2020 Load Development

mvrk28

WKR
Joined
Mar 13, 2018
Messages
309
Location
CA
What's everybody working on?

I'm still tinkering with 140 gr Berger VLD's in my 6.5 cm, going to the range tomorrow to test,

I've got them at .010" off the lands, which just barely fits in the mag. Using ADG brass and H4350 (ladder test of 41, 41.5, 42 and 42.5 grains coming up) with CCI BR-2 primers.

Just curious what other folks are working on.
 

Ram94

WKR
Joined
Jul 24, 2019
Messages
626
I’m working on a load for my 7mm-08 Tikka with 162gr. ELD-M, Varget, Lapua brass and CCI 200 primers. Have the first ladder loaded up, just waiting for an opportunity to start shooting.
 
Joined
Jun 7, 2018
Messages
716
Location
Tennessee
I'm finishing up my first go at load development for my xbolt in 300 wsm. 62 gr H4350, 180 accubonds, Nosler or FC brass, federal 215 primers, 2.838" COAL. Just gotta make sure I'm happy with velocity and groups hold with 5 shots instead of 3

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snuzzo29

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 15, 2019
Messages
153
Location
WY
I am about to start working on 223 loads with 69gr and 77gr bullets. Going to test with Varget and RL15 right now. I want to test with Tac as well but haven't been able to find it locally. I also plan on working on 270win loads with H4350 and H4381sc.
 

JimGa

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 10, 2018
Messages
194
With Berger's, load 3 each at 10, 50, 90 130 off the lands at the same charge. Berger recommends this and it's worked in every rifle I've tested them in. Quick and simple.
 

tstith

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 31, 2020
Messages
129
I have been working on a load for my 300WM Browning X-bolt Max Long Range.

Recipe looks like....
Hornady Brass (I am not going to break out the ADG brass til I run out of this batch)
Fed 215M primers
74.0-78.0gr H1000 (no pressure signs at 78.0 even though its listed as a max load)
212gr ELD-X projectile
Loading to mag length (3.600")

The rifle has a 26" barrel 1:8 twist, add the extra 8" for the can, and a Vortex Viper PST Gen-II 5-25x50 scope.

I am more interested in accuracy than velocity, but I was getting 2875fps out of starting powder loads the other day (9300' elevation).

I need to tinker with it a little more. I found a velocity node at 76.7-77.3 grains and was grouping 3 rounds at about 1.25" at 200 yards. I hope fire forming the brass and fine tuning will shrink the group a little more.
 

wyosam

WKR
Joined
Aug 5, 2019
Messages
982
I’ve been working on hammer loads for a few. Have great performers in 6.5cm, .243, 30-30 (pretty excited about that one- 143gr hammer starting at just over 2400. That will be good elk medicine inside 150. Love that old rifle). Still have an old 03a3 that I’ll work one up for at some point. Other than that, pretty much just trying different things in 223 and 6.5. Shot a ladder this morning in 223 that has me scratching my head a bit. Norma brass, 24.5 - 26.0 benchmark, CCI br4, 53gr vmax loaded long (.02 off the lands, long throated bolt gun). At 25.7 I was getting 3475ish, and shooting bugholes. 26 was 3530ish, but primers were flattening a bit. I did not expect to get that much velocity, and honestly didn’t think I’d shoot the last few charge weights, as I expected pressure signs earlier. I shot some loads with known velocity, and got expected results. Shouldn’t be that fast. Maybe I’ll weigh some bullets to make sure they’re actually 53gr.


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Joined
Nov 25, 2017
Messages
33
Location
N Idaho
I’m working on a load for my 7mm-08 Tikka with 162gr. ELD-M, Varget, Lapua brass and CCI 200 primers. Have the first ladder loaded up, just waiting for an opportunity to start shooting.

Didn’t try Varget but I am getting them just over 2700 with some StaBall 6.5 (close but not compressed) , Peterson brass, out of a 22” barrel. How fast are you getting those? Compressed load? Barrel size?


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Lawnboi

WKR
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
7,688
Location
North Central Wi
Just started reloading for 223. Have a good load worked up with some 75bthp and Varget for plinking. Well precision plinking. Just built up 200 rounds for some positional practice mainly.

Next up is another 223 load with 75 eldm for coyotes this fall/winter and maybe deer.

The carbon, light, 6.5 creedmoor I was having built is still out of commission. But Iv got brass, bullets and powder ready for it. Not counting on it for this fall so will likely work up a load for my match rifle using Berger 140 elite hunters in front of some h4350 in whatever brass I’m running in the gun in September.
 

