critique my load
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 9:36 am
New 450B guy here. Loving the round so far. Got a RAR with 16" barrel. Of course it shoots lights out with the hornady black ammo.
I started trying out some cast loads in it though. With there being relatively little data I am approaching it like a lot of other guns I shoot cast in.
I have the NOE 285gr mold, solid nose. I am putting a gas check on them and then powder coating them. Final weight is right at 290gr.
I started loads with 31gr of Lilgun and worked my way up to 33gr so far. I was mostly testing velocity, but did notice that the 31gr started out with a decent group, then it opened up and then closed back when I got to 33gr. Also, the groups started out about point of aim, then crept higher and higher, then came back down at the 33gr.
31gr-1829fps avg
31.5gr-1773ps avg - I think something was amiss here.
32gr-1866fps avg
32.5-1929fps avg
33-1889fps avg - I think something was off here too because I ran back up to the loading room to load another round because the group seemed like it was getting tighter. When I shot it, sure enough, the group was getting tighter, but the chronograph did not pick up the shot. Running too low on light I guess.
Here is a picture of the cases.https://drive.google.com/file/d/12220RjRllkbPHuidm6I_nbJt33F-U48w/view?usp=sharing The bottom row is 31, the top is 33. The one on the right is a factory hornady black.
My question is, I am not seeing any pressure, and knowing that Hodgdon lists 35.4gr of lilgun as top load for the 275gr all copper brands, it seems like I could go higher still?
Two reasons for me wanting to go higher is mainly because it seems like the group is getting tighter and coming back to point of aim. Second is It would be really nice to get about 2000fps out of this load(if it is accurate) because I want to take this gun elk hunting next year.
I know you all have way more experience, and I am currently looking at all the threads about pressures, but thought I would throw this out there to see what others might have to say. Thanks!
I started trying out some cast loads in it though. With there being relatively little data I am approaching it like a lot of other guns I shoot cast in.
I have the NOE 285gr mold, solid nose. I am putting a gas check on them and then powder coating them. Final weight is right at 290gr.
I started loads with 31gr of Lilgun and worked my way up to 33gr so far. I was mostly testing velocity, but did notice that the 31gr started out with a decent group, then it opened up and then closed back when I got to 33gr. Also, the groups started out about point of aim, then crept higher and higher, then came back down at the 33gr.
31gr-1829fps avg
31.5gr-1773ps avg - I think something was amiss here.
32gr-1866fps avg
32.5-1929fps avg
33-1889fps avg - I think something was off here too because I ran back up to the loading room to load another round because the group seemed like it was getting tighter. When I shot it, sure enough, the group was getting tighter, but the chronograph did not pick up the shot. Running too low on light I guess.
Here is a picture of the cases.https://drive.google.com/file/d/12220RjRllkbPHuidm6I_nbJt33F-U48w/view?usp=sharing The bottom row is 31, the top is 33. The one on the right is a factory hornady black.
My question is, I am not seeing any pressure, and knowing that Hodgdon lists 35.4gr of lilgun as top load for the 275gr all copper brands, it seems like I could go higher still?
Two reasons for me wanting to go higher is mainly because it seems like the group is getting tighter and coming back to point of aim. Second is It would be really nice to get about 2000fps out of this load(if it is accurate) because I want to take this gun elk hunting next year.
I know you all have way more experience, and I am currently looking at all the threads about pressures, but thought I would throw this out there to see what others might have to say. Thanks!