I did a bit of research and came up with a spreadsheet that will calculate optimal MV for a given Barrel Length, COAL, Bullet Len, CBTO and OBT node. Put in the values you want for those parameters and the spreadsheet(here) will calculate your target MV. You will have to create your own copy to modify it.
So I'm this for somebody with more ammo/reloading knowledge than me, because what's happening doesn't make alot of sense, especially with factory ammo. I'm shooting factory Hornady 6 ARC ammo out of a bolt gun and experiencing "popped" primers, but only with the Silver colored primers and not the Gold/Brass ones. What else is weird is it's only happening with the 108gr Match and not the new 80gr VMatch but both use the Silver primers? It's not happening with the H Match 108gr or H Black 105gr with Gold primers only the Silver? What's even stranger is the factory ammo from Hornady is loaded to the Gas Gun specs at 52,000 psi and which is less then the Bolt Gun specs of 62,000 psi and suppost to be not as hot as they could be from handloaders for the bolt specs. When I shoot any of them out of my AR I have no pressure signs at all, which is fine but makes my problem with my bolt gun stranger. My bolt gun is a Savage Axis ll 22 inch Heavy Barrel and Accutrigger, it's also in a boyds stock and has a Glades Aromory Bolt Handle but only the handle. It has the factory firing pin and spring in it. When I shoot the Savage the Gold primers look perfect, but the Silver either "pop" or crater up around the firing pin. I've also noticed that sometimes when they pop smoke comes out the trigger and locks it out or will make it to where the trigger will go off before the blade is fully behing the trigger shoe, which isn't good. And the "popped" primer groups are terrible compared to the regular fired primers. The bolt lift is so tight compared to other Axis guns I've tried and it cracked the polymer clamp on bolt knob that I was using for it and the reason I went with the Glades Bolt Handle. So yeah, I was hoping somebody else would have a idea of what makes this happen, and only to the Silver primers and Not the Gold. Thanks.
So today, after the match, (I was second, my own fault entirely), I stayed to try out my new Garmin Xero C1, and double check the velocities I had previously recorded for the 109 grain LRHTs over 28.5 grains of LVR. They checked out within 5 fps average of what my old shooting crony had told me at 2609fps average velocity, SD 12.5, out of my 22" barrel.
I had gotten a couple boxes of the 105 grainers as well and I loaded up 50 of them in new starline brass to do a barrel tuner ladder for the Little Tuna on my little bastard that I have just not had time to mess around with. I loaded them at the same 28.5 grains of LVR not being overly concerned with the exact load for the tuner ladder, and needing to get some more brass fire formed to my chamber. I didn't have time today to do the tuner ladder, but I figured while I was there I might as well crony 5 of those to get an idea of the velocity. I was sighted in at 440 yds with the 109s, so for the crony I just held on the 400 yard steel silhouette and put two slow shoots into the center watching for the impacts, which I couldn't see as the center was pretty shot up. So for fun I held on the head and put three fast shots there which I could see as the paint on the "head" was undisturbed. And they were close. Serendipity! Av vel was 2615.7 and the SD was 4.7. I drove down to the 400 yard line on my way out and the two body shots were within 3/4" and the three fast head shots were around 2". Looks like I may have stumbled onto a good load purely by luck!
If you are looking for some reloading components. Midway USA has a great sale going on. I thought I would share , I’m not trying to push their sales. With inflation as it is, it’s nice to save a little.
I picked up 500 95 grain Match bullets for $21.00/100.
I did a weight distribution of my first lot of Starline brass last night and the results are unlike anything I've seen before. This is fully prepped brass, twice fired, resized and trimmed. It'd like there are two different distributions, with some significant outliers. This may explain some of the flyers I've seen at times. Has anyone done a weight distribution check on a lot of Hornady Brass? Any better?
When I moved a box, I found 2500 CCI450 primers, and totally forgot I had them, so happy, and I had to use them.
I also have a few pounds (12 lbs actually) of Alliant Power Pro Varmint, and found on the Hornady App a load for their 80gr CX, max load 31gr
I do like that powder, an easy to meter and charge powder, and I really hope Alliant has NOT discontinued it like Midway indicates.
So, I loaded up 30 rounds, 5 shots per charge, .3gr increments from 29.5gr to 31gr, and 31gr was getting close to compression if it wasn't touching.
I'll let the image with the info speak for how it did, overall, I'm happy with it, and will likely do my next run from 30.0 to 30.5 at .1gr increments.
6mm ARC caught my eye as an efficient round that can accomplish several tasks. I'd like to build a bolt gun as there isn't a quality factory offering at this time. Shoot some targets, the odd "gopher" and a varmint if it has a lead deficiency.
Another piece of the puzzle came in last week this S2Delta chassis and it is real nice. Next piece will be the scope and I'm looking at the Tract TORIC 4.5-30x56 34mm. Anyone using a tract optic?
