Efficient load development

[Bbear]

I run the 110 AB in both of mine. One barrel has over 3500 rounds through it and I'm chasing lands on it. Still getting bugholes though.
My powder for both is 7977. In one I'm getting just over 3200 fps (around 3225 if I recall). In the other I'm a half-grain less and getting 3175.
Sub .5" groups when I hold my mouth right and the wind-gods don't mess with me and the earth holds still and moon is right and the...

 

[bob_dobalina]

I run the 110 AB in both of mine. One barrel has over 3500 rounds through it and I'm chasing lands on it. Still getting bugholes though.
My powder for both is 7977. In one I'm getting just over 3200 fps (around 3225 if I recall). In the other I'm a half-grain less and getting 3175.
Sub .5" groups when I hold my mouth right and the wind-gods don't mess with me and the earth holds still and moon is right and the...

There was 7977 in stock yesterday locally too. That stuff looked interesting because it's supposed to help with copper fouling.

 

[Partisan]

Finally got some 120 partitions in .257.
I've got some starting loads to try in the 257 WBY using IMR7977...
Will see what those do.

 

[AFG270]

Looking at a QL projection with 100 grain Partitions,

First, I likely have some room to play. Then, RL17 may not be the most efficient powder or provide the best results.

Using RL17 may be understandable if that is what is available, however.

Great info here. Hope this helps others as well as myself understand the most efficient powder.

So DrMike and others what powder would you use based off of QL and WHY? I just used MagPro and IMR 4350 with 100g NBT's to break-in my barrel and had very good accuracy, but not the velocity, although I have not pushed them yet. I was going to try RL 17 next as it has work well with other cartridges.

Bob, don't mean to hijack your post, hope this helps you also.

 

[jimbires]

Looking at a QL projection with 100 grain Partitions,

First, I likely have some room to play. Then, RL17 may not be the most efficient powder or provide the best results.

Using RL17 may be understandable if that is what is available, however.

Great info here. Hope this helps others as well as myself understand the most efficient powder.

So DrMike and others what powder would you use based off of QL and WHY? I just used MagPro and IMR 4350 with 100g NBT's to break-in my barrel and had very good accuracy, but not the velocity, although I have not pushed them yet. I was going to try RL 17 next as it has work well with other cartridges.

Bob, don't mean to hijack your post, hope this helps you also.

I start at the top of the powder list from Quickload . the list is highest velocity , at the top , to lowest velocity . I look for powders I already have , or are easy to get , that produce high velocity . I also look for case fill between 90% - 105% . going by the chart posted above , I'd be using these powders in this order ; RL26 , IMR 7828ssc , RL22 , RL17 , RL19 . by the time I get to RL17 powder I've given up 70 FPS . hopefully I've found good accuracy before this powder . RL 19 is loosing 100FPS

I'd bet on RL26 for this combo . max load is 101.5% case fill , gives the highest velocity. looks like a winner to me .

 

[SJB358]

I can tell you I'm at nearly 3400 with RL26 and 100 grain ETips in my 24" 25-06. Pretty accurate as well.

 

[AFG270]

Looking at a QL projection with 100 grain Partitions,

First, I likely have some room to play. Then, RL17 may not be the most efficient powder or provide the best results.

Using RL17 may be understandable if that is what is available, however.

Great info here. Hope this helps others as well as myself understand the most efficient powder.

So DrMike and others what powder would you use based off of QL and WHY? I just used MagPro and IMR 4350 with 100g NBT's to break-in my barrel and had very good accuracy, but not the velocity, although I have not pushed them yet. I was going to try RL 17 next as it has work well with other cartridges.

Bob, don't mean to hijack your post, hope this helps you also.

I start at the top of the powder list from Quickload . the list is highest velocity , at the top , to lowest velocity . I look for powders I already have , or are easy to get , that produce high velocity . I also look for case fill between 90% - 105% . going by the chart posted above , I'd be using these powders in this order ; RL26 , IMR 7828ssc , RL22 , RL17 , RL19 . by the time I get to RL17 powder I've given up 70 FPS . hopefully I've found good accuracy before this powder . RL 19 is loosing 100FPS

I'd bet on RL26 for this combo . max load is 101.5% case fill , gives the highest velocity. looks like a winner to me .

Jim, thank you for the explanation. RL 26 looks like a winner to me also. Not only for the TTSX and Etips as Scotty mentioned but for the Partitions as well.
Does the Propellant Burnt % enter into your decision on which powder to use?

 

[jimbires]

Looking at a QL projection with 100 grain Partitions,

First, I likely have some room to play. Then, RL17 may not be the most efficient powder or provide the best results.

Using RL17 may be understandable if that is what is available, however.

Great info here. Hope this helps others as well as myself understand the most efficient powder.

So DrMike and others what powder would you use based off of QL and WHY? I just used MagPro and IMR 4350 with 100g NBT's to break-in my barrel and had very good accuracy, but not the velocity, although I have not pushed them yet. I was going to try RL 17 next as it has work well with other cartridges.

Bob, don't mean to hijack your post, hope this helps you also.

