Sierra 116 TMK Load Data

[Q_Sertorius]

Can be some pretty big lot variation in h4350. I opened a new jug recently that seems significantly faster than the prior lot I was using.

I had the same variation from one pound to the next.

 

[Deadspace]

Can be some pretty big lot variation in h4350. I opened a new jug recently that seems significantly faster than the prior lot I was using.

Glad I bought the 8lb jug. Have about 6 lbs left which should take me to the end of the barrels life

 

[HuntHarder]

I posted a year ago about my H4350 diffetence between 2 different 8#'ers. I lost a 100 fps on the new jug.

 

[eric1115]

.243AI 19" factory Tikka 8 twist cut and chambered by Kampfeld, 700ish rounds on the barrel

H1000, BR2, Lapua brass. 2.950 COAL, jumping 0.080+, didn't really get too persnickety with finding exact distance to lands as it's plenty.

Loaded two of each charge weight, ran one batch with the suppressor on and one with the magnetospeed because I'm one of those idiots who still doesn't have a Garmin.

This barrel/chamber has showed pressure earlier than some of the .243AI data that I've seen out there. I'm not too worried about it, as it's been consistent and if I were a barrel cleaner (or willing to load further into pressure signs) I bet I could push it harder. I'd rather have consistency/stability than an extra 50 FPS.

46.0 2723
47.0 2766
48.0 2839
49.0 2926 Light swipe with can on, none with bare muzzle
50.0 2980 More swipe, slightly heavy bolt with can, lighter swipe and lighter (but still slightly heavy) bolt with bare muzzle.

I loaded 10 at 48.0, will report back after I get a chance to shoot. 3/5 went in one .5" group, the other two were less than 1" away so I'm hopeful that the middle of this range is going to shoot pretty well.

That's not too bad, zero "development," just picked a safe charge weight from my pressure check, seated to mag length, and shot 10.

.243AI
116 TMK
48.0 H1000
BR2, Lapua brass
2.950 COAL

Middle target

 

[mtnbound]

Tried some Grand today. 116TMK, Hornady brass, Fed 215 primers, 2.80 COAL, 6CM, 16.5” PBB 7.5twist. Emarks on the 44gr.

 

[wysongdog]

I probably missed it but what about the 6 um with these 116’s?

 

[Ryan Avery]

I probably missed it but what about the 6 um with these 116’s?

This is 66g of 570 90 thou off. It was almost dark, I had a nice 8 shots going, and my can came loose, a rookie mistake, but she looks promising.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Tried some Grand today. 116TMK, Hornady brass, Fed 215 primers, 2.80 COAL, 6CM, 16.5” PBB 7.5twist. Emarks on the 44gr.

Ewww. That’s slow.

 

[Nine Banger]

6mm CM
44gr H4381SC
2.680"
16" 1:7.5" bbl
116gr tmk
2700fps

This is going to be "the load" for a 16" gun.

It's blowing 9mph full value and gusting here.

I got burned on the right target because I forgot it's a 7mph gun and held .2 mil.

Held .1ish mil on the left target.



I bet it will be 1.5moa or better when I shoot on a still morning.

Gun is still zeroed for Nosler Factory 115gr RDF.

The Frankford Arsenal universal seating die that Form recommended does not mark the bullets.

 

[Skinnyguts]

44gr H4381SC
2.680"
16" 1:7.5" bbl
116gr tmk
2700fps

This is going to "the load" for a 16" gun. View attachment 1055507

It's blowing 9mph full value and gusting here.

I got burned on the right target because I forgot it's a 7mph gun and held .2 mil.

Held .1ish mil on the left target.

View attachment 1055506

I bet it will be 1.5moa or better when I shoot on a still morning.

Gun is still zeroed for Nosler Factory 115RDF.

The Frankford Arsenal universal seating due that Form recommended does not mark the bullets. View attachment 1055508

6 CM?

 

[Nine Banger]

6 CM?

Yes. Thanks for the call out. Edited.

 

[Schutzprecision]

First range trip with my 6 cm today. Loaded 116 tmk in new starline brass, 40gr rl16, with a federal 210, 2.875 Oal (.025 off rifling). 20 inch barrel chambered with saami spec reamer. I’ll try to resist the urge to adjust the tmk load. I should just load a bunch and go kill stuff.
1-7 twist

 

[Bowfinn]

I finally got to shoot the 116 for the first time today.
20in 7.5tw 6cm from PBB
2.85in alpha 7 1/2 rem primer
Left h4350-40.0g 2815fps with 2 harder bolt lifts.
Right n555- 42.0g 2830fps no hard bolt lift.
Center powder ladder for both h4350 and n555
Pretty clear winner with this barrel.
I’m gonna load a bunch at 39.5 of h4350 and confirm again.

