Speed Tests with 230 Berger's .300WM

[.300winmag]

Well since I had to fireform all that crap brass from Nosler, I figured I'd try to do something productive with it. I decided to speed test a the 230 Berger with H1000, H4831, and RL26. I'm fortunate enough to have two .300 Win Mag barrels throated for 215 Berger's, so I put my old one one as to not waste barrel life on my new one and loaded them up and shot them.

I started at start loads and worked up to max in one grain increments. At max I went in half grain increments. However I stopped at the first signs of pressure in my rifle.The results really surprised me.

Magnetospeed chronograph
28" Hart 1-10"twist barrel
3.685" OAL
FED 215M brass

H1000:
73.0-2,860fps
74.0-2,895fps
75.0-2,922fps
76.0-2,968fps
76.5-2,963fps

RL26:
72.0-2,926fps
73.0-2,947fps
74.0-2,974fps
74.5-3,010fps

H4831SC:
71.0-2,904fps

The speeds really surprised me. I was not expecting 2,900 with them. I can tell you the recoil from them is significantly greater than my 215gr Berger's at 2,991fps.

 

[.300winmag]

Temp and pressure pics done at testing

 

[FOTIS]

how long is your barrel? That is rediculous speed from a 26"

 

[JD338]

Wow, those speeds are smokin'.

JD338

 

[.300winmag]

how long is your barrel? That is rediculous speed from a 26"

28"

 

[Dwh7271]

That's amazing.
And I bet it gave you a nice little bump with those 230s.

 

[FOTIS]

Cartridge          : .300 Win. Mag.(W)
Bullet             : .308, 230, Berger Hybr G7 #30430
Useable Case Capaci: 76.938 grain H2O = 4.996 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length      : 28.0 inch = 711.2 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-26

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   78    59.60   2412    2971   34328   9091     99.9    1.841
-18.0   80    61.09   2468    3112   36892   9217    100.0    1.791
-16.0   82    62.58   2524    3254   39661   9332    100.0    1.733
-14.0   84    64.07   2579    3397   42648   9444    100.0    1.677
-12.0   86    65.56   2633    3541   45834   9553    100.0    1.624
-10.0   88    67.05   2687    3687   49232   9659    100.0    1.572
-08.0   90    68.54   2740    3834   52875   9762    100.0    1.523
-06.0   92    70.03   2793    3983   56780   9862    100.0    1.477  ! Near Maximum !
-04.0   94    71.52   2845    4133   60969   9958    100.0    1.431  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   96    73.01   2896    4285   65467  10051    100.0    1.388  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0   98    74.50   2948    4438   70301  10140    100.0    1.347  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  100    75.99   2999    4594   75502  10226    100.0    1.307  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  102    77.48   3050    4752   81105  10307    100.0    1.269  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0  104    78.97   3101    4912   87148  10384    100.0    1.232  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  106    80.46   3152    5074   93676  10457    100.0    1.196  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  107    81.95   3203    5239  100742  10525    100.0    1.162  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     98    74.50   3034    4701   86617   9786    100.0    1.249  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     98    74.50   2816    4051   54243  10662    100.0    1.484  ! Near Maximum !

 

[Guy Miner]

So... if ya load to 70,000 psi and use a 28" barrel the load produces high velocity.

Huh. Who knew? I'd imagine that's a very good long-range hunting load.

My old long-range match rifle had a 30" Krieger "tight bore" barrel that produced excellent velocity and accuracy too, though it was just a .308 Winchester.

Regards, Guy

 

[TackDriver284]

That is smoking fast. Reminds me of when I had the 30 and half inch barreled 6.5 Creedmoor that pushed a 130 VLD at 3,150 fps with Hybrid 100V before I backed off due to pressure.

What kind of pressure did you see?

 

[.300winmag]

I was curious what quickload would say. My COAL was about 0.345" longer than saami that was used in the quickload.

If I were to run the 230 as a regular load, I'd run H1000, at 2,925. But the benefits aren't there over my 215gr load. I'm sticking to the 215's but it's interesting to see what's possible with a 230.

 

[Guy Miner]

I'll bet that 230 is one mighty effective bullet...

Guy

 

[.300winmag]

I'll bet that 230 is one mighty effective bullet...

Guy

No doubt there, Guy. That's a lot of mass

 

[FOTIS]

I'll bet that 230 is one mighty effective bullet...

Guy

It's a tank!