MeatBuck

WKR
Joined
Aug 30, 2018
Messages
783
Location
woodpile, Commiefornia
156g hammer hunter
.270wsm
Norma
Fed215m
H1000
Coal 3.080” (mag length)
Cbto 2.3775”
.030ish off lands. (Need to thread a fired Norma case for my tool.)
Played around with ten shots between 59-65g with once fired nosler brass and saw pressure at 64 and 64.5 but not at 65g. 3003fps at 65g.
With new Norma brass I ran ten shots, 61.3-64g in .3g increments at 300yds and ended up being around 2920fps with 62.2-63.4g and shot a 9hole group with all but the first two shots landing within a moa.
Ive got 5 three shot strings ready to test.82510959-70F8-43A7-A9C8-4CB3A7E07B5D.jpeg
Happy with the results I’m getting as a novice reloader.
66D883C8-5EAD-4381-A42E-4E2BA94C5F77.jpeg
 

Brendan

WKR
Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
3,871
Location
Massachusetts
300 Win Mag With Berger 215's over H1000. Have a decent load at 75 gr now but need one more trip to the range to get all my brass fired 1X so I can dial in the load.

Breaking in a new Tikka T3X 6.5 CM. Have a bunch of Berger 140 Hybrids and some H4350 to play with, but will probably pick up some Cutting Edge Lazers or Hammer Hunters to set up for hunting rounds.
 
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M

mvrk28

WKR
Joined
Mar 13, 2018
Messages
309
Location
CA
300 Win Mag With Berger 215's over H1000. Have a decent load at 75 gr now but need one more trip to the range to get all my brass fired 1X so I can dial in the load.

Breaking in a new Tikka T3X 6.5 CM. Have a bunch of Berger 140 Hybrids and some H4350 to play with, but will probably pick up some Cutting Edge Lazers or Hammer Hunters to set up for hunting rounds.
Hammer hunters are easy money at .040” off the lands.
 
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M

mvrk28

WKR
Joined
Mar 13, 2018
Messages
309
Location
CA
This is a 5 shot group at 100 yards, using the above mentioned load. Still annoyed by that flyer. Ballistic X says .69 MOA with, .29 MOA without. Going to keep tinkering.

The SD’s are not at all what I would like regardless of group size. It could be a side effect of a warm chamber but time will tell. Going to put this load up against my Hammer Hunter load with RL-26 and Alpha Munitions Brass.
 

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Ram94

WKR
Joined
Jul 24, 2019
Messages
626
Didn’t try Varget but I am getting them just over 2700 with some StaBall 6.5 (close but not compressed) , Peterson brass, out of a 22” barrel. How fast are you getting those? Compressed load? Barrel size?


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PM’d you


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mwf008

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 19, 2020
Messages
191
I'm working up a 7mm RM load. Hitting the range tomorrow-- it will be my first time using the Newberry OCW method. IMR 7977 behind some 168 bergers and 160 accubonds. Starting both at .050 off the lands.
 
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
8,176
Seekins havak 300 WM has been a struggle. Going to bed the rail/action and try a little more with h1000 and 200.20x

Wasn't overly keen on how explosive 175 eldx are in my custom 7 SAUM so it's going to get a load with 175 bergers and probably 145 CEB lazers.

TS Custom just chambered an MTU contour benchmark in 6.5x47 for a LP Fuzion. I probably have enough assorted JLKs and bergers to kill the barrel but temped to try the new berger 144s. If it is anything like my last x47 it will shoot them all into bugholes with any charge of h4350 that fits in the case.
 

Unclecroc

FNG
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
72
I’m currently working up a load for my 7mm Remington magnum it’s a 700 bdl from the 70s. I have the first loads ready just need to make time to go to the range. I am working with 160 partitions with 7828ssc and rl22 and 150 ballistic tips with imr 4350 and h4831sc.
Also me and a buddy have been working up loads with 6.5 STAball powder in a 22-250 and 220 swift. I have been impressed with that powder so far with the 53gr and 55gr bullets the velocities are stellar and accuracy is pretty good as well. I always seem to be tinkering with something, that’s most of the fun of it for me.
 
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HUNTER100

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 28, 2018
Messages
171
Working on a load with H1000/ADG brass/215 Berger OTM for my new 300 win. This has been a trusted combo for a while for me.

Also, working with some N565 and 156 Bergers for my 6.5 PRC.
 

waldo9190

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 10, 2018
Messages
265
Location
Minnesota
Will be at our farm this weekend testing a couple OCWs for my Tikka T3 SS 270. First one is 130 TTSXs over Ramshot Hunter, second load is 140 Accubonds over H4831. If for some reason these don't perform up to standard, I'll be trying the 140 Abonds over the Hunter, and will probably try 130s over IMR 4350.
 
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