This one might get Zee excited..

[mitdr774]

If I could get the group at the center of the target but about 300-400 fps faster I would be really happy. The IMR4350 loads had some fairly wide swings in velocity (I know that 3 shots isnt great for velocity average, but it gives me something to work with) and I suspect that is due in part to the fairly low load density. If I had to guess they were in the 70-80% range. I have had issues in the past with other powders when the load density was in this range.

Hopefully this evening I will have time to check case capacity and start comparing Quick Load to actual results and then look into other load options. I like the ABLR bullets due to their high BC numbers and being a bonded bullet, but I do not know how well they will actually perform at higher velocities and closer impact distances. My goal is still 3000 fps with a 140gr and 3100 fps with a 129gr.

[mitdr774]

Quick Load has backed up my suspicion that book data is really neutered. The software was close enough to actual velocity without tweaking things once I put in my case capacity and barrel length. Thats a first. The "near max" warning didnt even show up on the load chart with the start load I used (not the start charge in the Nosler book). It looks like if I can get up to the theoretical max charge I should be able to hit 3000 fps with the 142gr ABLR and over 3100 fps with the 129gr ABLR. I dont know if I will play with the 100gr Partition anymore. If I can get the ABLR bullets to the speeds Im looking for I will see what I can do with the InterLock bullets. I know that a 150gr at 3100 fps from a .30-06 works well on a pronghorn. Im sure that a 129 or 140gr at 3000 fps would do just fine as well. The 129 works well on deer at 2500 fps but that wouldnt be an ideal bullet/velocity for if I have to go to longer distances (thats more than about 150 yards for me, even though where I nap in the woods im limited to about 40 yards).

[mitdr774]

Index card is maxed out at Nosler book max. Nosler does list a much shorter OAL. Quick Load suggests I have a long ways to go.

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[mitdr774]

Tried a couple loads today with 129gr ABLR/RL-26 and 142gr ABLR/RL-22. I need to rerun the loading through Quick Load as actual velocity was higher than predicted velocity. I just want to be sure I'm good before pushing it further. So far it seems to want to group as I have two shots close together, but the third in the group is off 3/4-1" from the other two for three of the four loads I shot today.

Only fired two loads of each combination today. The 129 ABLR loads averaged 3204.9 and 3250.6 fps while the two 142 ABLR loads averaged 2988.3 and 3050.0 fps.

129/RL-26 3204.9 (left) and 3250.6 (right)

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142/RL-22 3050.0 (left) and 2988.3 (right)

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[mitdr774]

Switched gears on the 129gr and 140gr bullet options. I decided to test out the 129gr InterLock and 140gr InterLock bullets with RL-22 using new Sig .270 brass reworked to 6.5-06.

Cold and mostly empty range day so it was a good time out even if it wasnt the best performance overall. Its amazing how temps in the upper 20's to lower 30's will keep so many away. Primers were getting flat and I was getting some cratering around the firing pin. I will say that I have gotten the cratering with very mild loads as well. 142gr ABLR at 2600 fps had the same cratering as the 142gr ABLR at 3000 fps. This may just be a product of the machining and QC of new Remington though.

I plan on retesting the following loads when it warms back up a little. I want to rule out me as much as I can.

129gr InterLock

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140gr InterLock

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Velocity is around my goal and things seem to be behaving so far.

[Zee]

3,109 looks pretty good.

[mitdr774]

That is what I am thinking as well. I may have to check my rifles max OAL and see how much jump I have with the 129gr. I know that my Swedes prefer the 129gr to be seated LONG with minimal jump. Then again the Swedes originally used a long 156gr round nose bullet.

[mitdr774]

Managed to sneak in a range trip with my dad this morning so he could test out a few more things with his .25-06 and .430x1.8. I decided to retest three loads each from the 129gr and 140gr loads from my last round of testing. No ejector marks on the brass but the primers are heavily suggesting to me that I should stop while im ahead.

129gr InterLock

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140gr InterLock

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[mitdr774]

I tried some 129gr and 142gr ABLR bullets with RL-26 over the weekend. The 129gr was a flop for groups. I will probably just save those for the Grendel at this point. The 142gr was much better, but still below the 3000 fps mark a little. I may try to get the 142gr over that threshold, or I may just go back the the 129gr InterLock load. Out to 325 yards it should be about the same trajectory and even at 500 yards its only about a 1.6" difference.

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