GW Hunter
Well-Known Member
80.5 gr H1000, 140 TTSX, 2.743" to the ogive. 1/2" groups at 3350'/sec.
Please Help Me Develop a Load for 145 GR LRX in 7 MM WBY Magnum
- Thread starter chesspunker
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chesspunker
Well-Known Member
Thank you GW! If I can't get the 145 LRX to group for me I will change to the 140 GR TTSX or TSX. I already know that my rifle shoots the factory WBY 140 GR TSX ammo well. I've been hunting with it ever since CA announced the future lead ban and it hasn't let me down yet! I put down a nice Mulie at 300 yards in Nevada last fall with one shot to the boiler room!
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GW Hunter
Well-Known Member
I've spent the last two years looking for a load for California's dumb a** ban also. Tried GMX, LRX, TSX and 3 or 4 different powders before I got to that load. That's out of a 24" barrel also... Weatherby brass and Remington 9 1/2M primers. I've been loading the 7mm WM for quite a long time and have found that my gun hates the LRX but LOVES the TTSX. I always start with a barrel that is squeaky clean to metal when changing bullet types. My rifle takes about 3 or 4 fouling shots to settle back in...
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chesspunker
Well-Known Member
Agreed on squeaky clean! After every shoot I start with Hoppe's to get the powder fouling out. I then dry with a few patches and switch to Sweet's. I let Sweet's sit for 5 minutes then run a dry patch through. If it comes out blue I repeat with Sweet's. I always dry then lube with plenty of oil before putting in safe.
As for my gun liking LRX we will find out more in the next week. I will definitely try TTSX next if I'm not happy with LRX. Thanks for your help!
As for my gun liking LRX we will find out more in the next week. I will definitely try TTSX next if I'm not happy with LRX. Thanks for your help!
GW Hunter
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't clean after every shot. You'll probably find your groups tighten up after the barrel fouls a bit from clean. I was doing it that way at first and wasn't completely happy. My groups got much better after a few fouling shots Every rifle is different though.
chesspunker
Well-Known Member
I completely agree GM. I don't clean after each shot. I meant I clean after each range session. I'm on the same page as you.
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chesspunker
Well-Known Member
I went to the range yesterday to complete my ladder test for the 145 GR LRX with H4831SC Powder. I found a nice flat spot just a hair above the maximum recommended Barnes recipe at 73.1 grains. Bolt lift was easy on all three shots and primers and cases looked fine.
73.0 grains (max recommended load recipe) was 3173 FPS
73.1 grains was 3185 FPS
73.2 grains was 3179 FPS
My group size from these three shots at slightly different charges was just slightly more than 1". I was using my lead-sled type rest which I heard can make groups worse. On my next shoot I will use my Caldwell The Rock front rest and Protektor rabbit rear bag.
I only shot 7 shots through my gun yesterday so I didn't clean it when I got home. I figure I'll leave it fouled since I'll shoot in the next few days.
I'm going to load a group of three at the longest length my magazine will handle which is 2.796" to ogive. This is what I tested with up until this point. I will load the second group of three at 2.766" and continue to go down by 0.030" until I get to the saami spec. Hopefully I'll notice the grouping tighten at one length and then I'll play around with it more after that.
I also shot my friend's AR 15 while my gun was cooling because he needed it dialed in. I'm glad that I did because it gave me more confidence in my shooting ability. It was pretty windy yesterday afternoon. Using factory lead-core ammo, my Caldwell the rock front rest, and Protektor rear bag I shot the attached group which was around 1/2"! I hope my recipe for Barnes will look like this one day!!!
73.0 grains (max recommended load recipe) was 3173 FPS
73.1 grains was 3185 FPS
73.2 grains was 3179 FPS
My group size from these three shots at slightly different charges was just slightly more than 1". I was using my lead-sled type rest which I heard can make groups worse. On my next shoot I will use my Caldwell The Rock front rest and Protektor rabbit rear bag.
I only shot 7 shots through my gun yesterday so I didn't clean it when I got home. I figure I'll leave it fouled since I'll shoot in the next few days.
