Range Day 35 AI

[truck driver]

I went to the range and was greeted with a Beautiful day to shoot. Clear skies and mid 70's.
After the last trip where I had seen the clean barrel produce low and then high velocities I was curious to see if it would repeat with 200gr AB and 68grs of CFE223.
I left home with a clean barrel that I had ran a patch with a degreasing cleaner threw it to get the oil out and was presented with a first shot of 2933fps, the next two were 2907 and 2916fpsfor an avg of 2918fps.
Here's a list of the Velocities from my F1.
RL17-67grs 225gr AB 3.395" OAL
2823fps
2832fps } 2829fps AVG
2833fps
RL17-66grs 225gr Sierra GKBT 3.287" OAL forgot to turn Chrony on for the first shot.
2804fps
2794fps } 2799fps avg.
0000fps
RL17-67grs 225gr Sierra GKBT 3.300" OAL
2819fps
2813fps } 2817fps avg
2821fps
RL17-65.5grs 250gr NPT 3.390" OAL
2702fps
2770fps ? } 2721fps avg ( throw out the 2770fps and you get 2698fps avg )
2693fps
RL17-66grs 250gr NPT 3.390" OAL
2705fps
2720fps } 2708fps avg
2700fps
I must say I was impressed with RL17 and the velocities it produced with 225gr bullets. Right around 100fps slower than the 200gr AB load with CFE223.
I still have to revue the groups shot with these loads to see how they shot. I had to run the last of my loads on the same target because the range got crowded and I couldn't change them with each load so they ran together.

 

[Dwh7271]

Nice TD.
Be interested to see how they look to you after review.
The compressing didn't matter did it?
Man, at those speeds that 225 is going to be tough.

 

[truck driver]

Dewey, I kept the bullet seated long to hold down on compression and they didn't show signs of pressure. I was surprised the AB was faster than the Sierra GK since they have more bearing surface than the Sierras. and expected the Sierras to be faster. The poi was just about the same for both bullets and the 250gr PT was just a little lower but not by much and they could be interchangeable.
I also found that a cold clean grease less barrel will shoot the same as a fouled barrel or at least mine will with no lose of velocity which was one of my goals to find out this time around. It had been mentioned in one of my other post about the effects a clean barrel would have on velocity and accuracy.
I'm running out of 225gr ABs and need to find some, I hope Nosler makes a run on them soon so I can pick some up.
And for some reason I have noticed that the 225gr bullets seem to have more felt recoil than the 250gr bullets I have shot.(?)

 

[SJB358]

Those are some really fast speeds with the 225's and 250's. Wow!

More bearing surface is going to exert more PSI and hence more speed so that makes sense why you observed what you did.

That danged rifle seems like it's really performing well!

 

[NWBlacktail]

Very nice! That is great speed. Probably around 30-06 speeds but with much heavier bullets.

 

[Elkman]

Those are great velocities, when will you be able to test for accuracy?

 

[JD338]

Roger,

Those are some impressive speeds, right in there with the 338 Win Mag.

JD338

 

[truck driver]

I saved the targets and I'll see if I can get some pics up today. I like to take the pics after each shooting but the range was busy yesterday since the weather was so nice and everyone came out.
Scotty the rifle is doing quite well even with the test loads it has been shooting under 2" and some under 1".
I used acetone to degrease the barrel yesterday to test the cold clean barrel and was greeted with a fast first shot and then it settled down with a 17fps velocity spread. After looking at what I posted I noticed that the spread was from 10-15fps with RL17 except for the one 250PT load that showed a 2770fps shot which has me puzzled.

 

[preacher]

Dude! That little dab of money you paid JES to rebore/rechamber that rifle is turning out to be some of the best money you ever spent...(on guns, ALL money spent on family is Well Spent, ha)

 

[truck driver]

Dude! That little dab of money you paid JES to rebore/rechamber that rifle is turning out to be some of the best money you ever spent...(on guns, ALL money spent on family is Well Spent, ha)

I'm really having a lot of fun with this and think it was money well spent even though he tried my patients doing what I asked and having to send it back for the throat touch up.

 

[truck driver]

Here's some pics of how the loads shot. any suggestions on how to tighten up any of theses loads?

 

[preacher]

Well, make sure you are seating your 225 and lighter bullets with at least a full .358 caliber shank in the neck. Put a good crimp on them with a LEE FCD and try a Federal 215M primer. That should get you there.

 

[preacher]

When you see vertical stringing that is almost always an ignition issue, hence ( I like that word "hence", don't get to use it outside church too much! ha) the magnum primer and crimping suggestion.

 

[SJB358]

If it were me the crimping sounds good along with slowly shortening the seating depth. That'll usually suck that 3rd shot in.

 

[truck driver]

Jim I'm using CCI250's now but I do have some 215s I could change to. I'm seating to a measured .358" from the base of the bullet.

Scotty when you say shorten the seating depth do you mean to shorten the OAL and seat the bullet deeper or increase OAL?

 

[SJB358]

Yup, shorten the OAL lengths in small 1/4 turn increments on the seating stem. You might see that third shot walk right into the group.

 

[preacher]

Jim I'm using CCI250's now but I do have some 215s I could change to. I'm seating to a measured .358" from the base of the bullet.

The CCI 250s are fine, I just meant a magnum primer. A full caliber of "bearing surface" should be seated in the neck, the boat tail taper doesn't count. The crimp, along with full caliber bullet friction in the neck should give a better "pull" upon ignition. This will help that magnum primer get a good burn. So your O.A.L. will be a lot shorter. No worries, my 200X make a big jump in my Remington's throat to get to the lands and I get sub moa with "fresh ammo", ha.

 

[truck driver]

Scotty and Jim I understand what your saying and will give it a try.

 

[preacher]

You don't really "have" to crimp to get good results, but I like it as it seems to help. You probably already know this, but a LEE FCD for a standard 35 Whelen won't work on your Improved; it fireforms a tad short. You could probably grind enough off the bottom of it to work OR you can send off a dummy round to them and $15 and they will make you one. Takes a couple weeks is all. I like the FCD as I can crimp any bullet anywhere I want, doesn't need a cannelure. I have gotten to the point I crimp everything now! ha

 

[truck driver]

Jim thanks for the heads up on the FCD crimp die and I did know the Whelen cases neck shortens up when fire formed. Going to try seating deeper first and if that doesn't work then go for a FCD.