Nosler's load for 52grHPBT Cust Comp

[twofifty]

Thanks Shawn.

Hello. First post here...and sure enough I find myself asking for load information. :roll: lol.

By way of introduction, I am starting my second season of reloading (for paper and steel positional matches), have access to several good ranges, and shoot Small Bore metallic silhouette matches.

Last year I pushed a 250box of Nosler 52grHPBT Custom Comps in a
22-250, 14" twist, with some success in spite of seating to a short COL.

Now that I have a Stoney Point gauge and know my headspace, it is time to start all over. I know last year's ogive was .055" off the lands: too far. There is much room for improvement ... and I have a new 250box of the same Nosler bullets.

So I will rework a load and am looking for Nosler's load suggestions. Unfortunately, the website is silent on this particular combination. For a
22-250AI (close but different), the 52grHPBT Cust Comp is listed but there is no data at the link.

Having Varget, Hodgdon H380, and RL15 on hand, I will work up a load for each powder.

Any suggestions?

 

[twofifty]

OK, here are the results of today's OCW shooting at 200yds:

It was cold (40F), no wind, partly sunny.
- Fired 33 rounds in round-robin fashion, three rounds at each of 11 targets, from bench with sandbags.
- Varget loads grew in 2gr increments, from 34.0 to 36.0 grains.
- Seating depth was set .030" away from the lands.
- No signs of pressure. Unfortunately, I did not have the club's chronograph.

Bottom line is that I found two nodes (or tendencies to cluster rounds), one from 34.2 to 34.6gr; the second node straddled 35.0 to 35.8gr. In the middle of these clusters the 3-shot 'groups' also were tightest, at approx. 0.65" each.

Would you further refine things by running another OCW test where the loads would straddle the middle of the above nodes, but in 1gr increments?
For example, I could refine the first node by loading 34.3, 34.4 and 34.5 grains; and test the other by loading 35.3, 35.4, 35.5 and 35.6 gr.

Once I've found the sweet spots, I will start messing with seating depth.

 

[tjen]

If you are shooting a bolt this is better.

First work up two your rifles max pessure with the ogive .010" off the lands and thats your load. Than in groups of 5-10 cartrdges seat the bullets in .005" incerment groups. So you would groups at .010, .015, .020, .025. With these you will find the sweet spot where your rifle groups best. You can start at .005' if you feel you can maintain that tolerance.

Your highest pressure would be with the bullet touching the lands on as you seat the bullets deeper it the pressure won't build as high because the bullet has some room to move before it encounters the resistance of the rifleing and as it moves it creates room for the expanding gases.

So work up a new max load with the longer OCL and than with that load work back with shorter OCL till you have your best group. And most likly closrer is better but not always.