15 Rounds of the 35 Newton

[SJB358]

Well, I finally got it out and ran it a little. Awesome, just awesome is all I can say. It is going to be a great rifle I believe. Brand new barrel on it, did very well for it's first time out. I actually loaded it much higher than I initially wanted to. I was looking for a more lower powered load, but the case capacity isn't nearly as much as QL projected, ran it to about 58K PSI.. Did fine though. No issues yet.

Cartridge : .35 Newton
Bullet : .358, 225, Sierra SPBT 2850
Useable Case Capaci: 83.626 grain H2O = 5.430 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 76 61.60 2315 2678 30668 8700 91.9 1.411
-18.0 78 63.14 2371 2810 32645 8975 93.1 1.374
-16.0 80 64.68 2428 2945 34746 9239 94.2 1.338
-14.0 82 66.22 2484 3084 36983 9492 95.2 1.302
-12.0 84 67.76 2541 3226 39361 9733 96.1 1.264
-10.0 86 69.30 2597 3370 41889 9960 97.0 1.226
-08.0 88 70.84 2654 3518 44591 10173 97.7 1.191
-06.0 90 72.38 2710 3669 47467 10370 98.4 1.157
-04.0 91 73.92 2766 3822 50533 10550 98.9 1.124
-02.0 93 75.46 2822 3978 53807 10713 99.3 1.092
+00.0 95 77.00 2877 4136 57305 10857 99.6 1.061 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 97 78.54 2932 4296 61044 10982 99.9 1.032 ! Near Maximum !
+04.0 99 80.08 2987 4458 65047 11087 100.0 1.003 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 101 81.62 3042 4622 69337 11172 100.0 0.975 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 103 83.16 3095 4787 73939 11250 100.0 0.948 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 105 84.70 3149 4954 78884 11324 100.0 0.922 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 95 77.00 2996 4485 68282 10462 100.0 0.987 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 95 77.00 2707 3661 47365 10732 95.1 1.157


That's the QL projection for my load, using a 91.5 grain H20 capacity (measured tonight after firing)..

My initial load was Hornady 375 Ruger brass, CCI250's and 77 grains of RL17, topped with the 225 Sierra Gameking, seated at 3.330" COAL.

The first target point, on the bottom was the first group out of the rifle at 25 yards..



Shot that, and was pretty happy with it.. Didn't even really have to adjust the scope.

This was my second group fired, at 100 yards.



Third group



Then, again, the top two aiming points are the last two groups..



While not rockchuck accurate, it shows plenty of promise. Did have the chrono set up, but looking at QL, I think I was probably in the 2850-2870 range with the 225 Sierra Gameking's. I have a ton of the them, figure I will do a bunch of the barrel shooting in with those, and switch over to 225 AB's when I think I am closer to finding a load.

Very impressive rifle. It does shoot a good sized fireball at dusk, but overall, very easily handled rifle and I believe it is going to be all the more impressive as it smooths out.

Here is another shot of the Newton..



I'll have to work on getting some better outdoor pictures. I rushed home, pretty antsy at getting some rounds thru it.

 

[DrMike]

Very promising, Scotty. Several of those groups would have to put a smile on even the face of Oscar the Grouch.

 

[truck driver]

Looking good Scotty for the first loads fired.
How bad did the barrel foul with copper?

 

[pre6422hornet]

Very nice Scotty. I bet you couldn't stop smiling!

Those groups look very promising.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Awesome! How is the recoil compare to the Whelen or 338?

 

[Elkman]

Outstanding !!!!!!

 

[Oldtrader3]

The Newton appears as though it wants to shoot. If my 9.3x74R is any indication, you are getting some nice groups and some with fliers. Too soon for a lasting trend but I would run a couple of similar burning rate powders and see if anything stands out? My 9.3x74 seems to shoot best at about 50-53 KIPS. Two powders (IMR 4064 and 4350) both gave me 5-shot groups of 1-1/4 inches. I need more range time too before I can derive any permanent trends. I need to shot a ladder of all the powders and loads that I have tried thus far and see what peeks out at me from all this.

It also seems to closely reflect the .338WM in bullet velocities as well?

 

[SJB358]

Recoil is pretty 338 Win Mag "like" if I had to guess. Velocities are probably a touch above the 338 Win Mag, as it provides some more case capacity than the Win Mag, and since it is a 358 caliber bullet it allows a little more gas on the same weight bullet. Looks like 2900 is pretty easily attainable with a 225.

If I try another powder, it'll likely be H414/W760. Overall though, I think it'll shoot fine. I haven't seen a ton of rifles shoot awesome right outta the box, and since this is a rebore, it is brand new cut rifling, so I would imagine it'll take a little smoothing.

No reporting on copper fouling yet. Seems good so far. I will probably just knock the carbon out of it before I shoot it next, but I won't mess with copper for a little while.

 

[ajvigs]

Very nice. I would be happy with those groups, but once everything settles in I think any big game is in serious trouble.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Definitely another good elk caliber!

 

[FOTIS]

Very nice Scotty!

 

[JD338]

Nice Scotty. The big 35 Newton looks like she is going to be a shooter.

JD338

 

[Hegland]

Really cool, Scotty. Looks like a perfect nasty-weather complement to the .338!

 

[truck driver]

Really cool, Scotty. Looks like a perfect nasty-weather complement to the .338!

Maybe the .338 will become a safe queen. :mrgreen:

 

[SJB358]

Really cool, Scotty. Looks like a perfect nasty-weather complement to the .338!

Maybe the .338 will become a safe queen. :mrgreen:

Not a chance...

 

[ScreaminEagle]

That's a sweet looking rig scotty!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Good point about the newton being a rebore Scotty. It may take awhile to wear some of the edges smooth and settle down. Nice looking rifle too.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Was it lapped at all after being re-bored?

 

[RiverRider]

I'm a walnut-and-blued-steel kinda guy, but that's a sweet looking rig you got there, Scotty. Looks like the perfect elk rifle to me!

 

[longrangehunter]

If I try another powder, it'll likely be H414/W760. Overall though, I think it'll shoot fine. I haven't seen a ton of rifles shoot awesome right outta the box, and since this is a rebore, it is brand new cut rifling, so I would imagine it'll take a little smoothing.

No reporting on copper fouling yet. Seems good so far. I will probably just knock the carbon out of it before I shoot it next, but I won't mess with copper for a little while.

Scotty, I'm wondering why you're not braking in the barrel to polish the throat area and any tooling marks left in the barrel? I've found even on lapped barrels the throat still needs to be polished from the reamer. I have seen some barrels shoot terrific right from the get-go and foregone the last 30-40 rounds of break-in, but most got the shoot once and clean for the first 10 rounds, 3 rounds five times, and 5 rounds five times cleaning procedure.

In the end they seem to clean up much easier then would lets say a factory barrel? I've often thought like a new engine, don't hot rod it until all the moving parts have a chance to seat themselves properly?

After 50-100 rounds let the barrel tell you when it needs cleaning? Just a thought and I'm not wanting to say anything to get you or someone else in an up roar?

BTW, how is your good friend and his 7LRM going?