30 Nosler Ladder Test Input

[L.Sherm]

Hopefully your gonna see about 1 grain is gonna have really close impacts then after that the impacts start to rise on target, that usually indicates a powder node.
Don't be surprised to see different charge weights impact with different primers.

 

[fnlights]

Hopefully your gonna see about 1 grain is gonna have really close impacts then after that the impacts start to rise on target, that usually indicates a powder node.
Don't be surprised to see different charge weights impact with different primers.

That is what I would like to see. From reading online, it looks like people say that about half minute over 1 grain of powder - so I would like to see those shots within 2.5 inches of vertical over 1 grain of powder and my original result was not even really close to that.

Guess it could be the primer. I was thinking it would be seating depth before the primer

 

[L.Sherm]

Guess it could be the primer. I was thinking it would be seating depth before the primer

You will never get a gun tuned properly with seating depth if you dont have the proper primer.
I look at the powder- primer as the foundation to a good load
I also suggest start around .004 nk tension im shooting .005 in my 30-28

 

[Gamesniper19]

I agree that 86 does seem really high

500 yards, 24in barrel, 75 rounds on barrel, chambered with a Berger 230 reamer.

Proof barrel

The 83-83.5 seems decent on my targets. I just didn't like the big jump from 83.5 to 84 and from 82.5 to 83

Proof barrels generally like to run either on the low end or very high in the ladder. It has to do with the carbon stiffness and barrel wave because of the stiffness.

I am also "concerned" with your chamber, specifically the brass portion of the dimensions. It sounds like it may be a bit longer than SAAMI allowing 86 grains with no pressure signs. Very interested to see what you get after resizing back 1thou and shooting 86. Just be careful as pressure is likely.

 

[fnlights]

You will never get a gun tuned properly with seating depth if you dont have the proper primer.
I look at the powder- primer as the foundation to a good load
I also suggest start around .004 nk tension im shooting .005 in my 30-28

yep I am at .004nk tension

 

[Gamesniper19]

I agree that 86 does seem really high

500 yards, 24in barrel, 75 rounds on barrel, chambered with a Berger 230 reamer.

Proof barrel

The 83-83.5 seems decent on my targets. I just didn't like the big jump from 83.5 to 84 and from 82.5 to 83

If it were my personal rifle, I would run testing at 81.5 and then again at 83.5 with resized brass. I would not worry too much about primer unless you wanna run way up at 85-86 but I do not recommend that.
Run 3 shot groups at both those nodes and see where you end up. Whichever is better, again with resized brass, do your depth testing and final tuning

 

[fnlights]

Proof barrels generally like to run either on the low end or very high in the ladder. It has to do with the carbon stiffness and barrel wave because of the stiffness.

I am also "concerned" with your chamber, specifically the brass portion of the dimensions. It sounds like it may be a bit longer than SAAMI allowing 86 grains with no pressure signs. Very interested to see what you get after resizing back 1mm and shooting 86. Just be careful as pressure is likely.

I honestly do agree that it seems odd to be able to get up to 86 without pressure. I was shocked when I was shooting them. My guess would be that there was pressure and it was just not showing on the brass for whatever reason.

 

[Gamesniper19]

I honestly do agree that it seems odd to be able to get up to 86 without pressure. I was shocked when I was shooting them. My guess would be that there was pressure and it was just not showing on the brass for whatever reason.

Who did your build? Do you have gauges to measure your brass. I would measure a virgin piece and then a fired piece at 86 grains and measure stretch, especially at the shoulder and neck junction. It really should not stretch more then perhaps .002 or .003 into a new chamber. If it does, perhaps they reamed it a bit deep which is why you are not seeing pressure.
This could be ok, if it is consistent and no negative signs are on your brass however it may not last as long due to wall thickness of the stretch.

 

[fnlights]

Who did your build? Do you have gauges to measure your brass. I would measure a virgin piece and then a fired piece at 86 grains and measure stretch, especially at the shoulder and neck junction. It really should not stretch more then perhaps .002 or .003 into a new chamber. If it does, perhaps they reamed it a bit deep which is why you are not seeing pressure.
This could be ok, if it is consistent and no negative signs are on your brass however it may not last as long due to wall thickness of the stretch.

Alamo Precision Rifles

 

[Gamesniper19]

Alamo Precision Rifles

Dont know them but I would start with all your measurements of the brass. That will tell you alot about chamber size. If you are running into excess stretch, you may wanna give them a call. Good luck

 

[L.Sherm]

I honestly do agree that it seems odd to be able to get up to 86 without pressure.

Its not odd its just not showing on the brass, Alex has said time and again actions and certain brass will hide it.
Look around you will not find anybody running 86.0 H1000 with 215 for a reason in a 30 Nos.
You keep running 86.0 theres on thing I can say probably for sure it will stretch alot at the web and you will have clickers

 

[fnlights]

You will never get a gun tuned properly with seating depth if you dont have the proper primer.
I look at the powder- primer as the foundation to a good load
I also suggest start around .004 nk tension im shooting .005 in my 30-28

This seems to be what @Alex Wheeler recommends also. I am thinking that I should run the mini ladders from 81.5 - 83.5 testing the primers

 

[fnlights]

Its not odd its just not showing on the brass, Alex has said time and again actions and certain brass will hide it.
Look around you will not find anybody running 86.0 H1000 with 215 for a reason in a 30 Nos.
You keep running 86.0 theres on thing I can say probably for sure it will stretch alot at the web and you will have clickers

I had zero plans to run the 86 - it was mainly a pressure ladder test

 

[Longtine88]

I ran my first ladder test below and thought I would post the results (Berger 215, H1000, CCI250, ADG Brass, 81.5-86g, 500 yards). This is my first one, so don't be afraid to let me know if these are not good results. Looking for any tips or advise. What should I do from here? The thing I'm noticing, and I guess it could have been me, but one of the shots for each 81.5, 82, 82.5, 83 are all pretty much in the same spot and one is not (grouped in the black). Maybe the gun doesn't like the seating depth or maybe I was pulling one from each load?

I didn't seem to run into pressure - which I expected to at the 86 grains. The bolt might have seemed slightly stiff to open - but that could have been my mind thinking there should be pressure lol. Has anyone ran over 86 in a 30 Nosler?

Here is a picture of my brass at 86 and 78 for comparison. You will notice that both have a swipe - I don't think this is a sign of pressure because no matter what load I shoot my gun does it.

I have 3 - 30 Nosler's currently. in 2 I use H1000. One settled in at 84.9 grains @ 3,097 FPS. The other has a long FB and it settled in at 85.8 grains 3,105 FPS. So, pending on your FB and how your chamber is setup I wouldn't throw out the 86.0 grains. I would play with it more. If you can in this heat cool your barrel as cool as you can. Then let your barrel sit in the sun and heat up. If you still don't have a lot of pressure at 86.0 then I'd run it there. I've ran lot's of loads through them. And all the loads liked the 82-83 grain area also which is around 3% off the next node up that gets you to the 3,100 node. The 30N is very predictable with the 215's. If you not scared of running off the jamb or into the lands a little, the 30 nosler loves it there!