotely close.

I'm gonna guess you will be around 2600fps or a hair under just like hodgon data shows

[Lemonaid]

Zeneffect, you are are most likely right, GRT gives the max Hodgdon's load 30.8 grains at 2.200 as 56,000 psi and 2700 fps, (7,500 psi and 150 fps difference).
I should be pretty safe if a bit low on velocity.

[Harpoon1]

Hodgdon’s has published data for it now covering 7 different bullets:

90gr TNT
95gr V-MAX
100gr Nosler Partition
107gr SMK
120gr Barnes TSX
123gr SMK
129gr Hornady SP

It’s a really well-suited powder for 90-120gr since it generates some of the fastest velocities with those bullets, but with relatively-low chamber pressure.

For example:

95gr V-MAX Start load: 30.0 2,678fps 35,900 PSI--------------Max Load:--- 33.2C----- 2,982fps-----47,600 PSI

107gr SMK Start load: 28.8 2,525fps 35,900 PSI------------------ Max Load:---31.7C----- 2,753fps-----44,300 PSI

Wow! Always loved LVR for the heavier stuff, 120+! Never knew it was so useful with the lower weight stuff too! Personally, Speer 90 TNT & Speer 120 GD’s cover like 99.9% of my hunting needs! YMMV! :o

[Zeneffect]

If it's hunting I doubt the receiving end can tell the difference of 150fps

Maybe I should see what it will do with the 105 blitzkings. Love those bullets, the BC listed by sierra is very very conservative and down range performance is stellar to 600 yards.

[ocharry]

yeah zen i love those bullets too...and the down range is for sure stellar and devastating...i use them for varments and it is a damn fine DRT bullet...they are NOT fur friendly...maybe for a pipeline shot..but exits are ugly...and they shoot really flat and group really well out of my rifle

[LRRPF52]

So it seems the general rule of stuff the case full of Lever until you feel uncomfortable about it generally holds true.

The lower than max pressure and compressed charge indicate that they can't stuff any more powder in the case, thus the end of the usable data.

You’ll notice that it starts pressuring-up with the 100gr Nosler Partition (due to the partition wall and its stiff behavior when trying to be swaged into the rifling):

100gr Partition
2.240”_____Start load: 28.2gr 2,680fps____42,600 PSI_____Max Load: 32.2gr____2,900fps_____49,800 PSI

Then when we go to the 107gr SMK, the pressure drops way down again.

2.250”_____Start load: 28.8gr 2,525fps____35,900 PSI_____Max Load: 31.7C_____2,753fps_____44,300 PSI

The 107gr SMK is really long and doesn’t allow as much powder to be stuffed behind it.


Then the Barnes 120gr TSX monolithic copper bullet pressures-up out of the gate, but doesn’t allow enough powder to get to 50,000psi:

2.200”_____Start Load: 27.5gr_____2,337fps_____40,500 PSI____Max Load: 30.8C_____2,579fps______48,500 PSI


Once we go to the 123gr SMK, it has reached the threshold where it’s not compressed, but there is a max load that hits 50,300psi:

2.250”_____Start Load: 28.2gr_____2,420fps_____40,200 PSI____Max Load: 31.0gr_____2,649fps______50,300 PSI

You definitely can put too much in the case by that point, as well as with the 129gr Hornady SP:

2.245”_____Start Load: 26.0gr_____2,268fps_____42,500 PSI____Max Load: 29.0gr_____2,468fps______50,000 PSI


I started noticing some funny business with the 123gr SST at 31.3gr from my 22” Howa Mini:

123gr SST
LVR
Federal Brass 1x fired set to 1.208” headspace datum
Rem 7 1/2 SRP
COL: 2.250”
Temp: 60 F

29.8 2453fps
30.1 2465
30.4 2499
30.7 2517
31.0 2534
[COLOR="#FF8C00"]31.3 2596 (notice the 62fps jump from 31.0gr)
31.6 2608
31.9 2605
32.2 2658[/COLOR]


At 2.250” COL, it looks like it’s a good idea to stick to the Hodgdon’s data even with the shorter 123gr SST. If you load it longer, you can get more powder in and extend the velocity some more, but I had to clip the magazine to do that.

[LRRPF52]

Strangely enough, I just loaded some 120 Gold dots with lever. The Hodgdon site data:
LVR 2.200" 27.5 2,337 40,500 PSI 30.8C 2,579 48,500 PSI
I checked a case full where compression would start in a Hornady case and at 2.265 it was 32.7.
GRT reacts with horror and skull and crossbones, 67,000 psi and 2857 velocity. Excessive even for the 22 inch barrel bolt gun I am loading for.
I stopped my test loads at 31.1 grains at 2.290 to limit how many rounds I would have to tear down if I reached problems around there.
(54,000 psi and 2700 fps estimated by GRT).
YMMV, and I will have more data after a day at the range but it appears to me you can blow your face off even with Lever.

That data is for the 120gr Barnes TSX though, not for 120gr Speer Gold Dot. They may be interchangeable since the Gold Dots pressure-up faster than most cup and core bullets.

[Zeneffect]

With a new case, I can't even fit 32gr of anything with 105 sierras thus the statement of stuff it till uncomfortable. Once fired is a different story since I can comfortably get 32.5gr in there.

New lapua, 31gr is about the limit I am seeing before you are so far into the case neck it's super cringy to seat a bullet and your brain is saying it's a bad idea.

Note I'm not saying stuff it till full, I'm saying stuff it until you feel uncomfortable about it. If you load enough grendel, your brain is setting off warning flags just by the numbers. An example is the 130gr Norma gtx. I won't go past 29.7gr and no shorter than 2.3". Could i put more in? Yes. Will I? No. Why? Because that bullet is long and 29.7gr is already pretty scary as it is trucking along at 2470fps. I.e. powder charge is already uncomfortable for the projectile. Do not proceed further.

In your example with the 123sst, I wouldn't exceed 31.5gr max at 2.285" coal just based off of experience with the powder and bullet. Anything beyond that is in the severe cringe worthy area to me where I might want to consider not shooting them. Too many brainwaves saying no.

With lever specifically, I will admit I have shot close to 15lbs worth of the stuff in grendel exclusively... and being that it rarely gets below 40F out, I shoot it year round. Load development days are in the summer when it can hit 110F. No idea what it does in the true cold, but in the heat and normal type weather I like it.

[SDguy]

Hodgdon’s has published data for it now covering 7 different bullets:

90gr TNT
95gr V-MAX
100gr Nosler Partition
107gr SMK
120gr Barnes TSX
123gr SMK
129gr Hornady SP

It’s a really well-suited powder for 90-120gr since it generates some of the fastest velocities with those bullets, but with relatively-low chamber pressure.

For example:

95gr V-MAX Start load: 30.0 2,678fps 35,900 PSI--------------Max Load:--- 33.2C----- 2,982fps-----47,600 PSI

107gr SMK Start load: 28.8 2,525fps 35,900 PSI------------------ Max Load:---31.7C----- 2,753fps-----44,300 PSI

Finally, Thank you Hodgdon!

Data confirms the similarity to CFE 223. Though I was surprised to see CFE is shown to reach pressure with a bit heavier charge with the 129 gr HDY SP, for example . Really nice to see a well tested data source to confirm what many have been suggesting for a long time now!

[natebonebusta]

After firing my test loads my best load was a 31gr charge. It produced 2,438fps out of my 18.5” Howa with a SD of 8.8. It only gave me 30fps more than h335. It was worth a shot, but I have more h335 and tac. They produce better results for me. I enjoy this aspect of reloading. In the constant pursuit of the ultimate combo.