Newbie Reloading Questions: Updated with range session

[swavescatter]

 

[JPeters218]

We’ve got some winners

 

[JPeters218]

6 creed
-42gr H4350
-2.876” coal
-Hornady Brass
-CCI BR2

2899 FPS
ES 70
SD 18

 

[JPeters218]

.223
-23.8gr 8208
-CCI 450
-BHA 5.56 brass

2760 FPS
ES 32
SD 10.9

 

[mollerdan]

Update time:

.223
-I loaded 25 rd of 23.5gr of XBR 8208 at 2.264” with 77 TMK’s in Starline .223 brass, GM205m primer
-Avg of 2702 fps (16” barrel)
-SD of 22
-ES of 75
- 10 rd group of 1.8” (bot left on pic)

I also shot up the rest of my black hills loaded 77 TMK’s (5.56)
- 35 shot avg of 2724
- SD of 24
- ES of 112 (Min 2656, max 2768)
- Shot a 10 rd group starting with cool barrel that measured 0.9”, and a 10 rd group on a hot barrel (shots 26-35 in a row) that measured 0.87” (top right)

My thoughts: Do I just find another box of the same lot Black hills ammo and use that for my hunting ammo? And just load practice ammo myself?
Open to suggestions here of course


6 creed
There wasn’t as much of a common recipe for this. So I researched as best as a I could.
Book max was 41.3gr of h4350

I loaded 10 at book max at .030 off the lands (as best as I could measure at least lol) 2.874” Coal, 107 TMK, CCI Br-2 primer, Hornady brass
-Avg of 2839 (18” barrel)
- SD of 23
- ES of 67
- No pressure signs that I could tell. Easy bolt lift, no extractor marks
- 10rd group size of 1.3”. Mostly vertical dispersion (middle group)


Also loaded
1 at 41.6gr, 2843 fps
1 at 41.9gr, 2901 fps. Also no pressure signs.

For reference the last 4 factory 108 EldM’s I had averaged 2741, with an ES of 120. Didn’t shoot a group with it but historically it’ll shoot an MOA 10 shot group

Open to suggestions here. Not super happy with that group but it measures a little better than it looks


Summary: Happy nothing blew up, but not super happy with groups. I’m using the Lee challenger press kit, with their powder dispenser and beam scale

Is 23.5g of the XBR with the 77’s a compressed load? Curious how much room you have.

 

[Taudisio]

.223
-23.8gr 8208
-CCI 450
-BHA 5.56 brass

2760 FPS
ES 32
SD 10.9

Looks like that’ll do!
My only concern is you are testing two different brass types/manufacturers/round counts. I try to stick with one lot and same round count on the brass. It just eliminates that as an option for things to go awry. It does look like with both types of brass, with same primer/powder/charge, that they will shoot nearly the same (it’s hard to read the velocities 2750 vs 2794?).

 

[JPeters218]

Looks like that’ll do!
My only concern is you are testing two different brass types/manufacturers/round counts. I try to stick with one lot and same round count on the brass. It just eliminates that as an option for things to go awry. It does look like with both types of brass, with same primer/powder/charge, that they will shoot nearly the same (it’s hard to read the velocities 2750 vs 2794?).

2760 vs 2794. I agree that ideally I’d keep things equal, but I was just trying every combination of things I could come up with to get something to shoot. 2760 is what I’m going to roll with.
I might work up a practice load if anyone has any ideas for a cheaper target bullet that shoots similarly to the 77 TMK’s