350JR, load for this year's whitetail

3

350JR

Handloader
Sep 21, 2012
339
1
350JR round, fired and neck sized, donut removed
47.8 Grains of IMR 8208 XBR (lightly compressed)
Federal 215M primer
Nosler 225 grain Ballistic Tip
Crony F-1 (tested with 22 standard velocity)

ZERO pressure signs on round or on bolt lift.

*late addition*......This is with a 20.5 inch barrel.
2574
2570
2573
2576
2572

Photo142.jpg


Photo143.jpg


350JR2572.jpg


Preliminary "leaner" groups at 100 yards with 7x scope 1.50 inches. I may or may not do better if I put on a high X scope and had a decent rest....but......I think "Im done" for load seach for 2012s deer season.

GodBless and many many thanks to DrMike and others spending all their time on PMs with me.

Steve
 
Steve,

That looks pretty good! It may be enough to excite others to consider building a 350JR.
 
Very nice! 2570 with a 225 is pretty about a 100FPS lead on the 358 Winchester! I think you have met your goal and then some! Great shooting. WT's are in trouble in your area for sure!
 
Thanks guys. Im "pickled tink" at the results so far. They have exceeded my "2500 fps" goal with a single powder choice.

I know I'll HAVE TO try some TAC, Xterminator, H322 or Benchmark when I get the opportunity.

The limiting factor with IMR8208 is capacity, not pressure.

Curiousity has me wondering just where it COULD go but.....I'm approx 100 fps less than the Whelen loads I see around so........I cant complain! For my uses and ranges, another 100 fps would be "neat" but other than just for testing, I can't see me loading hotter for hunting. Especially for whitetail in Indiana.

Probably a bit boring to you bigger bore shooters and hunters but you can color ME a pretty "happy daddy" at this point in time. :grin:

The whole program from picking a round to alter to finished rifle will certainly "add something" to this years hunts.

PRAY I DONT MISS! :roll:

God Bless

Here is Junior (the finished version) next to Senior for those curious. Neck (to me) looks a little long but sure is handy loading those Noslers! Hard to see but the shoulder diameter of the 350JR is .500 compared to the .494 350 Mag.

IMG_0516.jpg
 
With 9 tags for firearm season I need all the "best wishes" available, so Thank you.......once again.

GodBless
Steve
 
Still playing but sold on the IMR8208 for the 225s.

FWIW tried some H335, max load with the 225 bullets was a bit below the IMR8208 2525 vs 2572 (ish). A little bit of a stuff bolt lift with max load that was 1.2 grains more than the IMR8208.

Considerably denser stuff but even with mag primers I got a big orange ball of flame out the end of the barrel with near a full case of the stuff and a light bullet, LOL!

Took me a LONG time to explain why a lighter bullet ended up leaving the barrel slower with the slower burning powder to my buddy that dont load. Pretty sure he, (and others) think Im insane.

It was however, a bit of a surprise to me. Most charts show the IMR8208 and H335 neck and neck in burn rate. Id not call my two lots that way. Same charge weight wise of H335 as the IMR8208 used, same primer, same bullet.......over 100 fps slower. Looks like it might be a good one for 250s in my round though. Could be the powder lots........could be the charts are w ww wwrong. :shock: Ive had a few tell me that IMR8208 "seemed a bit faster" than H4895" also in the same area of the charts.

Do believe Benchmark will be next or H322 if they dont have it. How much difference in burn rate ARE these two? H322 shows up just a tad faster on my chart. Maybe Ill buy both. Got some light bullets here to work up loads for sometime.

GodBless
Steve
 
Ok, out on a limb here so politely asking.

Is there something "unbelievable" about my results to date?

So far, results have bested my expectations but not by much. Good loads in the 358W dont lag behind a 35 Whelen too awful far and I expected results between the two with the pressure rating of the parent round, the 350, RM being slightly higher.

For the record, the 2550 fps plus with IMR8208 is max only by capacity, not pressure signs of any kind. I dont think I've hit max but expect "Im close'.

Powder choice amongst others are providing results "not unbelievable", at least to me but.. I AM here amongst you all not only to share our sport but to learn too.

Replies here, or PMs if you prefer, are appreciated.

FWIW ballistic programs like JBM trajectory pretty much match what Im getting in drop to 300 yards so ASSUMING the Chrony readout isnt THAT far off. Drop isnt exact, of course, me being a believer that most "BC Claims" are a bit...generous??

Short update. Never made it to the shop 30 miles away for some faster powder but did go ahead and load some IMR8208 behind some 180 grain bullets, just for curousity sake. Havent shot them yet but will soon. Season is saturday so testing has kind of went by the wayside for now.

I believe it to be a little slow yet for maximum velocities with light bullets but not as slow as H335 showed to be.

Perhaps I'm all wet but when identical weights of the two powders showed H335 a full 100 fps slower thru the chrony (regardless of bullet used) with a huge muzzle flash, I'm calling H335 horrifically too slow, at least the lot I have.

