108 ELDM, 103 ELD-X, H4895, LeveRevolution

[Hurley88]

Hi, 

Just wanted to share some initial info I gathered on my recent 6 ARC build (Tikk T3X, posted about it under the bolt action section). 

Tikka T3X bolt action
Garmin Xero Chronograph
Starline 6mm ARC brass
Hornady 108 ELDM 
Hodgdon H4895

• 25.0 H4895: 2447.4 
  
  
• 25.5 H4895: 2516.5 
  
  
• 26.0 H4895: 2560.8 
  
  
• 26.5 H4895: 2603.8 
  
  
• 27.0 H4895: 2653.0
  

I also chronographed five shots of the Hornady 108 ELDM Match ammo: 

• Factory ammo: 2668, 2625, 2655, 2638, 2636. 
  
  
• Avg 2644 
  
  
• ES 43
  
  

I’ve sent the barrel off to be throated (I’ll post more as to why on the rifle build thread), so more info to come. The thread title shows what info I plan to collect & post.

[corpsman8483]

Nice; I have some of the ELDMs and H4895, I'll give it a try.

[Hurley88]

Forgot to mention, this is a 22” barrel. Honestly the whole reason I even built this rifle was bc I had 10lbs of H4895 and no purpose for it. Was for a rifle that has since gone on to a new home, so I hope the powder works well in dispersion testing.

We’ll see. I’ll post the results, good bad or ugly.

[Ray R]

Hi, 

Just wanted to share some initial info I gathered on my recent 6 ARC build (Tikk T3X, posted about it under the bolt action section). 

Tikka T3X bolt action
Garmin Xero Chronograph
Starline 6mm ARC brass
Hornady 108 ELDM 
Hodgdon H4895

• 25.0 H4895: 2447.4 
  
  
• 25.5 H4895: 2516.5 
  
  
• 26.0 H4895: 2560.8 
  
  
• 26.5 H4895: 2603.8 
  
  
• 27.0 H4895: 2653.0
  

I also chronographed five shots of the Hornady 108 ELDM Match ammo: 

• Factory ammo: 2668, 2625, 2655, 2638, 2636. 
  
  
• Avg 2644 
  
  
• ES 43
  
  

I’ve sent the barrel off to be throated (I’ll post more as to why on the rifle build thread), so more info to come. The thread title shows what info I plan to collect & post.


I shoot the 6mm ARC 105 gr. BTHP using 26.8 grains of RL-15 ==> 2607 fps and sub-MOA groups at 100 yards. I use a bolt Action Savage Axis II w/22" barrel. COAL=2.220"

Information from Quick Load software.

[Hurley88]

As promised…

Tikk T3X bolt action
Garmin Xero Chronograph
Starline 6mm ARC brass

Barrel has now been throated. Lowest point of the bullet is seated just below the case neck/shoulder junction, COAL 2.3065, CBTO 1.8135”. At that length, bullet jump is 0.060”.

Factory Hornady Match ammo, 108 ELDM:
2604.7
2580.5
2564.9
2597.9
2577.9
These factory rounds are now jumping 0.124” and were originally jumping 0.006”, so the slight drop in velocity is to be expected. Also it was about 20 degrees colder than last time. Small sample set, but there it is.

27.0gr H4895 under a 108 ELDM with 0.060” bullet jump:
2619.8
2624.8
2627.1
2627.6
2651.6
2624.0
2632.5
2619.0
2638.2
2639.6
Avg 2630.4, ES 32.2, SD 9.6

---

And more…

29.0 Lever, 108 ELDM: 2620.9
29.5 Lever, 108 ELDM: 2682.7
30.0 Lever, 108 ELDM: 2731.0
30.5 Lever, 108 ELDM: 2768.2
31.0 Lever, 108 ELDM: 2790.8

25.0 H4895, 103 ELD-X: 2448.4
25.5 H4895, 103 ELD-X: 2497.0
26.0 H4895, 103 ELD-X: 2548.3
26.5 H4895, 103 ELD-X: 2609.2

28.5 Lever, 103 ELD-X: 2616.1
29.0 Lever, 103 ELD-X: 2656.0
29.5 Lever, 103 ELD-X: 2710.9
30.0 Lever, 103 ELD-X: 2753.7
30.5 Lever, 103 ELD-X: 2803.4

---

Next up is a 10-shot group with each of these four combinations. If I can ever break free. Heavy work load, hunting season, other projects…hard to nail down time for this build.

[Hurley88]

More data, ten shots each:

Factory Hornady Match 108 ELDM
Avg 2626, ES 25.9

27.0 H4895, 103 ELD-X
Avg 2688, ES 25.9

29.5 LeverEvolution, 108 ELDM
Avg 2696, ES 20.3

29.5 LeverEvolution, 103 ELD-X
Avg 2722, ES 24.3

[Rickhem]

Lots of good data, how are your loads grouping for you? I have found that sometimes my lowest SD loads are not always the ones that group the best.

And having 10 pounds of H4895 is pretty amazing these days. I have been actively looking for that powder for well over a year, nearing two, and it just isn't around. Good for you having that big of a reserve.

