DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,186
- 5,656
I had some work to perform on a customer's gun today. This afforded me opportunity to spend some time in load development on two of my newer rifles. I took the 338 Federal and the 9.3X64 Brenneke with me. I was a little concerned that the Brenneke had a longer throat than I had anticipated. However, before I began to insist on some adjustments, I decided I should see if it will shoot. I believe there is potential there. This is the rifle:
I loaded a couple of sets built around the 286 grain Partition. One set was built with RL22 and a second with N560. Each of these loads shows potential, even with the long jump to the lands. My best group with N560 is 0.80 inches, which is certainly minute of moose (or grizzly). I believe this will tighten as the load is refined and the rifle is broken in.
The lighter charge was 0.80 inches and the groups opened to a maximum of 1.38 inches at the higher charge. Velocity at the maximum is just a shade under 2600 fps. That is about 100 fps less than I projected, but still sufficient to thump game around here. Plus, velocity will increase as the rifle is shot some more.
With RL22, the groups grew tighter as the charge was increased. Groups went from 1.60 inches at the lightest charge to 0.85 inches at the highest charge.
Again, for the first time wringing it out, I can't say that I'm displeased.
I also had the 338 Federal out with a number of loads. There were still loads needing to be shot when the day was finished. However, I did obtain some good intel on this rifle. This was the rifle that tagged my moose earlier this fall.
I did some work with 185 grain TSX and Hodgdon CFE. The loads gave me good velocities, and so-so accuracy. It was consistent across the spectrum at 1.5 inch groups. However, I had considerably more success with either the 200 grain E-Tip or the 210 grain Partition. With the E-Tip, I had a load charged with W748 which is giving decent accuracy. Velocity isn't great, but I have something to work from.
I'm certain I'll look at this load more carefully in coming days, focusing on making the groups somewhat tighter and boosting the velocity a tad. At least one of the loads built around the 210 grain Partition are showing some promise. The load built with A2520 simply isn't giving me the accuracy I might anticipate. However, a load worked up with H380 shows some promise.
Velocities for these loads was in the 2400 to 2450 range, which can be boosted somewhat. Accuracy is sub-MOA, which gives me something to work toward.
In all, it was a pleasant day at the range. Temperatures were in the vicinity of 34C at mid-afternoon, after starting the day at 1C. Wind was about 6 km/hr with gusts to about 8 km/hr from 180 degrees. Not bad.
I loaded a couple of sets built around the 286 grain Partition. One set was built with RL22 and a second with N560. Each of these loads shows potential, even with the long jump to the lands. My best group with N560 is 0.80 inches, which is certainly minute of moose (or grizzly). I believe this will tighten as the load is refined and the rifle is broken in.
The lighter charge was 0.80 inches and the groups opened to a maximum of 1.38 inches at the higher charge. Velocity at the maximum is just a shade under 2600 fps. That is about 100 fps less than I projected, but still sufficient to thump game around here. Plus, velocity will increase as the rifle is shot some more.
With RL22, the groups grew tighter as the charge was increased. Groups went from 1.60 inches at the lightest charge to 0.85 inches at the highest charge.
Again, for the first time wringing it out, I can't say that I'm displeased.
I also had the 338 Federal out with a number of loads. There were still loads needing to be shot when the day was finished. However, I did obtain some good intel on this rifle. This was the rifle that tagged my moose earlier this fall.
I did some work with 185 grain TSX and Hodgdon CFE. The loads gave me good velocities, and so-so accuracy. It was consistent across the spectrum at 1.5 inch groups. However, I had considerably more success with either the 200 grain E-Tip or the 210 grain Partition. With the E-Tip, I had a load charged with W748 which is giving decent accuracy. Velocity isn't great, but I have something to work from.
I'm certain I'll look at this load more carefully in coming days, focusing on making the groups somewhat tighter and boosting the velocity a tad. At least one of the loads built around the 210 grain Partition are showing some promise. The load built with A2520 simply isn't giving me the accuracy I might anticipate. However, a load worked up with H380 shows some promise.
Velocities for these loads was in the 2400 to 2450 range, which can be boosted somewhat. Accuracy is sub-MOA, which gives me something to work toward.
In all, it was a pleasant day at the range. Temperatures were in the vicinity of 34C at mid-afternoon, after starting the day at 1C. Wind was about 6 km/hr with gusts to about 8 km/hr from 180 degrees. Not bad.
