My Whelen is an Ackley version, and accuracy is good, but I still haven't shot the clover leaf that I know the gun is capable of (I occasionally get a couple shots in the same hole and then the next will be out a ways). It is built as a Featherweight M70, and I am still trying to find exactly what is required to shoot it accurately off the bench, but hunting accuracy is there. Best groups are right at an inch with Speer 250s.
After the new data from Speer came out, I thought I should give the top powders a try. I had planned on using RL17, as the QL Data shows it as an outstanding powder for the Whelen, but there really isn't any tested data available for it.
I gave CFE223 a try first, since I had some handy for my 223. I started near the max as published by Speer, and worked my way up, only looking for accuracy and pressure signs. Never ran into pressure signs, but I thought accuracy should be better (it wasn't bad, but I have a Pac-Nor Match Grade barrel on this one). I then found a couple pounds of PP2000-MR and figured I would see if it performed any better.
Same procedure of starting near max and working up for the Ackley. I never ran into pressure signs, stopping at what I felt was a safe maximum for the AI (Std data + 3%). At 68 grains, accuracy was equal to my best groups with other powders, so I decided that 1" would do for hunting at any range I was likely to encounter, so I played with seating depth and busted out the chronograph.
I was pretty shocked at the printout...2747 average with an SD of 10.9. The first shot was an anomaly (low), and without it my SD would be low single digits. I would have thought the chronograph was off, but other loads confirmed that it was reading correctly. I don't know if there is any truth to the idea that there are slow and fast barrels, but even with a mild load of CFE223 for fire forming, it was pushing a 250gr Hornady at 2650. Again, this is built as a Featherweight, and only has a 22" barrel!
I would say that this new Speer data is giving this cartridge a huge boost.
After the new data from Speer came out, I thought I should give the top powders a try. I had planned on using RL17, as the QL Data shows it as an outstanding powder for the Whelen, but there really isn't any tested data available for it.
I gave CFE223 a try first, since I had some handy for my 223. I started near the max as published by Speer, and worked my way up, only looking for accuracy and pressure signs. Never ran into pressure signs, but I thought accuracy should be better (it wasn't bad, but I have a Pac-Nor Match Grade barrel on this one). I then found a couple pounds of PP2000-MR and figured I would see if it performed any better.
Same procedure of starting near max and working up for the Ackley. I never ran into pressure signs, stopping at what I felt was a safe maximum for the AI (Std data + 3%). At 68 grains, accuracy was equal to my best groups with other powders, so I decided that 1" would do for hunting at any range I was likely to encounter, so I played with seating depth and busted out the chronograph.
I was pretty shocked at the printout...2747 average with an SD of 10.9. The first shot was an anomaly (low), and without it my SD would be low single digits. I would have thought the chronograph was off, but other loads confirmed that it was reading correctly. I don't know if there is any truth to the idea that there are slow and fast barrels, but even with a mild load of CFE223 for fire forming, it was pushing a 250gr Hornady at 2650. Again, this is built as a Featherweight, and only has a 22" barrel!
I would say that this new Speer data is giving this cartridge a huge boost.
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