I'm going to load a group of three at the longest length my magazine will handle which is 2.796" to ogive. This is what I tested with up until this point. I will load the second group of three at 2.766" and continue to go down by 0.030" until I get to the saami spec. Hopefully I'll notice the grouping tighten at one length and then I'll play around with it more after that.
I also shot my friend's AR 15 while my gun was cooling because he needed it dialed in. I'm glad that I did because it gave me more confidence in my shooting ability. It was pretty windy yesterday afternoon. Using factory lead-core ammo, my Caldwell the rock front rest, and Protektor rear bag I shot the attached group which was around 1/2"! I hope my recipe for Barnes will look like this one day!!!
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chesspunker
Well-Known Member
I want to thank you all very much for your help! I shot my first 145 GR LRX sub MOA three shot group yesterday with my 7 mm WBY (see attached). I used 73.1 Grains of H4831SC Powder.
Shooting conditions weren't the best because there was a 16 - 18 MPH West wind, which pretty much blows right at the shooter (not really a cross wind). I used my Caldwell The Rock front rest and my Protektor rabbit ear rear bag.
My first cartridge length was 2.796" to ogive and I wasn't happy at all. It was another 2" group. I started with a barrel that had been fouled with 7 shots and my gun has always liked being clean. I decided to clean the barrel before my next group because I had a feeling the dirty barrel might have contributed to the bad group.
My next cartridge length was at 2.776" to ogive. I started with one fouling shot at a different lower target and then shot a 3 shot group. That group tightened up to around 1.25" and I felt like I was making progress. The good news is that if I used my fouling shot as part of the group it would have still been 1.25".
My next cartridge length was at 2.756" to ogive and this produced my first sub MOA group which is shown in the photo. I cleaned my gun again after the previous group. My fouling shot was at the same lower target as the previous fouling shot and it touched the same hole! I then proceeded to shoot three more shots and they measured about 0.875" (shown in photo). If I included my fouling shot in this group it also would have remained sub MOA.
I cleaned my gun again and I shot one more group with a cartridge length of 2.736" to ogive. The problem is that I wasn't banking on such a short length being a good bet and I only brought three bullets at that length. My fouling shot was about 1.0" away from my previous two fouling shots. The two bullets I had left went through the same hole.
On my next trip to the range I'm bringing 15 cartridges. I'm testing the following lengths 2.756" (my winner from last time), 2.746" (new size), and 2.736" to ogive. I will start with a clean barrel before shooting each group. I'll shoot my fouling shot at a lower target and then the four shot group at a target above the fouling shot target. Hopefully I can repeat my good results and then load up 100 rounds and finally be able to sleep at night! LOL.
Shooting conditions weren't the best because there was a 16 - 18 MPH West wind, which pretty much blows right at the shooter (not really a cross wind). I used my Caldwell The Rock front rest and my Protektor rabbit ear rear bag.
My first cartridge length was 2.796" to ogive and I wasn't happy at all. It was another 2" group. I started with a barrel that had been fouled with 7 shots and my gun has always liked being clean. I decided to clean the barrel before my next group because I had a feeling the dirty barrel might have contributed to the bad group.
My next cartridge length was at 2.776" to ogive. I started with one fouling shot at a different lower target and then shot a 3 shot group. That group tightened up to around 1.25" and I felt like I was making progress. The good news is that if I used my fouling shot as part of the group it would have still been 1.25".
My next cartridge length was at 2.756" to ogive and this produced my first sub MOA group which is shown in the photo. I cleaned my gun again after the previous group. My fouling shot was at the same lower target as the previous fouling shot and it touched the same hole! I then proceeded to shoot three more shots and they measured about 0.875" (shown in photo). If I included my fouling shot in this group it also would have remained sub MOA.
I cleaned my gun again and I shot one more group with a cartridge length of 2.736" to ogive. The problem is that I wasn't banking on such a short length being a good bet and I only brought three bullets at that length. My fouling shot was about 1.0" away from my previous two fouling shots. The two bullets I had left went through the same hole.
On my next trip to the range I'm bringing 15 cartridges. I'm testing the following lengths 2.756" (my winner from last time), 2.746" (new size), and 2.736" to ogive. I will start with a clean barrel before shooting each group. I'll shoot my fouling shot at a lower target and then the four shot group at a target above the fouling shot target. Hopefully I can repeat my good results and then load up 100 rounds and finally be able to sleep at night! LOL.
