Barnes 168LRX tumbling or not?

Philward

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Tried these 168LRX bullets in 7mmRM today and they seem to be unstable or do you think they are 2 bullets next to each other. Fired a few groups with 7828 and 7977 powders, 60 and 62 grains respectively, so maybe I may need to push them a little faster. 3.290 COAL. Rifle is a Browning HCLR with 1:8 twist barrel. Previously tried them in a couple 7mmRM rifles with 1:9.5 twist with disastrous results. Different rifle with faster twist so thought it may be better. It was a rainy and a little snow mixed in day. At sea level. New scope mounted on rifle so was re-zeroing it with normal load (168 ABLR). Barnes were shooting low and right. 100yds. The orange circles are large, 4" and 6" I think, it was just a target I found at the range, and I ask per title because I would shoot and see a hole and shoot again and no new hole, just larger. Looking at the holes I think they are tumbling.
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If tr he 5 shots circled are what your referring to, I'd say yes they are tumbling. Seems odd for an 8tw, but I'd have to run it through a calculator.
 
Might not like your load. Had a revolver that would shoot unique very well @ reduced levels but when near max would keyhole @ 20 feet. Could try a different powder.
 
I seriously doudt twist is your problem, I think your load is really slow you should be in the neighborhood of 69-70 gr of 7977.
Barnes max is 60 with 7828 at 2780 I think, and it felt really mild. The 62 of 7977 was a little stouter but still mild. Barnes showed 63.8 of h1000 and since 7977 is about the same burn rate(slightly faster). Much more powder than that and I will need to seat bullet out father, it was already crunching kernels. I suspecting it was a little slow.
 
I can tell you i was at 68.0 of H1000 and Berger 180 at 2950 with 2- 7 mags.
To me Barnes manual is very conservative, but that being said both 7 mags i loaded for had freebore with the 180 at neck shoulder junction.
If you have a saami chamber you may not get out there, I would find the lands and seat .010-.020 off and work up .5 at a time untill you find pressure or should get around the 2900fps mark with a 168 in a 24-26 barrel I would think
 
Measured to lands with that bullet and it's 3.395 COAL so I have at least 0.050" to play with compared to the ones I just shot.
 
I would check the barrel over very carefully. I have had a rifle keyhole like that and found a slight bulge in the barrel near the muzzle. I picked it up "cheap"and thought I had a deal because it was almost new, and a well-known brand name, but it wouldn't stay on the paper at 100 yards and the bullets were hitting sideways at 50. I took it to a gunsmith who showed me the slight bulge and suggested it probably happened when the front sight was being "sweated" on. To cut it back below the bulge would have made it too short. My "cheap" rifle cost me a new barrel.
 
Tried these 168LRX bullets in 7mmRM today and they seem to be unstable or do you think they are 2 bullets next to each other. Fired a few groups with 7828 and 7977 powders, 60 and 62 grains respectively, so maybe I may need to push them a little faster. 3.290 COAL. Rifle is a Browning HCLR with 1:8 twist barrel. Previously tried them in a couple 7mmRM rifles with 1:9.5 twist with disastrous results. Different rifle with faster twist so thought it may be better. It was a rainy and a little snow mixed in day. At sea level. New scope mounted on rifle so was re-zeroing it with normal load (168 ABLR). Barnes were shooting low and right. 100yds. The orange circles are large, 4" and 6" I think, it was just a target I found at the range, and I ask per title because I would shoot and see a hole and shoot again and no new hole, just larger. Looking at the holes I think they are tumbling.View attachment 245440View attachment 245441
Shouldn't be a question here! The answer is very simple....did you fire 1 shot or 2 at the bottom right circle....did you fire 4 or 8 at the center and lastly 1 or 2 top left......1-4-1.. OBVIOUSLY TUMBLING!
 
Tried these 168LRX bullets in 7mmRM today and they seem to be unstable or do you think they are 2 bullets next to each other. Fired a few groups with 7828 and 7977 powders, 60 and 62 grains respectively, so maybe I may need to push them a little faster. 3.290 COAL. Rifle is a Browning HCLR with 1:8 twist barrel. Previously tried them in a couple 7mmRM rifles with 1:9.5 twist with disastrous results. Different rifle with faster twist so thought it may be better. It was a rainy and a little snow mixed in day. At sea level. New scope mounted on rifle so was re-zeroing it with normal load (168 ABLR). Barnes were shooting low and right. 100yds. The orange circles are large, 4" and 6" I think, it was just a target I found at the range, and I ask per title because I would shoot and see a hole and shoot again and no new hole, just larger. Looking at the holes I think they are tumbling.View attachment 245440View attachment 245441
Shouldn't be a question here! The answer is very simple....did you fire 1 shot or 2 at the bottom right circle....did you fire 4 or 8 at the center and lastly 1 or 2 top left......1-4-1.. OBVIOUSLY TUMBLING
 
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