Oooops Squirrel Finds A Node

[truck driver]

Warning Could be Long Winded and Picture Heavy :!: :roll: :lol:
Finally the weather cooperated and I had a beautiful day to go to the range.
The on going saga of the 35Whelen AI. Sounds like a title for a book.
Anyway after the last experiment and consulting with Dewey and Scotty the decision was to seat the 200gr AB deeper and add some powder to get the velocity up around 2850fps which 66grs of CFE223 wasn't doing so I added 1gr and loaded 3 sets of 3 .010" deeper with each set for 2.547" to 2.527" I also did the same for 68grs of CFE223.
First load 200gr AB 67grs CFE223 2.547" MV. av. 2868.6 fps group size 1.333"X1.357", goal #1 achieved velocity over 2850fps. 2.537" MV. av. 2900fps group size .395"X.187" ( Bing Go ),
2.527" MV. av. 2914.5fps (2 shots forgot to right down second shot) group size1.235"X1.805", I slung the second shot opening the group up.
Next up 200gr AB 68grs CFE223 2.547" MV. av. 2913.3fps group size .928"X1.799", 2.537" MV. av. 2926fps group size 1.278"X.778", 2.527" MV av. 2941fps group size .614"X1.233" a vertical string.
Since I was loading some IMR8208XBR to test in the 35Whelen I loaded 3 in the 35AI with 62grs which QL showed to be over 3000fps but still under 65Kpsi. 2.547" MV av. 2961.6fps groups size 1.458"X.453" 2 in almost the same hole and #2 went high. This could be interesting.
Here's some pictures of my work along with some bullets recovered from the dirt back stop.
This could take 2 post to get all the pictures included.

 

[truck driver]

This is a continuation of the pictures for the original post.
Bullets pictured hit the 100yd dirt back stop that the Muzzle velocity was between 2880fps and 2950fps.

 

[DrMike]

You have several groups that are really promising, Rodger. The load charged with 35 grains of CFE certainly produced a fine accuracy. Be interesting to see if that is reproducible. None are just terrible loads for accuracy.

 

[truck driver]

You have several groups that are really promising, Rodger. The load charged with 35 grains of CFE certainly produced a fine accuracy. Be interesting to see if that is reproducible. None are just terrible loads for accuracy.

Thanks DocMike
that was 67grs of CFE in the 35AI I didn't write the powder charge on the target before I took the picture :roll: . I plan on seeing if it will repeat since all the loads that the bullet was seated to 2.537" C.O.A.L off the Ogave seemed to shoot better than the others and 2900fps is moving the 200gr AB fast enough for me. I did change up my primers from what I first started using with CFE223, since it's a Ball powder I thought I needed mag primers to set it off but the consistency of the load says their not needed and I switched up to WLR and CCI 200 primers.
I drank a cup of coffee before I got to the range and it was having some effect on my hold on a couple of those targets and it showed.

 

[DrMike]

I drank a cup of coffee before I got to the range and it was having some effect on my hold on a couple of those targets and it showed.

Must have given just the right shake to make those groups. Yeah, I thought that the charge was a bit low. :shock: You're doing well, Rodger.

 

[JD338]

Roger,

The 67grs CFE223 load looks really good. A .358 cal 200 gr AB at 2900 fps is potent medicine for anything you would want to hunt in NA.

JD338

 

[truck driver]

Roger,

The 67grs CFE223 load looks really good. A .358 cal 200 gr AB at 2900 fps is potent medicine for anything you would want to hunt in NA.

JD338

Thanks Jim, finding the seating depth for the AB has been a learning experience and I hope by posting my findings will help others who might be struggling with finding the seating depth to find the sweet spot for the ABs.

Drmike,Thanks for the kind words. I learned the shake and squeeze technique while shooting Bullseye competition :lol: .

 

[FOTIS]

Nice Rodger!!!

 

[truck driver]

Thanks Fotis. That's a nice program you got there.
I cleaned the barrel to see if it will reproduce anything close to that group with a cold clean barrel. I had around 30 rounds threw the barrel when I shot that group and it was copper fowled that it looked like a gold mine. If it won't come close to that with a clean barrel then I'll just clean the carbon out of it and leave the copper alone.

 

[preacher]

Awesome TD! That's great velocity with that AB! Saved you from having to buy some H322 and a Lee FCD too, ha. Later on, try that same powder/charge but with the 200 TTSX, and I bet you will get much higher speed, though the accuracy is still an unknown. I find in my Whelen AI that I can get much higher speeds, still safely, than my accuracy loads. To me, since I'm not shooting moose point blank...I would rather have the accuracy! Proud of you Dude!

 

[truck driver]

Awesome TD! That's great velocity with that AB! Saved you from having to buy some H322 and a Lee FCD too, ha. Later on, try that same powder/charge but with the 200 TTSX, and I bet you will get much higher speed, though the accuracy is still an unknown. I find in my Whelen AI that I can get much higher speeds, still safely, than my accuracy loads. To me, since I'm not shooting moose point blank...I would rather have the accuracy! Proud of you Dude!

Preacher, I really haven't been looking for velocity with the 35WAI but had to push the AB to get it to tighten up. I'm sure I could push it harder if I want with out any problems and reach 3000fps but can't see where I would gain any thing doing it. 62grs of IMR8208XBR will push them out to 2960 and with a little tweaking could produce equal size groups as CEF223.
QL says that's only 60886psi when set at saami psi of 58Kpsi. So if I want to push it to 65Kpsi it should go over 3000fps easy. But I'm happy with it where it is.
The whole thing with the Ackely chamber is good velocity and lower pressure. To get the same velocities out of the 35 Whelen QL says I have to be running over max loads with the same powder. I'm not looking to hot rod either one but it sure is tempting to see how fast the 200gr AB will go in the 35AI. :lol: