Sierra 107 TMK Load Data

Where I think unburnt powder can show up as significant is when dealing with ignition and burn consistency.

Example:
Some ball powders have a very clear threshold for how “clean” or “consistent” they might be. I’m shooting a lot of CFE right now. At lower charges they make a ton of soot. ES and SD are relatively high. But as I go up in charge, pressure increases, and the soot goes away. ES and SD and drop dramatically. This makes me think the burn is getting more efficient. Similar to running “lean” or “rich” on carbureted engines. My take away was that pressure is just as important for full complete burn consistency as anything else we track.
Exactly my experience with cfe223. It gets better with pressure. I find I like it to be compressed as well, 1-3%.
 
I'm not new to reloading, but I AM new to reloading using GRT. I used to use slow burning powders on small calibers if that's what it took just like this and had pretty good luck, most recently with H1000 and 22 Creed. But now that I know the unburned powder values GRT kicks out, and now that I have suppressors on all of my rifles, I have somewhat deterred myself out of using them for whatever reason with the thought that efficiency is king.

For instance, I found a good load for a .270 I've been playing around with for a 20" barrel using H4831SC but the powder burn is only around 85% according to GRT. Therefore I have continued load development with faster powders. Can't get it out of my head.

My main question is, what impact does unburned powder have on a suppressor? Am I putting too much stock into this value?

Yes, you are putting too much stock into this. Quit playing with the program, load more ammo and shoot more.
If the day ever comes that your suppressor needs replaced you did good.
 
I'm probably not gonna quit playing with the program. It provides a pretty dang good baseline for load development. It was just the unburnt powder value that I was questioning. And now I'm getting my answer! Thanks to all for the help
 
Finally had a chance to try the 107 out for groups in my Tikka 6 ARC with Lever powder. It was 91* out and windy. Even though the wind was at my back, you could see the reticle moving with the gusts.

I'll probably try another powder (CFE 223 or Staball Match) as results weren't that awesome. I'm .020" off the lands. Bolt felt sticky and had ejector marks on the last two groups. I'm 99% positive I have my rifle seated correctly on the lug in the new rokstok, but I'll pull it again and torque it down. Hornady 106 Mil Match and 108 ELDM ammo wasn't anything to write home about either.

Rifle specs:
Tikka 6 ARC
18” 1:7 preferred hybrid lite
Rokstok
NX8 2.5-20x
UM rings
Area 419 rail
Scythe Ti (waiting for OG6S to be approved)

IMG_7925.jpeg

IMG_8105.jpeg
 
@waspocrew You know about what velocities you’re getting? Tried XBR or Varget yet?
It’s in chicken scratch on the targets haha

30.2gr - 2715
30.5 gr - 2776
30.8 gr - 2797
31 gr - 2828

I have XBR and Varget, but haven’t given them a try in this rifle yet. Trying to stick with ball powder for ease/speed of loading.
 
Finally had a chance to try the 107 out for groups in my Tikka 6 ARC with Lever powder. It was 91* out and windy. Even though the wind was at my back, you could see the reticle moving with the gusts.

I'll probably try another powder (CFE 223 or Staball Match) as results weren't that awesome. I'm .020" off the lands. Bolt felt sticky and had ejector marks on the last two groups. I'm 99% positive I have my rifle seated correctly on the lug in the new rokstok, but I'll pull it again and torque it down. Hornady 106 Mil Match and 108 ELDM ammo wasn't anything to write home about either.

Rifle specs:
Tikka 6 ARC
18” 1:7 preferred hybrid lite
Rokstok
NX8 2.5-20x
UM rings
Area 419 rail
Scythe Ti (waiting for OG6S to be approved)

View attachment 1074046

View attachment 1074043
I’m gonna give n540 a try. Might be one for you to consider. Though I had better groups with my lever load. What brass are you running?
 
I'm probably not gonna quit playing with the program. It provides a pretty dang good baseline for load development. It was just the unburnt powder value that I was questioning. And now I'm getting my answer! Thanks to all for the help
Many of these programs are unable to give you definitive information on all aspects of of a load but they can give you the potential results. I would view it as the "potential unburnt powder" value as it is a calculated value not an observed value. Many times we get caught up in the nuances of a thing when those details are actually noise that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of life.

Jay
 
I’m gonna give n540 a try. Might be one for you to consider. Though I had better groups with my lever load. What brass are you running?
I'm using Alpha brass for this rifle.

Lever and 87 Vmax were very consistent in my 6 ARC gasser, so I was disappointed in the results with the 107s. I'll keep trying though.
 
I'm using Alpha brass for this rifle.

Lever and 87 Vmax were very consistent in my 6 ARC gasser, so I was disappointed in the results with the 107s. I'll keep trying though.
I’m freaking loving the 87 vmax in my bolt gun. 32.5 gr of lever has them moving 3151 mv average. Have you played with seating depth on your 107 load yet? What’s your CBTO?
 