[Hurley88]

Oh I used to go through a couple 8lb jugs a year lol. If you want it we can get in touch, I’ll likely be going with LeverEvolution for this build. Never shipped anything Hazmat, so that’ll be new.

Unless I’m shooting three ten shot groups for an average and as a composite to proof test after load dev, I ignore SD. How can you establish a standard deviation from the norm without enough data to establish a norm? That said, when shooting 100yd groups you’re correct the ES/SD numbers wont really correlate to group size, they have more to do with dispersion at longer distances. I do always pay attention to ES, as it is useful in establishing a general consistency level to compare between loads. As they were in this case, because they are what caused me to find my accuracy issue. Well…remains to be seen. But they’re what kept me from tossing the barrel in a trash bin.

The groups are all abysmal. Both before and after throating. The best 10-shot group is 1.4”, the worst 2.5”. The consistent velocity spread got me to consider the crown, because it seemed likely that with consistent velocities something must be smacking them upon exiting the barrel. I found a raised ridge around the last half inch of the barrel near the muzzle, the guy I go to when I have barrels chambered/contoured confirmed the ridge, then told me that it’s common to crown first then use a tool to center the barrel when chambering which causes that raised ridge. He said it happens with $500 prefits every now and again. Which is fine this is my 7th cheapo & the first I’ve had any issues with. So I’m chopping off the last inch and revisiting. Dunno if that’s true, I’ve never worked in a barrel factory, but we’ll see.

[Hurley88]

Update coming in the next few days, got a new sporter weight barrel that’s grouping 0.7-0.9” for ten shot groups. Taking it out to test LeverEvolution, H4895, and StaBALL Match. Couldn’t fit full charges of Varget under the 103/108 ELD bullets, so not testing that.

[Hurley88]

Decided to add Varget to the mix after all. This is a 20” barrel, bolt action, it was 80 degrees ambient temp where I was shooting. Each charge weight is a single shot so keep that in mind. It was just a test to see what I’m working with. Used 103 ELD-X & 108 ELDM. Using Starline brass & CCI 450 primers.

With StaBALL Match there was full compression powder crunch at 28gr, going to 28.5 started to deform the bullet ogive when seating. I included it, but stopped shy of doing that with the other two powders. Once I damaged the ogive with the others I pulled the bullet and stopped. With Varget & H4895 I used a long drop tube and sometimes an electric toothbrush against the case to get them better compacted; their compressed numbers reflect this. With H4895 there was full compression powder crunch at 27gr and with Varget this occurred at 28gr. Hornady data shows 28.5 max under the 103 bullet but I couldn’t get that under the bullet without damaging the bullet. YMMV.

103 ELD-X, StaBALL Match
26.5: 2452
27.0: 2490
27.5: 2540
28.0: 2592
28.5: 2633

108 ELDM, StaBALL Match
26.5: 2411
27.0: 2441
27.5: 2493
28.0: 2493
28.5: 2587

103 ELD-X, H4895
25.0: 2528
25.5: 2597
26.0: 2633
26.5: 2686
27.0: Didn’t fire

108 ELDM, H4895
25.0: 2489
25.5: 2527
26.0: 2576
26.5: 2615
27.0: 2660

103 ELD-X, Varget
26.5: 2556
27.0: 2606
27.5: 2654
28.0: 2669

108 ELDM, Varget
26.5: 2503
27.0: 2538
27.5: 2578
28.0: chrono was turned off. Oops.


Also did ten shots with the 108 ELDM over 28.7 LeverEvolution.
Avg 2612, ES 25.9, SD 8.3

[Hurley88]

26.5 H4895 under the 108 ELDM turned out to be the best load.
Avg 2610fps
SD 8.5
ES 26.3
Ten Shots
Nice round 0.61” group which is the best I’ve ever shot with a sporter weight hunting rifle.

Going to stick with this load for a little bit, see if it’s the bees’ knees or not.

[Hurley88]

Three more trips out with H4895, ambient temps were between 48-81 degrees depending on day. 10 shot average velocities were 2610, 2619, 2612, and 2615. Seems pretty stable! Ten shot groups range from that one low 0.61” up to 0.88”.

H4895 bridges less than Varget and in my short experience with both it has much less static cling. More enjoyable to reload with. Plus the accuracy and temp stability…can’t complain. It’s kinda early to say this but I prefer it to Varget for this cartridge.

[300BLK]

I've used IMR 4895, but never H4895. Your results are very good!

[Hurley88]

Yeah I was just going through the full data again. Varget needs a full grain more than H4895 for the same velocity and is more difficult to fit under the bullet, while LeverEvolution is clocking roughly 1.3-1.8fps per degree of temperature change (I’m putting it as a range bc I don’t have enough data to nail down an exact number). H4895 is giving better dispersion, slightly higher velocity than Varget but obviously not more than Lever, is less temperature sensitive, and is easier to fit in the case.

In another 1k rounds I’ll be claiming it is to the 6ARC as H4350 is to the 6.5CM, ha! For now I’m just liking what I see.

Wish I had some IMR 4895, I’d be testing that as well. Do you have any data with it?