DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,420
- 6,292
So, I managed to sneak away to the range today. My cough is mostly gone; it was a beautiful day (+10 C, sunny and no breeze) and I had some shooting I wanted to day. Ostensibly, I was working on a custom load for a gentleman. He had sent a 338 RUM with a request that I work up a load with Barnes 265 grain LRX bullets. Here is the rifle, topped with a 6-24X50 Sightron scope.
Researching this load, I was directed to use faster powders than my initial inclination might have been. I worked up three loads. The slowest powder was Magnum, which also gave the best standard deviations, and the poorest accuracy. IMR 7828 gave me good velocity and was consistent across the test loads between 0.7 and 0.9 inches. There is potential in this load. However, IMR 4831 produced an outstanding load as I came up to maximum charge.
That group looked like this (0.40 inches).
Now, it will have to be tested at 700 yards to verify that it satisfies the customer.
I took both of my .280 Remingtons with me. The Remington Ltd.
and "Old Faithful," my Featherweight.
I was shooting up some loads I had previously made up for the Winchester, so I could produce some fresh rounds. Bear in mind that these rounds were built for the Winchester and not for the Remington. However, the Remington did manage to digest them reasonably well. In the upper left is a group of a load I've used for many years, built around 139 grain Hornady SP bullets and 59.0 grains of WXR. In the Winchester, this load has accounted for numerous whitetail and mulies. It may work in the Remington with a little adjustment to the OAL. In the centre is a newer load, which has never been used on game. This load (140 grain PT and 54 grains of H100V) was launched from the Winchester. It looks as if it might do the job on a deer. It is travelling at 2871 +/- 7 fps. Yeah, I think it could work.
The Remington, with its longer barrel and shorter throat, sent this same load downstream at 3017 +/- 9 fps. However, accuracy was only MOA. It will likely be a contender with some adjustment to OAL. I had several rounds of other older loads that I shot through the Remington. One, in particular, that shows promise is built around a 140 grain AB charged with 56.0 grains of RL19. The Remington gave consistent 0.70 inch groups and velocities of 2900 fps. The same load in the Winchester gave MOA and velocities approaching 2700 fps.
Bear opens next week, though I will not be going out for a while. When I do go out, the 9.3X64 Brenneke will be a strong contender. It is giving me velocities of 2700 fps and fine accuracy (0.58 inches) with the 250 grain AB. I don't know what I keep looking at other bullets when this one continues to shoot so well?
In all, a great day to let the pressures that normally drive me dissipate while I enjoyed the sun.
Researching this load, I was directed to use faster powders than my initial inclination might have been. I worked up three loads. The slowest powder was Magnum, which also gave the best standard deviations, and the poorest accuracy. IMR 7828 gave me good velocity and was consistent across the test loads between 0.7 and 0.9 inches. There is potential in this load. However, IMR 4831 produced an outstanding load as I came up to maximum charge.
That group looked like this (0.40 inches).
Now, it will have to be tested at 700 yards to verify that it satisfies the customer.
I took both of my .280 Remingtons with me. The Remington Ltd.
and "Old Faithful," my Featherweight.
I was shooting up some loads I had previously made up for the Winchester, so I could produce some fresh rounds. Bear in mind that these rounds were built for the Winchester and not for the Remington. However, the Remington did manage to digest them reasonably well. In the upper left is a group of a load I've used for many years, built around 139 grain Hornady SP bullets and 59.0 grains of WXR. In the Winchester, this load has accounted for numerous whitetail and mulies. It may work in the Remington with a little adjustment to the OAL. In the centre is a newer load, which has never been used on game. This load (140 grain PT and 54 grains of H100V) was launched from the Winchester. It looks as if it might do the job on a deer. It is travelling at 2871 +/- 7 fps. Yeah, I think it could work.
The Remington, with its longer barrel and shorter throat, sent this same load downstream at 3017 +/- 9 fps. However, accuracy was only MOA. It will likely be a contender with some adjustment to OAL. I had several rounds of other older loads that I shot through the Remington. One, in particular, that shows promise is built around a 140 grain AB charged with 56.0 grains of RL19. The Remington gave consistent 0.70 inch groups and velocities of 2900 fps. The same load in the Winchester gave MOA and velocities approaching 2700 fps.
Bear opens next week, though I will not be going out for a while. When I do go out, the 9.3X64 Brenneke will be a strong contender. It is giving me velocities of 2700 fps and fine accuracy (0.58 inches) with the 250 grain AB. I don't know what I keep looking at other bullets when this one continues to shoot so well?
In all, a great day to let the pressures that normally drive me dissipate while I enjoyed the sun.
a 250 at 2700 fps is a great place to be.
