Got to the Range today

[truck driver]

35 degrees sunny and no wind just a beautiful day to get out.
My club range is out side of Abbotstown PA so I drive an hour to get there and wasn't expecting to find all the ice and snow on the range. The club didn't even clear the parking lot, They cleared everything but the rifle range lot and shooting area. You could hardly stand up on the ice in the parking lot.
Any way it was still a good day and I got to shoot some 200gr ABs and 225gr SGKs.
I had had the stock off the rifle adjusting the trigger after hunting season and hadn't had a chance to re-zero so first things first was to check the torque on the action screws and they checked out at 55inlbs, next up was a fowling shot to check the zero, top dead center, OK all set to go. First load up was 54.0grs of IMR8208XBR with CCI 200 primer. Where this powder charge came from I don't know. But goodness what a shooter. Wish I had a chrony to verify the velocity.
Wish the rest of the loads were that good.

 

[truck driver]

And one more pic

 

[DrMike]

There are some respectable groups displayed, Rodger. Man, that is some dedication to drive that far to shoot. You mean that MD doesn't have a range?

 

[truck driver]

Not one that is open to the public threw the week. I belong to a pistol club that is close by but can't shoot rifles there. I hope to join a local Isac Walton which has a 200yd range this spring.
What do you think about the Hummer load? 54.0grs of IMR8208XBR? I haven't measured it yet but all three are cutting each other.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I was down there in that neighborhood today...loaded at the Case/New Holland plant in New Holland, PA.

 

[truck driver]

RR665 you were about 2 hours from where I was shooting.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

54.0 looks great. What rifle was that out of? I would love to see 35 degrees. Great job.

 

[truck driver]

54.0 looks great. What rifle was that out of? I would love to see 35 degrees. Great job.

M700 classic that I got from Lee here on Nosler.

 

[billbam]

I just picked up some the 200 AB also and have some loaded with IMR8208xbr to test. I wanted to test H4895 too, but haven't been able find some yet. 54 looks like on the starting point, I loaded up to 57 grains to work up to. With the 225/250's, R15 for me

 

[sask boy]

Rodger that is some fine shooting that IMR8208xbr with the 200gr. ABs looks to be a deadly combination.
Thanks for the photos and the range report.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[truck driver]

Dan your welcome. Some of those loads pictured are yours except for the OAL.
I've got to get a caliper on that 54gr load to see how small it is.
It was the first group out of a clean barrel with one fowler shot.
The 57gr 8208 load was disappointing and I see where your OAL is shorter than mine so maybe I'll shorten it up some. Funny that your 61grs of Varget is longer than my load and I have 2 touching and one out. I was getting cold since I didn't wear the proper shoes for the ice on the ground and my legs were shaking while I was trying to shoot the last 3 or 4 groups. There's nothing worse than cold feet except wet cold feet. :lol: If you right click on the pics you can enlarge them.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Is that a 35 Whelen???

 

[truck driver]

Is that a 35 Whelen???

Yup, I think it thinks it's a Sniper rifle with 200gr bullets. If I can get the heavier bullets to shoot as well as the lighter ones it will be awesome.

 

[truck driver]

I manged to get a chance to measure the loads this mourning so I thought I would post and get your ideas on how to improve them.

Weather was 35 degrees Sunny no wind, perfect day to be out.

1-200gr Ab 54grs IMR8208XBR CCI 200 Rem Brass OAL 3.425" measured .344" X .149"

2- 200gr AB 57grs IMR8208XBR CCI 200 Rem Brass OAL 3.425" measured 4.678" X 2.451"

3- 200gr AB 61grs Varget CCI 200 Nosler Brass OAL 3.425" measured 1.389" X .634"

4- 200gr Ab 61grs RL15 CCI 200 Rem Brass OAL 3.425" measured 2.393" X 1.270"

Next up are some 225gr SGK.

1- 225gr SGK 60grs Varget CCI 200 Rem Brass OAL 3.285" measured 2.179" X 1.435"

2- 225gr SGK 60.5grs RL15 CCI 200 Rem Brass OAL 3.285 measured !.230" X .335"

3- 225gr SGK 56.5gr IMR8208XBR CCI 200 Rem Brass OAL 3.285 measured 1.976" X .659"

 

[6mm Remington]

Any day at the range is a very good day!

 

[wvchevy3]

Rodger, if I am not mistaken imr8208 and a200 gr hornady tightened back up with a close to max load. I cant remember but I think its listed on the targets of mine you have. I do know it was half moa at 100yds and was a screamer.Lee

 

[wvchevy3]

here is a pic of the group. it also penetrates 5 jugs at 10 yds,Lee
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=25796

 

[Dwh7271]

Here's a QL with 8208 if that helps.
NIce shooting, by the way.

Cartridge          : .35 Whelen
Bullet             : .358, 200, Nosler AccuBond 54425
Useable Case Capaci: 61.701 grain H2O = 4.006 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : IMR 8208 XBR

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    43.20   2166    2083   26691   5350     88.2    1.524
-18.0   78    44.28   2216    2181   28345   5518     89.3    1.485
-16.0   80    45.36   2267    2281   30101   5684     90.4    1.448
-14.0   82    46.44   2317    2384   31949   5845     91.4    1.411
-12.0   84    47.52   2367    2488   33889   6002     92.4    1.376
-10.0   85    48.60   2417    2595   35931   6155     93.4    1.342
-08.0   87    49.68   2467    2703   38095   6302     94.2    1.307
-06.0   89    50.76   2517    2814   40388   6443     95.0    1.273
-04.0   91    51.84   2567    2926   42820   6579     95.8    1.239
-02.0   93    52.92   2617    3041   45398   6708     96.5    1.207
+00.0   95    54.00   2666    3157   48134   6830     97.1    1.176
+02.0   97    55.08   2716    3275   51037   6945     97.7    1.146  ! Near Maximum !
+04.0   99    56.16   2765    3394   54120   7052     98.2    1.117  ! Near Maximum !
+06.0  101    57.24   2814    3516   57395   7152     98.6    1.089  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  103    58.32   2862    3638   60879   7242     99.0    1.062  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  104    59.40   2911    3763   64585   7324     99.3    1.036  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

 

[SJB358]

I'd probably shorten the AB's up a little and increase the charge weight some as Lee mentioned.

The AB's in my Whelen seem to respond better with a jump jump into the rifling.

 

[truck driver]

Will the Sierra Game Kings respond to shortening the OAL and increase in powder like the ABs?