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chesspunker
Well-Known Member
I want to thank everyone for helping me find my recipe for my custom 7 MM Weatherby Magnum rifle!
As discussed above I went to the range on Saturday and shot three different groups of four bullets at three different overall cartridge lengths. The winner was my first group which was my deepest seated bullet (2.738" to ogive). The group size was 0.765". I started out with a completely clean barrel before shooting each group (no powder or copper fouling). I use Sweet's to clean my gun and it was squeaky clean before each fouling shot was fired. If you look at my target photo you will see that I only had one flier out of all my group shots. If not for this flier all three of my groups would have been Sub MOA. This gives me even more confidence. I'm guessing the flier was operator error.
I used a fan to help cool my gun between shots and this worked very nicely (shown in photo).
I set up my target so that I would shoot one fouling shot at a lower orange sticker and then shoot four shots at a higher orange sticker. See attached for my results. The winning recipe is below.
Group Size = 0.765"
Bullet = Barnes 145 GR LRX
Powder = 73.1 Grains of H4831SC
Cartridge Length = 2.738" (to ogive)
Primer = GM215M
Brass = Once Fired Neck Resized only Norma WBY
Muzzle Velocity = 3185 FPS
ONCE AGAIN MANY THANKS TO ALL THAT RESPONDED AND HELPED ME AT LONG RANGE HUNTING!!! I took bits and pieces from everyone who responded and found what works for my gun. I can't wait to hunt with my bullets in a couple of weeks when CA A zone rifle season opens.
Take Care,
Chesspunker
As discussed above I went to the range on Saturday and shot three different groups of four bullets at three different overall cartridge lengths. The winner was my first group which was my deepest seated bullet (2.738" to ogive). The group size was 0.765". I started out with a completely clean barrel before shooting each group (no powder or copper fouling). I use Sweet's to clean my gun and it was squeaky clean before each fouling shot was fired. If you look at my target photo you will see that I only had one flier out of all my group shots. If not for this flier all three of my groups would have been Sub MOA. This gives me even more confidence. I'm guessing the flier was operator error.
I used a fan to help cool my gun between shots and this worked very nicely (shown in photo).
I set up my target so that I would shoot one fouling shot at a lower orange sticker and then shoot four shots at a higher orange sticker. See attached for my results. The winning recipe is below.
Group Size = 0.765"
Bullet = Barnes 145 GR LRX
Powder = 73.1 Grains of H4831SC
Cartridge Length = 2.738" (to ogive)
Primer = GM215M
Brass = Once Fired Neck Resized only Norma WBY
Muzzle Velocity = 3185 FPS
ONCE AGAIN MANY THANKS TO ALL THAT RESPONDED AND HELPED ME AT LONG RANGE HUNTING!!! I took bits and pieces from everyone who responded and found what works for my gun. I can't wait to hunt with my bullets in a couple of weeks when CA A zone rifle season opens.
Take Care,
Chesspunker
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chesspunker
Well-Known Member
I bagged a decent 2 x 2 forked horn black tail on Saturday with the 145 GR LRX Reloads you all helped me to develop. It was a nice sneak over a ridge and there he was bedded down about 75 yards away.
I shot him through the ribs, through the heart, out the other side, and into the lower part of the front left leg since he was bedded. The weird thing was that after shooting him he ran about 40 yards and dropped dead, but there was pretty much no blood on the ground at all! This is a little concerning since I hunt heavy brush country and sometimes deer are able to scoot into the the brush before dying.
Does anyone else have this issue with the LRX bullets? I'd hate to think that blood on the ground is a thing of the past for me!
I shot him through the ribs, through the heart, out the other side, and into the lower part of the front left leg since he was bedded. The weird thing was that after shooting him he ran about 40 yards and dropped dead, but there was pretty much no blood on the ground at all! This is a little concerning since I hunt heavy brush country and sometimes deer are able to scoot into the the brush before dying.
Does anyone else have this issue with the LRX bullets? I'd hate to think that blood on the ground is a thing of the past for me!
