250 grain @2300+

[swiftdriver]

Ok, So I have looked at all the past posts, but I am still looking for a load with a 250 grain ftx at 2300+. I know nothing is absolute, but from what Hoot has Written, it seems that lil'gun wont get me there. My burning rate chart shows , from slowest to fastest , imr sr 4759, win. 296,h 110, norma r123, lil'gun, vit n110, h /a 2400. Does any one have a suggestion? I have all but one of these powders, but , I don't want to wear out my brass before getting there. My 16 inch 450b is so much fun I cant stand it but I am always looking for more. I also thought I would mention that I have been reloading for thirty years so I dont plan to blow my self up. Just looking for suggestions from somebody who's been there,done that.Thanks in advance to all you guys.

[Hoot]

Ok, So I have looked at all the past posts, but I am still looking for a load with a 250 grain ftx at 2300+. I know nothing is absolute, but from what Hoot has Written, it seems that lil'gun wont get me there. My burning rate chart shows , from slowest to fastest , imr sr 4759, win. 296,h 110, norma r123, lil'gun, vit n110, h /a 2400. Does any one have a suggestion? I have all but one of these powders, but , I don't want to wear out my brass before getting there. My 16 inch 450b is so much fun I cant stand it but I am always looking for more. I also thought I would mention that I have been reloading for thirty years so I dont plan to blow my self up. Just looking for suggestions from somebody who's been there,done that.Thanks in advance to all you guys.

Safely hitting 2300 is going to be a real challenge with a 16". Actually, Lil Gun with a hot primer is probably your best bet. Shot plate them with WS2, MoS2 or HBN and you may be able to make it, but in the interest of Eric's Peptic Ulcer, my official advice is not to try.

Hoot

[Texas Sheepdawg]

I think we need Hornady to make a 230 Grain FTX. We've proven that we can achieve 2400+FPS with that weight.

[rohk]

I have a 16" 450 and got the 250's moly coated up to 2242 fps no pressure signs, but best groups were at 2200 fps so i stopped.

I've also got the 225 ftx's moly coated up to 2423 fps for best groups also. using lilgun for both.

[swiftdriver]

Thanks for the responses. Hoot, I'll throw some 250s across my chrony using lil'gun and several different primers. I'll start at 35 grains and go .5 at a time. Did I read that you guys are using .0015 as max case head expansion? Any difference using 284 brass? I have hornaday brass now. I'll post results probably after the holidays . Happy turkey day to all.

[pitted bore]

swiftdriver-
Welcome to the forum. A person of your experience with ARs and reloading will be a helpful and valuable addition.

About trying for 2300 fps with the 250FTXs from a 16" barrel:
I'll echo Hoots admonition at being cautious. Hornady's reloading data with that bullet shows they quit at 2200 fps with a 16" test barrel. I suspect that this velocity is not particularly conservative. The cartridge has no legacy of weak actions to cause worry, so they are able to publish data reflecting the SAAMI max pressure. If they could safely produce higher velocities they would want to show this, to show off the capabilities of their new cartridge.

On the calgun 450B thread, the exchange of opinion of AR action strength seems pertinent to any attempt to exceed Hornady's pressure levels. As a person with some AR experience, your reaction to that discussion could be helpful.

Please post the results of your experience with different primer types. My own trials show that there's not a lot of difference once in the territory of the WSR and warmer. It's difficult to reach any definitive conclusions because of the inherent variability in velocities with the 450B. I've worked with the CCI #41 for the last year with no problems.

Good luck.

--Bob

[Hoot]

Thanks for the responses. Hoot, I'll throw some 250s across my chrony using lil'gun and several different primers. I'll start at 35 grains and go .5 at a time. Did I read that you guys are using .0015 as max case head expansion? Any difference using 284 brass? I have hornaday brass now. I'll post results probably after the holidays . Happy turkey day to all.

I wouldn't waste my time and money at 35gr, moving upward. Start right in at 38gr. It's a time proven load. There is however an accuracy node down one harmonic that comes around 35gr if that interests you. I'm more forgiving of case head expansion, unless not only is it above .0015, but also accompanies other signs of stress and considering chamber dimensions do vary a little.

The .284 brass is more tough IMHO and seems to deal with pressure better, but then it needs to, as it has less internal volume due to (I assume) the thicker walls. Sized brass volume runs between 3 and 4 gr less H2O volume than the native 450 brass of the same length. I currently don't have any fired, but unsized .284 brass to compare volume to the fired, unsized 450 brass I have, or I would give those volumes relationships. Wall thickness in different runs of .284 brass varies enough as to produce loaded rounds that will not chamber from one lot to rounds that readily chamber in the next lot.

Don't be alarmed at SD's up in the 30s to 40s. Despite velocity variation, they still fly to the same POI at 100 yds. Don't be bashful with the taper crimp. These babies crave neck tension. Do report in with your results. There's always something to be learned.

Hoot

[swiftdriver]

Thanks once again for the help. I was starting at 35 grains for a base line, I'll probably load a few to set it then get a little more aggressive per Hoot's suggestions. I have a bunch of 6.5-284 Lapua brass ,new and used, but at $1.25 ea. I probably wont cut too many for tests. The Lapua brass holds up way better than even the Norma brass but I suspect the volume will be lower than the win. or Norma in the 450b. Lapua brass is also the hardest I have found. I don't get any measurable brass flow with the 6.5-284 until I get to 3200 fps. with 140 gr M.K. in my long range rifle (Bat action 32 in Krieger , not a Remy.) I have also decided to make a chamber cast before I get started, I want to see how loose my chamber is in it's new condition. I am starting all this development with a carbine buffer (tungsten weighted) and heavy spring. I have several different heavy carriers,but I think this setup will be ok to keep timing in speck. Hoot, your carrier weight is a good idea, but I'm too fat to lug it around. Well back to the bench I go. The more I think about this, The more I think about this.

[BD1]

When I was first working up the 250 grain FTX in cut down .284 brass I ran it up to 2350 fps using 297 in my 16" barrel. I'm thinking 2300 occurred around 41.5 grains. In any event I starting getting some real clear ejector swipes at 2300, and the accuracy was going downhill.

IMHO there is another significant reason for keeping the velocity at 2,200 fps using the 250 grain FTX; both Nikon and Leupold make very practical BDC reticule muzzle loader scopes based on the 250 grain FTX at 2,200 fps. I'm using the leupold 3x9 Ultimate slam with a microdot mounted 45 deg off the right rear. So far it's the best all around rig I've found for anything out to 300 yards. It's just too easy, why mess with it?
BD

[Siringo]

One of the best loads for the 250 Hornady is 37 grains of LG and a WSR Primer. My barrel yields 2258 fps. I seriously doubt the extra 42 fps is going to do anything. This is about 100 fps faster than the factory round -- in my barrel. This is a safe load too. It was in Hornady's original data ----