05-29-2023, 12:30 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-29-2023, 12:41 PM by Bassfish1952.)
[attachment=694 Wrote:grayfox pid='5755' dateline='1685314080']Check the mgspd frequently until you have a good idea of how it's holding. I had to do that at first, but still check every 4-5 loads or so.I was trying to copy Hornady to get a baseline and felt it was safe to start with them. The first loading 28.4 all came in at 2878-99 So I'm starting my second try at 29gr. which is below Hornady's 2nd load at 29.5 but may give me 2900-2950fps and should be a safe start. Going up .1gr at a time till I get a good consistency and a good grouping while staying below Hornady's 3rd load of 30gr which gave me just over 3000fps and is a lot less than max load at 32.3gr.
My opinion, if those loads show your load spread you are loading too fast, too far apart as to load values. For a new bullet (to you), and new process you should start at the 28.4 then increase by 0.3 gr, some guys use 5 per load step, I do a ladder first then 4 per step once I know what my barrel will do.
So either
a. 1 at 28.4, 1-28.7, 1-29.0, 1-29.3, 1-29.6. Mayve add a 29.9.
or
b. 4 ea at, again, 28.4, 28.7, 29.0, 29.3, 29.6.
Watching it all the time (during the shooting) b/c if you start to see 100+ fps more than Hornady, something is way off.
Magneto all of them, then take the data back to graph it out.
Take that data back to the bench and evaluate. You have a 24" barrel, so did they for this load data. Could be your throat is shorter than theirs was (did you check the oal to make sure you were off the lands? I would load all-copper like that, conservatively, 50-60 thou off the lands since it is tougher to engrave in the barrel than cup/core.).
Some early barrels had short throats, hornady "fixed" it by shortening their 105 bthp ammo but IMO those throats were still short. Short throat means higher pressure and unrealistically higher MV. Just one thought on what you're seeing.
If it is your scales then you should be able to find that out easily...
Anyway keep us posted.
By testing my loads against Hornady factory 2728-2758 and 2742 I think showed I was getting good readings of my inexperience with the scale and possible inadequate electronic scale. I'll set up the balance beam and check all loads with it going forward and ordered a microjust seating stem to help with getting consistent results on OAL which in this case I was shooting for 2.24 but ended up at 2.25 based on Hornady's OAL for the 90gr CX and GMX bullet, well off the lands.
The good news is I am very happy with my Pac-Nor Barrel with all my screw ups in inconsistency making the bullets this is my shot group at 100yds
3x9x50 scope
there was 13 rounds fired at this I see 12 holes not sure about number 13 But I think this barrel is very tolerant of assorted loads which for a hunting rifle makes me happy.
Now I have 50 87gr Absolute Hammers coming, after I nail down a load for the 90gr Hornady I will start not as the YouTube said but at a little less than my 90gr CX load to try 1 shot with the Hammer but that's for later
I did not have a spotting scope and fired all rounds before going down range to check the target but think the flyer was my next to last and last loads ( the hottest ones) the last may have gone off the paper to that side. We'll see on the next test
Also I did have several old reloading hands and the range safety officer take a interest in my endeavor and gave me opinions it was an interesting day