Range Day 4 Feb 12

[FOTIS]

Just got back from the range.
Today's players were
378 WBY Custom
338 win mag #1B
30-06 pump

First the 30-06
easy 1" group with the 180 BT's at 2700 fps

Below is Cutting edge C15 experimental and H4350

0.3" at 100 yards 2675 fps

One more grain at 2750 fps 0.8" at 100 yards

Cutting edge c15 experimental .9" 100

338 win mag
71.5 gr RL17 2985 fps 210 Partition .65" at 100

74gr IMR 4350 215 SBT .78"

The 378 WBY was a disappointment but I know why

The culprit was RL22.

With every shot the velocity increased considerably!
See an example of the below group.

250 ttsx
Velocity 3185, 3197, 3240, 3270..... I need to go to an extreme powder or cool completely between shots. H48431 would do.

The cutting edge bullets were launched at 3060 fps BUT if you notice I had to seat the sealing groove way past the mouth just so I can eject a loaded round. The sealing groove should ideally just touch the mouth of the case. Can not do it........

I am calling Daniel and see if he can change the position of the groove.
Here is a 1.5" group with them.

 

[Guest]

Looks like you've got some promise, but some problems, too. I'm with you on the RL22. I've been struggling with my 300Wby, and RL22 is the only powder so far that gives me the velocity I'm after (3200fps with a 180gr) but I'm not happy with the wild swings with that powder.

What's the story on the Cutting Edge bullets? I'm not familiar with them, beyond having heard the name. Can you help me out with the rest of the story?

 

[DrMike]

That 30-06 is a true shooter with the loads you show, and the 338 is no slouch. The CE bullets do look interesting. It will be instructional to see how they work on game for you, though the pictures on their web site appear to demonstrate good performance. It is interesting that you had that result with the RL22. I had a similar result yesterday with one of the rifles I was shooting. I'll need to grab another powder. Fortunately, I have a good selection to work with.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Great shooting Fotis!

I would like to know more about those cutting edge bullets. They look pretty sweet!

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Really happy that 760(or 7600?) shot so well for you. They are a great hunting rifle, especially for the woods.

The CE bullets look very interesting but they are loooong. Certainly a challenge for most mags as currently configured.

Your Ruger seems to have its act together. What is it about Sierra bullets? They just shoot well.

 

[Guest]

Fotis,
Nice shooting buddy. The 06 shoots very well, heck I'd take that load with the 338 any day at .65".

Don

 

[FOTIS]

Thank you guys.

I am going to try 7828 with the 378.....

 

[Oldtrader3]

Fotis, IMR 7828 SSC works great with my .340 Bee.

 

[joelkdouglas]

After a blizzard and all. Nice work.

I talked to a buddy up at F.E. on Friday, and he mentioned you were having some winter fun.

 

[FOTIS]

Yeah we did but today was great.

 

[SJB358]

I think I need to try some 4350 in my 338. Man, those are some great speeds Fotis.

That 30-06 seems like a truly great shooter! Man a pump gun shooting like a varmint rifle!

Good luck with the CEs. They look mean!

 

[Greg Nolan]

Fine shooting. Those cutting edge bullets are truly "cutting edge".
Greg

 

[cloverleaf]

Well, have to quit saying bad things about thoe pump guns..... . Better than my bolt gun can do. CL

 

[nvbroncrider]

Awesome shooting Fotis. That pump gun will make all these bolt guns envious if they don't shoot one hole. My grandpa did a lot of experimenting in the 50's and 60's with Gibbs Ackley and Huntington and the last rifle he built which my uncle has was a true 280 Gibbs not the 7 Gibbs. The difference was the 280 Gibbs uses the 280Rem case and has 1.5 grains more capacity than the 06 based 7. It has a shorter neck than the 7 Gibbs which he gave a shell to me. I will post a picture of it when I get a chance. He said he would only use IMR powders. He tested the rest and said the lot to lot variation was too much and some powders were very sensitive to tempertures. They owned a shooting range in Utah and built a bunker to do testing. They would shoot from -40 all the way up to 105F. They tested a lot of stange stuff and I hope I can possibly get a hold of all of his manuscripts be a cool artifact to have.

 

[shoots_5]

Thanks for the report FOTIS. Looks like that first load with the CE's in the 06 is doing just fine! Might have to give them a call and figure out which bullet would be most appropriate in my stick....

 

[jmad_81]

Nice work on the 06, and 338 WM! I have been playing with RL-17 and the 225 AB. It seems to get me right around that one inch mark every time. Not great, but for this gun its the best it has done. Looks like it is giving you some pretty good speeds as well as outstanding groups.

 

[JD338]

Fotis,

Nice shooting buddy.
The 7600 30-06 is a shooter, they usually are. A 180 gr at 2700 fps is a 30-06. Perfecto.

The #1 338 is there. A 210 gr PT at 3000 fps is a hammer for anything you would hunt with a 338. Well done!

The 378 Wby is almost there. I agree with you on the powder change. I am hoping you end up with a 1/2 MOA shooter.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Jim the 378 did the same thing with RL 22 and the 260 Accubonds.

shot the fouler----

second shot higher speed
third shot a little higher speed same hole as the second.
4 th and verifier shot 1" out 70 fps difference.

 

[SJB358]

Jim the 378 did the same thing with RL 22 and the 260 Accubonds.

shot the fouler----

second shot higher speed
third shot a little higher speed same hole as the second.
4 th and verifier shot 1" out 70 fps difference.

Man, there sounds like there is a ton of promise there! What a beast that rig is!

 

[Hegland]

J338 win mag
71.5 gr RL17 2985 fps 210 Partition .65" at 100

Somehow, Fotis, every time you post a load with that .338 I come away with yet another powder I have to try...

Good work man. And thanks for sharing!