300 Norma Mag Improved. Follow along!!!

[Huntnful]

Just received my 300 HCA yesterday. Which is a 300 Norma Mag Improved designed by Mike at Hells Canyon Armory. Specs are as follows:

300 HCA (Norma Mag Improved)
Lone Peak Fuzion TI
AG Ibex Stock
26" HCA Carbon Barrel 1-9.5 twist
5 port MBM Brake.
Trigger Tech
Hawkins Bottom Metal (hinged floor plate)
Seekins low rings
March FX 4.5-28X52

Total rifle weight is 9lbs 3oz.

I loaded up a fire forming load with 225 ELDM and 72gr. of N570 with a 215M primer. It's going 2400fps. The bullets are seated long enough that I'm jamming them into the lands and actually seating them deeper when I chamber the round.
As of now, I'm just fire forming, so here are some pictures. The formed brass seems to hold about 4gr. more of powder.

 

[Huntnful]

Fire forming set up. Sighted it in and shooting steel at 300 just to have some fun lol. I'm 55 rounds in as of 6:00am this morning. Swapping the ice cold towel every 5 shots and waiting 3 minutes in between shots.

 

[WeiserBucks]

How's the book so far? I won a copy in Robbie's giveaway but haven't received it yet. Nice rifle too! I wonder if you could use a different powder for fireforming? Something easily available like H50 BMG or Ramshot Tac? I'd be saving that 570 unless you have as much as I do!

 

[Huntnful]

How's the book so far? I won a copy in Robbie's giveaway but haven't received it yet. Nice rifle too! I wonder if you could use a different powder for fireforming? Something easily available like H50 BMG or Ramshot Tac? I'd be saving that 570 unless you have as much as I do!

It's a great book so far dude! Well written stories!

I have "enough" N570 to not worry about fire forming with it

 

[WeiserBucks]

How's the low speed accuracy looking? Those 225s shot great in the 2 Norma's I've had even if you never take em in the field.

 

[Huntnful]

About 40 rounds at 300 yards

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

Beauty!

Mike builds some sleepers!

 

[Mike D Texas]

Just received my 300 HCA yesterday. Which is a 300 Norma Mag Improved designed by Mike at Hells Canyon Armory. Specs are as follows:

300 HCA (Norma Mag Improved)
Lone Peak Fuzion TI
AG Ibex Stock
26" HCA Carbon Barrel 1-9.5 twist
5 port MBM Brake.
Trigger Tech
Hawkins Bottom Metal (hinged floor plate)
Seekins low rings
March FX 4.5-28X52

Total rifle weight is 9lbs 3oz.

I loaded up a fire forming load with 225 ELDM and 72gr. of N570 with a 215M primer. It's going 2400fps. The bullets are seated long enough that I'm jamming them into the lands and actually seating them deeper when I chamber the round.
As of now, I'm just fire forming, so here are some pictures. The formed brass seems to hold about 4gr. more of powder.

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I almost had Mike build me one of his versions. I ended up with the parts to build a "mutt" version.

• Component package less barrel from Ryan Pierce (Manners EH1 with cheek riser, Borden Bigfoot receiver fully nitrided, Hawkins BDL/Wyatt's CFE12 box, Trigger Tech Special, NX8 4-32 Mil-C F1, NF 6 screw rings with bubble level cap).
• Hells Canyon 26" Tactical contour barrel, .308/8 Twist
• Alex Wheeler reamer design modified to .300" freebore
• Bullet Central Micron sizer die, AW version.

I currently have all components except the reamer and barrel.

A couple of questions,
1) What made you choose the 9.5" twist rate?
2) What is you COAL with your fire form loads?

 

[Huntnful]

I almost had Mike build me one of his versions. I ended up with the parts to build a "mutt" version.

• Component package less barrel from Ryan Pierce (Manners EH1 with cheek riser, Borden Bigfoot receiver fully nitrided, Hawkins BDL/Wyatt's CFE12 box, Trigger Tech Special, NX8 4-32 Mil-C F1, NF 6 screw rings with bubble level cap).
• Hells Canyon 26" Tactical contour barrel, .308/8 Twist
• Alex Wheeler reamer design modified to .300" freebore
• Bullet Central Micron sizer die, AW version.

I currently have all components except the reamer and barrel.

A couple of questions,
1) What made you choose the 9.5" twist rate?
2) What is you COAL with your fire form loads?

9.5 stabilizes the 230 Hybrids and 181's and was also what Mike recommended.

My COAL is around 3.8", but once literally jammed into the lands it's 3.66"

 

[wasskeet]

Tagging in - thanks for the "ride along"!

 

[Huntnful]

Formed 80 pieces of brass today. Forming the last 20, along with testing some 181 Hammer Hunters tomorrow.

I'm wanting to shoot the 181 HH's this season. So hopefully they shoot .

The hammers are loaded short of the lands (don't exactly know where and don't really care at this point). I have 4 loaded with N570 at 93gr. 3 loaded at 94gr. And 3 loaded at 95gr. I'll report with velocities and accuracy tomorrow.

My buddy had this exact same built done, at the same time, except in standard Norma. He's at 92gr. N570 with 181 Hammers at 1/2 MOA and 3330fps with no pressure signs. But a full case.

 

[Huntnful]

Also, for the once fired brass on the 181 load, I full length sized the brass and sized the neck but DID NOT bump the shoulder. It still chambered with ease so I'm sure it still has a little growing to do with the second firing.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Also, for the once fired brass on the 181 load, I full length sized the brass and sized the neck but DID NOT bump the shoulder. It still chambered with ease so I'm sure it still has a little growing to do with the second firing.

I find with Ackley type cases you can usually get multiple firings without having to bump the shoulder.
Looking forward to your results.

Mine will be Hybrids but I also wanted to be able to shoot the 250 Atips and the Cutting Edge Lazers. That's why I went with the 8 twist barrel.

I also have 205 Badlands along with 199 & 214 grain Hammers.

 

[squeeeeze]

Fine looking setup and build, following along. Can't wait to see the final accuracy and speed results.

What bipod is that?

Does the 9lbs 3oz weight include the bipod? Will be a nice lighter rifle to carry.