Badlands Precision Bullets thread - From BC to terminal ballistics

[FEENIX]

Hello Justin. This is George from Badlands. I don't have a 30 Nosler but I will give you our method of load discovery whenever we make a new bullet. First thing is to go to a standard reloading manual and look up data for a bullet of the same caliber and either the same weight or slightly heavier. Then chose from the list of powders as to which powder you would like to try. Personally I like to pick from the most temperature stable powders listed since hunting conditions can vary a lot, so you want as great a uniformity in MV as possible over a wide temp range. The next step is to decide on a powder charge. This can be done in as little as three shots by simply starting from the lightest to an intermediate charge and adding one grain at a time until you start to see some primer flattening or increased bolt lift resistance. We recommend using about 0.020" jump for this stage. Once you figure out at what speed you are able to run safely then you can do a 6 shot jump ladder starting with the bullet in the lands for 2 shots then seating deeper in 0.010" increments and settling on the jump that gives you the tightest 2 shot group. At that jump, you can then proceed to find the node of the barrel if you wish. I like to use magnum primers since they will give consistent ignition even in very cold weather. Light compression of the powder is desirable since it ensures a more uniform powder column density regardless of the angle of the shot.
I hope this info is useful. Bullet jump is sometimes highly rifle specific but in general 0.020" works in most instances.

@Reemty J

 

[Reemty J]

As ALWAYs thank you Ed, you are a class act, and one of the many generous helping individuals on this site!!!!!

 

[FEENIX]

As ALWAYs thank you Ed, you are a class act, and one of the many generous helping individuals on this site!!!!!

Brother, I appreciate the kind words; this is what LRH is all about. Cheers!

 

[Aloeus]

Hi all,
Thought I'd try this thread first before making my own, I'm getting fliers with my current badlands node and wanted thoughts as to what might be the cause.
I get fliers to the right, generally about an inch, roughly every 5 shots (but not consistently the 5th shot). Below is a 5 shot and 9 shot (technically 10 but the 10th was on a different target since I needed to adjust my scope, its roughly about where the main group was). Shot on different days and reloaded at different times. although its the same recipe (270 wsm, 128BD2s, 130 thou jump, 64.3gr RL22). ES and SD are 7 and 23 respectively.

9 shot:

My first thought is to clean my barrel out as much as I can possibly get it. I don't think its a scope issue since the main group is so tight (.3moa on that top pic) and it is torqued down.
Any thoughts?

Edit: to add to this, I had my friend shoot a 5 shot group, and although I dont have the pic it ended up looking pretty close to the top pic, 1 flier to the right.

 

[MTbackwoods]

Hi all,
Thought I'd try this thread first before making my own, I'm getting fliers with my current badlands node and wanted thoughts as to what might be the cause.
I get fliers to the right, generally about an inch, roughly every 5 shots (but not consistently the 5th shot). Below is a 5 shot and 9 shot (technically 10 but the 10th was on a different target since I needed to adjust my scope, its roughly about where the main group was). Shot on different days and reloaded at different times. although its the same recipe (270 wsm, 128BD2s, 130 thou jump, 64.3gr RL22). ES and SD are 7 and 23 respectively.
View attachment 364937
9 shot:
View attachment 364941

My first thought is to clean my barrel out as much as I can possibly get it. I don't think its a scope issue since the main group is so tight (.3moa on that top pic) and it is torqued down.
Any thoughts?

Edit: to add to this, I had my friend shoot a 5 shot group, and although I dont have the pic it ended up looking pretty close to the top pic, 1 flier to the right.

How much time between each shot? Problem with stuff like this is that it could be a great number of things causing it. Also, what is the rifle/barrel including contour?

 

[Aloeus]

How much time between each shot? Problem with stuff like this is that it could be a great number of things causing it. Also, what is the rifle/barrel including contour?

Tikka roughtech with the D18 contour (so heavier than the normal hunting contour but not quite as heavy as a varmint). Time between shots is generally about 30s ish, I'm not waiting a specific amount of time but I am single feeding and not in any rush. That top 5 shot group was started after a ceasefire so the barrel was lukewarm.

 

[MTbackwoods]

Tikka roughtech with the D18 contour (so heavier than the normal hunting contour but not quite as heavy as a varmint). Time between shots is generally about 30s ish, I'm not waiting a specific amount of time but I am single feeding and not in any rush. That top 5 shot group was started after a ceasefire so the barrel was lukewarm.

Well my initial thoughts would be barrel is heating up or inconsistencies in loading process. But I would start a thread on it and get some advice there. I'm sure plenty of people will offer thoughts

 

[Monkeygoat]

My Tikka would produce fliers when hot and would shoot differently warm. Standardize it the next time you go out - ideally with a timer. If a hunting load, try to shoot cold barrel only - just bring another rifle to shoot while you wait.

 

[Reemty J]

Two rifles works for me, keeps you occupied for longer cooling between use

 

[Aloeus]

I like how the gist of the responses boiled down to getting another rifle . Well darn...if I have to get another rifle to shoot...

In all seriousness, thanks the responses. I'll make another thread for it, but trying for a slower firing rate will be the next step on the range.

 

[MTbackwoods]

Shot my ladder test today. Rifle info is:
300 win mag, 26" barrel with 1:10 twist
Brass is virgin Peterson LONG which has about a .002" shoulder crush
H-4831 powder
Fed 215 GMM primers
Badlands 175 BD-II seated .020" otl
72 gr - 3,035
72.5 gr - 3,112
73 gr - 3,089
73.5 gr - 3,115
74 gr - 3,133
74.5 gr - 3,159
75 gr - 3,178
75.5 gr - 3,208
76 gr - 3,220
76.5 gr - 3,230
No pressure indications whatsoever. This data is here for information gathering only. DO NOT DUPLICATE THIS LOAD IN YOUR RIFLE. I'm running .200" over SAAMI specs and well above data gathered from Badlands.

Now to do a small OCW test and further seating depth testing to see if a load will come together. If I can find a load around 3,200 fps, this will be an absolute monster of a hunting load. I'm sending some bullets off for ballistic gel testing as well and will attempt to post the link to that video when it's done

 

[codyadams]

Shot my ladder test today. Rifle info is:
300 win mag, 26" barrel with 1:10 twist
Brass is virgin Peterson LONG which has about a .002" shoulder crush
H-4831 powder
Fed 215 GMM primers
Badlands 175 BD-II seated .020" otl
72 gr - 3,035
72.5 gr - 3,112
73 gr - 3,089
73.5 gr - 3,115
74 gr - 3,133
74.5 gr - 3,159
75 gr - 3,178
75.5 gr - 3,208
76 gr - 3,220
76.5 gr - 3,230
No pressure indications whatsoever. This data is here for information gathering only. DO NOT DUPLICATE THIS LOAD IN YOUR RIFLE. I'm running .200" over SAAMI specs and well above data gathered from Badlands.

Now to do a small OCW test and further seating depth testing to see if a load will come together. If I can find a load around 3,200 fps, this will be an absolute monster of a hunting load. I'm sending some bullets off for ballistic gel testing as well and will attempt to post the link to that video when it's done

WOW. That's scootin!!!

 

[MTbackwoods]

WOW. That's scootin!!!

The last three charges had minor powder crunch. I think I could squeak out a little more speed with RE-26 but I don't see any point. I don't like the idea of shooting beyond 800 yards on game animals and that bullet will be flat out movin at 800 yards still. Now I just gotta find the accuracy and send a few through some critters

 

[codyadams]

Heck ya! H4831 is more stable anyway, I would stick with it.