 

[lager]

I just got a box of 116”s yesterday in the mail to try in my Bat Bumblebee, with 8 twist Kreiger . Found my touch on the lands , and wow . These won’t fit in a factory box with long freebore without a lot of jump . Mine about .150 and oal was 2.925 to touch lands . Shot a few loads of superformance first . Good speed , 3060, no pressure , but accuracy was just ok . Went to N560 that was working well with 115 vlds , and they came to gather quick. 2 charges there about 1/2 inch, so has potential. Was just shooting 100 yards on my bench at house . Will try to get out on my range next week and shoot some at 600 and 1000 . Also try some in wet newspaper at 600 and see how they expand .

 

[The Guide]

I just got a box of 116”s yesterday in the mail to try in my Bat Bumblebee, with 8 twist Kreiger . Found my touch on the lands , and wow . These won’t fit in a factory box with long freebore without a lot of jump . Mine about .150 and oal was 2.925 to touch lands . Shot a few loads of superformance first . Good speed , 3060, no pressure , but accuracy was just ok . Went to N560 that was working well with 115 vlds , and they came to gather quick. 2 charges there about 1/2 inch, so has potential. Was just shooting 100 yards on my bench at house . Will try to get out on my range next week and shoot some at 600 and 1000 . Also try some in wet newspaper at 600 and see how they expand . View attachment 1057230

What cartridge please.

Jay

 

[lager]

Sorry , 6 Creedmoor .

 

[Schutzprecision]

I just got a box of 116”s yesterday in the mail to try in my Bat Bumblebee, with 8 twist Kreiger . Found my touch on the lands , and wow . These won’t fit in a factory box with long freebore without a lot of jump . Mine about .150 and oal was 2.925 to touch lands . Shot a few loads of superformance first . Good speed , 3060, no pressure , but accuracy was just ok . Went to N560 that was working well with 115 vlds , and they came to gather quick. 2 charges there about 1/2 inch, so has potential. Was just shooting 100 yards on my bench at house . Will try to get out on my range next week and shoot some at 600 and 1000 . Also try some in wet newspaper at 600 and see how they expand . View attachment 1057230

Interested to see how they perform in wet newspaper. Post a few pics of your results if you can.
I installed a 3” Wyatt’s mag box in my rem 700 to accommodate seating 116’s close to the rifling. I chambered this rifle with a .183 free bore reamer to allow shooting factory Hornady ammo but allow hand loads with the 107 and 116 tmk close to the lands. Good to see they are tolerant of a lot of jump. I have another 6 creed chambered with a .109 free bore and it allows the 116’s to be seated close to the lands and still fit a standard short action mag but factory hornady ammo is too long and jams into the rifling.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

I posted a year ago about my H4350 diffetence between 2 different 8#'ers. I lost a 100 fps on the new jug.

What I used to write off as powder lot to lot variation I realized was actually a difference in the powders humidity levels. Each new and sealed bottle I would open and use right away would be slower than my recent loads from powder that I’d been using for awhile. Where it’s manufactured is higher humidity than where I live. So now I get a new bottle and leave it open for two weeks to “dry out” now I haven’t honestly had a measurable difference from lot to lot.
Could be something worth trying when going from a bottle you’ve had awhile and has been opened/exposed lots to a new sealed bottle.

 

[Nine Banger]

What I used to write off as powder lot to lot variation I realized was actually a difference in the powders humidity levels. Each new and sealed bottle I would open and use right away would be slower than my recent loads from powder that I’d been using for awhile. Where it’s manufactured is higher humidity than where I live. So now I get a new bottle and leave it open for two weeks to “dry out” now I haven’t honestly had a measurable difference from lot to lot.
Could be something worth trying when going from a bottle you’ve had awhile and has been opened/exposed lots to a new sealed bottle.

So we need to start acclimating powder like hardwood flooring before its installed.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

So we need to start acclimating powder like hardwood flooring before its installed.

Nobody has to, but it’s a way to maintain consistent velocity lot to lot in my experience. (I’ve only used a handful of Hodgdon extreme powder and VV N5 series.)

#60 - Humidity Effects on Smokeless Powder - The Science of Accuracy

thescienceofaccuracy.com

This is where I first learned about it from the applied ballistics guys.