Creedmore
Beginner
- Oct 12, 2011
- 110
- 0
I received my barreled action from McGowen last month, and put her together.
Stainless 26" #4 contour, fluted 1:9 twist
Holland's recoil lug
B&C M40 stock
I did my fire-forming and barrel break-in, and some abbreviated load development with 140 Accubonds and RL-22 powder. Started at 62 grains and worked up to 64. 63.3gr is my ceiling for pressure - and these clocked 3415fps on my Oehler 35. The group size really opened up, too. Anything above 63.3 and my primer pockets started getting loose.
the load I settled on with the best group was:
140gr AccuBond
62.0gr RL-22
Federal Large Match primer
Seating depth 3.340" - I measured the lands at 3.350"
This produced 1" groups at 3330fps
Managed to take 3 deer before Thanksgiving with this load.
I know the group size will shrink after more shooting. So, it's time to work on some load development over the next few months while we still have some cold weather. For the 280AI gurus on here, what would you recommend?
I think I will play with seating depth first on the load above and see if I can't find the magic depth that it really likes. Then, I'm thinking that I might go back and start over, maybe 60 or 61gr and do the work-up again at this seating depth. Also with H4831 to have a comparison load. I'm getting good velocity with a 140, don't really have plans to shoot anything larger than a whitetail, but I'm considering going up to a 160 AccuBond just to see what I get.
Thanks for any suggestons.
Stainless 26" #4 contour, fluted 1:9 twist
Holland's recoil lug
B&C M40 stock
I did my fire-forming and barrel break-in, and some abbreviated load development with 140 Accubonds and RL-22 powder. Started at 62 grains and worked up to 64. 63.3gr is my ceiling for pressure - and these clocked 3415fps on my Oehler 35. The group size really opened up, too. Anything above 63.3 and my primer pockets started getting loose.
the load I settled on with the best group was:
140gr AccuBond
62.0gr RL-22
Federal Large Match primer
Seating depth 3.340" - I measured the lands at 3.350"
This produced 1" groups at 3330fps
Managed to take 3 deer before Thanksgiving with this load.
I know the group size will shrink after more shooting. So, it's time to work on some load development over the next few months while we still have some cold weather. For the 280AI gurus on here, what would you recommend?
I think I will play with seating depth first on the load above and see if I can't find the magic depth that it really likes. Then, I'm thinking that I might go back and start over, maybe 60 or 61gr and do the work-up again at this seating depth. Also with H4831 to have a comparison load. I'm getting good velocity with a 140, don't really have plans to shoot anything larger than a whitetail, but I'm considering going up to a 160 AccuBond just to see what I get.
Thanks for any suggestons.