H322 seems to be up for the next powder to try but, for now, going hunting!

But, back to my question for those feeling so. Should my results seem a bit "high", I appreciate your opinion.

No worries about offending me. After 60 trips around the sun on this rock you'd have to go some to find something someone else hasnt said to my face LOL.

God Bless
Steve
 
Steve, your 8208 loads seem to be awesome at 2500+. Your right, you are just behind a Whelen, with alot less powder used also. 2500 and the 225 BT or AB is still a hard hitting load with very useable trajectory. Everything I have read looks like your on point. Heck, you are getting more speed from your 225 than a 180 in a 300 Savage will do, and folks used that near and far for killing and never complained too much! Your hitting with more bullet, speed and energy! Your load, the way it sits would hammer elk.. It would be hard for me to change much, as you have excellent BC and the ability to shoot much further than you probably need to, add some dials to your rig and I bet you would be surprised how easy it is to make hits out to 500..
 
Thank you.

I feel the same but habitually am running into locals (and some online) that quote such and such wildcat "beats yours".....UH, OK.......and your point would be what exactly?

Without a competitive bone in my body, it's quite easy to shrug such comments off but lordy momma! What you guys planning on shooting? Irish Elk?

State my given velocities most HERE (locally) are reacting with "that's ALL?.....Wow, Id be disappointed".

On the flip side, some online call my results "exaggerated" so my only recourse is to simply ask them to come visit me at the range, bring their chronograph too. :grin:

THIS was the one place I felt I'd get info straight from the shoulder, honest and backed with some useful FACTS so......my thanks once again.

God Bless
 
Looks like you're set. 1.5 MOA + 4.4" at 300 yards puts your PBR hold at about 250. Pretty comparable to a .308 win in that regard. Can push it a hair farther with known range and a calm wind. Looks like you accomplished your goal.

I'm curious and too lazy to google it. What are the parameters for a legal rifle cartridge in your state? Sounds like a neat round you came up with.
 
Steve,

There are a lot of experts posting on various forums. Some will dismiss anything except their favourite cartridge, and they don't really shoot that one well. Others have instant reaction to every situation, without considering the parameters. In toto, I'd say you've done an admirable job. You can try other powders, and with time you will have that opportunity. For the moment, you're good to go for Indiana with a rather exciting cartridge. When you tag out, you'll be able to say it was your baby through and through. Best of luck.
 
Don't let the Internet nerds get you down Steve. If it shoots well, I don't think you will have a problem hunting scrawny little deer. That load would hammer elk to 350 without issue in my mind. I bet your packing some serious energy with that bullet at 300.
 
Polaris":1xmozefu said:
Looks like you're set. 1.5 MOA + 4.4" at 300 yards puts your PBR hold at about 250. Pretty comparable to a .308 win in that regard. Can push it a hair farther with known range and a calm wind. Looks like you accomplished your goal.

I'm curious and too lazy to google it. What are the parameters for a legal rifle cartridge in your state? Sounds like a neat round you came up with.
Click to expand...

THIS year (LOL) its a minimum bore of .357 and a maximum brass length of 1.800 inches.(minimum of 1.16).
It was 1.625 inches for max brass length last year, with the same bore size as a minimum.

In a handgun, I could hunt with a 338 LM....if I wanted (and had the cash, and was cra..........I mean man enough :mrgreen: ) No max in a handgun, .243 min bore and 1.16 min brass length.

God Bless
Steve

SJB358....yup. With my max to date 225 BT load, energy at 300 reads 1983 ft-lbs.

BTW, I floated the barrel (why someone would glass the action and not float the barrel had me scrathing my head), groups went to <MOA, soooooo........I stuck a (not meantioned brand here) 4-16x scope on it with ranging dots that work out to 100, 170, 250, 330 and 410 yards. Practiced warranted before this old fart goes "LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG" (for here) range. :grin:
But......right NOW....250 dont scare me an iota.

"scrawny little deer?"

Photo153.jpg


Don't get excited. allegedly it was "road kill" here in IN, this month. OHHHHHHH you mean "scrawny little deer".....LIKE I SHOOT? ok, now I gotcha :wink:
 
I mean scrawny little deer compared to even a cow elk sized animal.. You have more energy at 300 than a 30-30 puts at the muzzle. Your going to slay deer!
 
I know buddy........just funnin' with ya. Thanks for the pep talk. Hoping to see SOMETHING this weekend.

GodBless
 
350JR":1gqt8dhr said:
I know buddy........just funnin' with ya. Thanks for the pep talk. Hoping to see SOMETHING this weekend.

GodBless
Click to expand...

That was a MONSTER buck though! Silly big!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AMMUNITIONAmmunition BULLETSBullets BRASSBrass FirearmsFirearms GearGear
Back
Top