DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,312
- 5,978
On Friday, I received an urgent request to do load development for a new rifle that is to be delivered to a customer this week. There wasn't much time to do what needed to be done, and the magazine is very short. In the interim, I also received another rifle that is also categorized as urgent. Well, everyone has need of their rifle as hunting season opens in two weeks. Nevertheless, I agreed to do what I could, given my other priorities in life. One of the rifles will need more time as I was not given the dies needed. There will be a report on it later, as I believe it will shoot very well once I am able to work up a load. However, I was given a 325 WSM built on a Borden action, a couple of boxes of Nosler 200 grain ABs and a bag of Winchester brass. I have four days to develop a load. I opted to stay up late last evening working up a few loads and then shooting in the late afternoon today following church services. Here is how it shoots.
This load is built around IMR 4350 with three charges (61.0, 63.0 and 65.0 grains). The 65 grain group is opened slightly, probably because I shot the ear off my Chrony. Well, it is a Shooting Chrony.
The rifle also like RL19. This is a 69 grain charge of that powder with the 200 grain AB. Across the spectrum of charges tested, none generated a group greater than about 3/4 inch.
I also shot a series built around H4350, but the rifle did not like them as well. However, even these that it didn't like were all less than 1.25 inches. I will work on this, refining it slightly tomorrow and see if I can tighten the groups slightly before I return the rifle to the shop on Tuesday.
Consequently, this is the rifle. Built by Rocky Mountain Rifles on a Borden Action. It has a Huskemaw scope for optics.
I have an older Featherweight chambered in 300 WSM which I plan to sell. I took it along, hoping to generate a couple of targets to make it somewhat more attractive. Well, I'm wondering what I want to sell it! As much as I like the new one, I'm having difficulty wanting to part with this one right at the moment.
Here is an old hunting load that I had forgotten about. It is a 180 grain Hornady SST over WLRM primers and 78 grains of MagPro. There were five rounds left. Since the shoulder is about 0.002 inches farther forward than my newer 300 WSM, I chose to shoot these cartridges. There is a fouling shot and then four rounds in the photo, with a velocity of 2970 fps.
I was pleasantly surprised, but I didn't have any hopes that any of my other old hunting loads would match that. However, this is a load consisting of 180 grain Hornady IB over WLRM primers and 70 grains of VN560, generating just a few fps shy of 3000.
A fellow was at the range working up a load for an upcoming grizzly hunt. He heard that I was selling this rifle and asked if he could see it. I agreed and handed him three of these latter cartridges. He shot a 1/2 inch group. I told him it was one of those anomalies of life, a real artifact that couldn't be replicated. He was hurrying home to ask his wife if he could buy another rifle. He didn't think that his 300 WM would work on his hunt. He was planning to shoot 210 grain Berger VLDs. I advised that there were better bullets I would rather see him use. He said he would take my advice.
In all, it was a great afternoon and evening. However, now I can look forward to some sleep!
This load is built around IMR 4350 with three charges (61.0, 63.0 and 65.0 grains). The 65 grain group is opened slightly, probably because I shot the ear off my Chrony. Well, it is a Shooting Chrony.
The rifle also like RL19. This is a 69 grain charge of that powder with the 200 grain AB. Across the spectrum of charges tested, none generated a group greater than about 3/4 inch.
I also shot a series built around H4350, but the rifle did not like them as well. However, even these that it didn't like were all less than 1.25 inches. I will work on this, refining it slightly tomorrow and see if I can tighten the groups slightly before I return the rifle to the shop on Tuesday.
Consequently, this is the rifle. Built by Rocky Mountain Rifles on a Borden Action. It has a Huskemaw scope for optics.
I have an older Featherweight chambered in 300 WSM which I plan to sell. I took it along, hoping to generate a couple of targets to make it somewhat more attractive. Well, I'm wondering what I want to sell it! As much as I like the new one, I'm having difficulty wanting to part with this one right at the moment.
Here is an old hunting load that I had forgotten about. It is a 180 grain Hornady SST over WLRM primers and 78 grains of MagPro. There were five rounds left. Since the shoulder is about 0.002 inches farther forward than my newer 300 WSM, I chose to shoot these cartridges. There is a fouling shot and then four rounds in the photo, with a velocity of 2970 fps.
I was pleasantly surprised, but I didn't have any hopes that any of my other old hunting loads would match that. However, this is a load consisting of 180 grain Hornady IB over WLRM primers and 70 grains of VN560, generating just a few fps shy of 3000.
A fellow was at the range working up a load for an upcoming grizzly hunt. He heard that I was selling this rifle and asked if he could see it. I agreed and handed him three of these latter cartridges. He shot a 1/2 inch group. I told him it was one of those anomalies of life, a real artifact that couldn't be replicated. He was hurrying home to ask his wife if he could buy another rifle. He didn't think that his 300 WM would work on his hunt. He was planning to shoot 210 grain Berger VLDs. I advised that there were better bullets I would rather see him use. He said he would take my advice.
In all, it was a great afternoon and evening. However, now I can look forward to some sleep!