I start at the top of the powder list from Quickload . the list is highest velocity , at the top , to lowest velocity . I look for powders I already have , or are easy to get , that produce high velocity . I also look for case fill between 90% - 105% . going by the chart posted above , I'd be using these powders in this order ; RL26 , IMR 7828ssc , RL22 , RL17 , RL19 . by the time I get to RL17 powder I've given up 70 FPS . hopefully I've found good accuracy before this powder . RL 19 is loosing 100FPS

I'd bet on RL26 for this combo . max load is 101.5% case fill , gives the highest velocity. looks like a winner to me .

Jim, thank you for the explanation. RL 26 looks like a winner to me also. Not only for the TTSX and Etips as Scotty mentioned but for the Partitions as well.
Does the Propellant Burnt % enter into your decision on which powder to use?

I look at the burn% , but it's not a deciding factor for me . I feel if you have an acceptable case fill , 90% - 105%, and are working around the high end of velocity, the burn % will be good . to me burn % is showing effeciency . to be getting the higher velocity , in my case fill % range , it must be an effecient powder in this combo .

 

[DrMike]

Looking at a QL projection with 100 grain Partitions,

First, I likely have some room to play. Then, RL17 may not be the most efficient powder or provide the best results.

Using RL17 may be understandable if that is what is available, however.

Great info here. Hope this helps others as well as myself understand the most efficient powder.

So DrMike and others what powder would you use based off of QL and WHY? I just used MagPro and IMR 4350 with 100g NBT's to break-in my barrel and had very good accuracy, but not the velocity, although I have not pushed them yet. I was going to try RL 17 next as it has work well with other cartridges.

Bob, don't mean to hijack your post, hope this helps you also.

Rather late to the game, since the weekend was packed with responsibilities. However, others have given you good guidance. As already mentioned, I look to those powders that will give me the best case fill (I certainly want at least 90% case fill; though optimal for me tends closer to a fill of 100% to 110%), percent of powder burned and velocity. One of another of these parameters may not be the highest, but they will be in the top percentile inevitably.

 

[bob_dobalina]

I was just dinking around today because I wanted to get some once fired cases to make a modified case out of. I know 3 shots isn't a great sample, but what do you make of these chrono numbers?

100 gr. Nosler Partition
51 gr RL17
WLR primer
3.200" OAL

1. 2989 FPS
2. 3023 FPS
3. 3072 FPS

 

[Dwh7271]

I'd want to check that chrono. :grin:
83 fps is a pretty big spread.

 

[bob_dobalina]

I'd want to check that chrono. :grin:
83 fps is a pretty big spread.

Maybe I just throw that first number away as an error. That puts me in the ballpark of where I thought I'd be.

 

[AFG270]

Bob,

Divernhunter on this Forum has all kinds of 25-06 load data and target pictures he has used. Send him a PM, he has some data for Barnes bullets. He may have a combo you are looking for, good luck.

 

[SJB358]

Bob, I'd say you are still pretty light on the charge weight to get good consistent numbers with RL17. I'd bet as you push into the 3250 range your numbers will tighten up.

 

[bob_dobalina]

Cartridge : .25-06 Rem.
Bullet : .257, 100, Barnes 'TTSX'BT 30220
Useable Case Capaci: 60.237 grain H2O = 3.911 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.250 inch = 82.55 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26

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   81    48.48   2723    1646   31289  11099     92.9    1.416
-18.0   83    49.69   2796    1736   33512  11450     94.3    1.380
-16.0   85    50.90   2870    1829   35918  11779     95.6    1.344
-14.0   87    52.12   2944    1925   38524  12082     96.8    1.308
-12.0   89    53.33   3019    2024   41349  12356     97.8    1.273
-10.0   91    54.54   3093    2125   44417  12598     98.6    1.239
-08.0   93    55.75   3168    2228   47748  12807     99.2    1.205
-06.0   95    56.96   3242    2333   51374  12979     99.7    1.172
-04.0   97    58.18   3315    2440   55324  13113     99.9    1.134
-02.0   99    59.39   3388    2549   59635  13206    100.0    1.096  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  102    60.60   3460    2659   64348  13280    100.0    1.059  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0  104    61.81   3532    2770   69489  13348    100.0    1.024  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  106    63.02   3603    2882   75054  13411    100.0    0.990  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0  108    64.24   3673    2996   81113  13468    100.0    0.957  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  110    65.45   3743    3112   87728  13519    100.0    0.925  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  112    66.66   3813    3229   94965  13564    100.0    0.894  !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 102 60.60 3617 2905 80671 12719 100.0 0.968 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 102 60.60 3221 2303 50011 13549 97.2 1.177

Dragging up this old thread because I might actually be getting my hands on some RL26! Can anyone offer advice at a series of loads to try stepping up with? Something like 56gr, 57gr, 58gr? Thanks

 

[SJB358]

57.5/58 grains in WW cases and CCIBR2's works decent for me..





That is with the Swift Scirroco, but I'd bet you'll be in the same ballpark.

 

[DrMike]

Scotty has given you excellent advice. I'd start with a 0.100 inch jump to the lands. I'd likely start powder charges at two grains off max and work up for the initial study in one grain increments. You will notice that Nosler usually starts at four grains off max and works up in two grain increments, which isn't a bad first approximation.

 

[bob_dobalina]

Wow sweet shooting. Smoking right along too! Thanks guys. What would you call max load - 60?

 

[SJB358]

I'd probably go to 58 and move cautiously past that if needed.

 

[bob_dobalina]

I guess I was dreaming about getting my hands on RL26 - man it is tough to get ahold of