Factory Hornady V-Max 55gr measures right at 3550 with good extreme spread and SD (33 and 16). I cannot seem to get 4895 or 3031 to come close to the ES or SD. I'd like to get these Sierra 55gr Spirepoint BT at about the same velocity. I'm getting near the same velocity but the ES and SD is no where near. Is there a better powder? Tried 4064 and AA2520 they are much worse. I also seem to be getting some split necks even with this lower velocity.
Any hints?
I'm just not getting anywhere with reloads for this rifle. I've finally gotten the velocities down to around 3550 for 4895 and 3031, but they are no way as accurate as the Hornady factory, nor is any other load. The factory at 50yds shoots a ragged 1/4" hole at 50yds where the others shoot off to the right and 1" or more groups, at 50yds. I'm about to give up and just buy the factory stuff. Why bother?
Why don't you try a real 220 swift load? What you are shooting now is less than 22-250 velocities. The 220 Swift is the original factory "hot rod", and shoots the best at top end speeds.
Try some Reloder 15 and 50 gr. bullets, when you get to around 3900 things will tighten up.
"As long as there's lead in the air....there's still hope.."
Yeah, I was just trying to mimic the factory Hornady load so I didn't have to adjust the sights all the time. The Hornady 55gr factory ammo shoots great in it at 3550fps. I've got some 45 grain Sierra I'll try. Seems I used to use Sierra MatchKing HP 52 at good success. No use giving up yet. I notice in the latest Nosler load data they seem to prefer IMR4831 at a full load at 3850fps with their 55gr. Local store has the IMR, I may pick up some RL15 too. All my current stuff is at least 10 years old.
Even though the 112J has a Varmint barrel, after about 15 shots it gets pretty warm and I like to clean it then and let it cool off. Hate to burn it up right away although it looks like I could get a Shilen barrel for less than $400 to drop in it.
I just hope there's some days yet this winter to get out, I have a feeling we may get a lot of snow this winter. It's been nothing but rain all summer and we've already had a couple inches of snow in early Nov. There are places in my 55 acres that I can't get to this year it's so wet. Standing water in lots of places down by the stream which is like a river this year. Sometimes I can't (or won't) get across it, it's so deep, even with the tractor.
Today despite the cold I loaded up some IMR4831, 42 gr just about filled the case. Socked some 55gr Sierra in 5 of them and 45gr in another 5. The 55gr averaged 3518 with an SD of 21 and the 45gr averaged 3542 with an SD of 45. The Nosler book shows a 200fps difference with those loads and I'm getting 30fps? The 55gr gave about a 1" pattern and the 40gr all touching. And both of them shooting off to the right 1" compared to the factory Hornady. Everything I load seems to shoot to the right 1" compared to the factory load, I've never seen that before. This is at 50yds, hardly anything for this round. At least the 45gr seem to be coming in. I might have to get some 52gr Matchking again. I wonder about the Chronograph at this point too, but I'm measuring at 9' interval which should be plenty. I wish I could feel like I'm getting somewhere, but I don't. I did get the RifleBasix SAV-2 installed and working.
I talked to the Sierra guys last week and they gave me some hints. Measured the throat to the lands and it looks pretty long, like .21" past the end of the case neck, so it's pretty far out there. I did get some Nosler 55gr Varmageddons and tried them today with some IMR4320 and it's the best yet, but I did seat the 55gr fb out near the lands. Shot some Sierra 45gr with the same and they were tight too but I can't seat them out to the lands. But I seem to get about 200fps less velocity than any book load so the 55gr Nosler with 35gr 4320 is only getting me 3400fps. 37gr for the 45 bullet is getting me 3700fps. It also looks like the rifle with the long throat seems to not like the boat tails, the flat base shoot good. Been thinking about re-barreling this thing. At least I'm getting some decent SD with this 4320. Seems like when I approach the max book loads the necks start splitting so the pressure must be right, I'm just not getting the velocity. Anyhow I feel like I've gotten somewhere with the 4320 and the flat base bullets.
All my other powder must be 15-20 years old, but it looks good. I just don't seem to get good SD from it. I need to try it with the Nosler 55gr though and maybe revisit the Sierra 45 gr which did seem to shoot good even without good SD. Doing all my workup loads at 50yds, when I get ready I'll step out to 200. I can see about 600 or more across the stream into the other field from the house. I tried my 25-06 once over there, but I got rid of that long ago I think it was a Win 700 and didn't shoot that good.
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