Finally had a chance to try the 107 out for groups in my Tikka 6 ARC with Lever powder. It was 91* out and windy. Even though the wind was at my back, you could see the reticle moving with the gusts.

I'll probably try another powder (CFE 223 or Staball Match) as results weren't that awesome. I'm .020" off the lands. Bolt felt sticky and had ejector marks on the last two groups. I'm 99% positive I have my rifle seated correctly on the lug in the new rokstok, but I'll pull it again and torque it down. Hornady 106 Mil Match and 108 ELDM ammo wasn't anything to write home about either.

Rifle specs:
Tikka 6 ARC
18” 1:7 preferred hybrid lite
Rokstok
NX8 2.5-20x
UM rings
Area 419 rail
Scythe Ti (waiting for OG6S to be approved)

View attachment 1074046

View attachment 1074043

My 6 arc is kinda giving me fits. 107s I can’t seem to get to shoot. Tried staball match, 8208, and cfe 223 and all shot 2+ inch 10 shot groups. Figured maybe just doesnt like tmks. Shot 10 round groups today with 108 eldm and 100gr interlocks both around 1.5” for 10 shots. My biggest hindrance is mag length in my Howa mini. Limited to about 2.325” coal for reliable feeding clearance. This jumps the 107s about .095”. Don’t want to single feed but tempted to seat closer to lands and see if it tightens them up. This gun also seems to pressure out early with cratered and flat primers and ejector swipes above about 29 grains of Staball. Hornady max is 31gr. This with federal 205s for primers and once fired and shoulder bumped starline brass. Thoughts? Should I try other primers as well?
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Finally had a chance to try the 107 out for groups in my Tikka 6 ARC with Lever powder. It was 91* out and windy. Even though the wind was at my back, you could see the reticle moving with the gusts.

I'll probably try another powder (CFE 223 or Staball Match) as results weren't that awesome. I'm .020" off the lands. Bolt felt sticky and had ejector marks on the last two groups. I'm 99% positive I have my rifle seated correctly on the lug in the new rokstok, but I'll pull it again and torque it down. Hornady 106 Mil Match and 108 ELDM ammo wasn't anything to write home about either.

Rifle specs:
Tikka 6 ARC
18” 1:7 preferred hybrid lite
Rokstok
NX8 2.5-20x
UM rings
Area 419 rail
Scythe Ti (waiting for OG6S to be approved)

View attachment 1074046

View attachment 1074043

Primer pockets aren’t going to last you long if using hornady brass, I’m at 29.4 grs and starting to loose some after 4-5 reloads. That maybe normal for hornady🤷‍♂️, I’ve been shooting and reloading the crap out of the little brass that I have.
 
composed-export-1780279219000.jpg
10 shots from a sammi spec 6 creed.
22" PBB
41.5 grains of H4350
Alpha LRP brass
COAL 2.850"
3026 fps average for these 10.

composed-export-1780281096667.jpg
Same as above but with 10 more after letting the barrel cool. 20 shots total. This upped the fps average to 3031.

composed-export-1780280582241.jpg
Same rifle as above.
10 Shots
44 grains of H4831SC
2991 fps average.
2.850" COAL
 
I’m freaking loving the 87 vmax in my bolt gun. 32.5 gr of lever has them moving 3151 mv average. Have you played with seating depth on your 107 load yet? What’s your CBTO?

Sorry for the late reply - daughter had a dance recital this evening.

CBTO with the 107s in my chamber is: 1.770” which is 0.020” off the lands.
 
Primer pockets aren’t going to last you long if using hornady brass, I’m at 29.4 grs and starting to loose some after 4-5 reloads. That maybe normal for hornady🤷‍♂️, I’ve been shooting and reloading the crap out of the little brass that I have.

I’m using Alpha brass, so pockets should last longer. I’m not opposed to Hornady - I’m sitting on piles of it right now haha
 
Sorry for the late reply - daughter had a dance recital this evening.

CBTO with the 107s in my chamber is: 1.770” which is 0.020” off the lands.
I’m loading mine at 1.751” CBTO. Maybe load them a bit deeper and see if they like more jump?
 
This gun shoots everything I’ve tried really well, but these 107s fly exceptionally. This is 10 rounds, 5 at 610 and 5 and 805, with two high impacts corrected after truing the BC up right to .600 G1. Fired from the pack with a bino pack rear rest.

6 Creed going about 2860mv. By far the most shooter friendly and fun rifle I’ve had to date. And I’m sold on the 107s.

View attachment 1063499View attachment 1063500

Looks like it’s shooting awesome! Have you or do you plan to try the 116’s?
 
I don’t think so. Between the 115 DTACS and 107s I have enough bullets to probably burn this barrel out.

Want to load 10 of that brass I sent back with you with my 116 load and see how it does the second time around? Hard to argue with the 107s so far though, that's for sure.

107s in Lapua brass over 40.5 gr H4350, 2950 fps avg, 2.82" COAL. Quick 6 shot group while rezeroing with the OG6S, didn't get a pic after 10 shots but it was ~.9MOA.

IMG_8406.jpg
 
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