300WM Ladder Help 180HH

[staghunter]

So I found some RL26. Wiped up a batch using 180HH's. Peterson brass Wilson mandrel, Fed 215's and a very light Lee crimp to finish it off. Savage 116 SS fluted 22" barrel. Here's my shots and info. Opinions on why my velocity fell off. Node 78.5 - 78.8 but that's pretty low. I will probably add a few on but stopped when the velocity started falling. Am I seeing pressure build or the start of another node. Thanks for the help.

Gr FPS
78 - 3185
78.5 - 3178
78.8 - 3195
79.2 - 3219
79.5 - 3225
79.8 - 3233
80.1 - 3254
80.4 - 3280
80.7 - 3274
81 - 3270

 

[staghunter]

So I found some RL26. Wiped up a batch using 180HH's. Peterson brass Wilson mandrel, Fed 215's and a very light Lee crimp to finish it off. Savage 116 SS fluted 22" barrel. Here's my shots and info. Opinions on why my velocity fell off. Node 78.5 - 78.8 but that's pretty low. I will probably add a few on but stopped when the velocity started falling. Am I seeing pressure build or the start of another node. Thanks for the help.

Gr FPS
78 - 3185
78.5 - 3178
78.8 - 3195
79.2 - 3219
79.5 - 3225
79.8 - 3233
80.1 - 3254
80.4 - 3280
80.7 - 3274
81 - 3270

Add pic of shots at 200 yd. The one to the right I pulled and knew it.

 

[GLTaylor]

My guess is you are nearing pressuring out. Bet you find pressure (ejector marks or increased bolt lift) soon...

 

[just_jon]

My guess is you are nearing pressuring out. Bet you find pressure (ejector marks or increased bolt lift) soon...

Agree. QL shows 81 grains is about 1200 psi over max. QL estimates velocity at 3117 but I've found the 181 HH runs about 150 above that so I think your velocities are about as good as you'll get from this combination. If you are satisfied with the velocity and not showing signs of excessive pressure, I would so some OCW testing in the high node from 80.4 to 81.0. If you want more speed and are pressured out with RL26, you are going to try a faster burning powder.

 

[waveslayer]

So I found some RL26. Wiped up a batch using 180HH's. Peterson brass Wilson mandrel, Fed 215's and a very light Lee crimp to finish it off. Savage 116 SS fluted 22" barrel. Here's my shots and info. Opinions on why my velocity fell off. Node 78.5 - 78.8 but that's pretty low. I will probably add a few on but stopped when the velocity started falling. Am I seeing pressure build or the start of another node. Thanks for the help.

Gr FPS
78 - 3185
78.5 - 3178
78.8 - 3195
79.2 - 3219
79.5 - 3225
79.8 - 3233
80.1 - 3254
80.4 - 3280
80.7 - 3274
81 - 3270

Could be that the leads weren't 78.5, neck tension, brass variable.
Where are the pics so we can see the node? Can't help unless we see the POI shifts with each charge weight

 

[Shane Lindsey]

What does your brass look like? I would look in the 79.2-79.8gr range for potential brass life. Is this virgin cases?

FWIW, I got to 76gr/3198 FPS with Rl 23, in ADG cases with the 181gr HH at 3.62" COAL with a 26" Proof.

 

[pdshooter2]

kinda silly to madrel the neck and then crimp.
unless you know the bullets are moving, no need for a crimp.
use more neck tension first( smaller mandrel)
my 26 works very well with 220/230's, think maybe you should try 23 with the 180.
did you number each shot as you took in in the ladder ?
ladder is bullet placement and velocity..not just velocity.
look for trends....circle each 3 shots....123/234/345/456...
look for group with little to no verticle

 

[FEENIX]

Add pic of shots at 200 yd. The one to the right I pulled and knew it.

It will help if you label it with the corresponding load.

 

[staghunter]

Thanks all. Great advice. Can you see the pic. If so you can see I didn't number my shots. My bad. I wish I had as there are at least 1double holed there. And several touching. The top line of holes where all the last 5 shots. Very little vertical variation in them. Could have been squeezing trigger on wrong part of my heart beat. Lol just saying not the steadiest hand out there.

 

[pdshooter2]

Thanks all. Great advice. Can you see the pic. If so you can see I didn't number my shots. My bad. I wish I had as there are at least 1double holed there. And several touching. The top line of holes where all the last 5 shots. Very little vertical variation in them. Could have been squeezing trigger on wrong part of my heart beat. Lol just saying not the steadiest hand out there.

for a ladder, use aprox 1/100 of case volume powder steps. use 200/300 yards.
try to shoot in no wind, use some basic wind flag....a stick with surveyor tape
spot and log each shot on a duplicate target at the shooting bench.
circle shots 1/2, 123, 234.345.456, etc.
look for groups that have low vertical and close velocities.
reshoot 3 shot strings of the best 2 or 3,
reshoot 5 shot groups of the top 1/2
then start adjusting distance from the lands as mag length will allow.
for single shot shooting i start the entire process with my coal ON THE LANDS.
MAY not be possible in mag fed.

 

[FEENIX]

Thanks all. Great advice. Can you see the pic. If so you can see I didn't number my shots. My bad. I wish I had as there are at least 1double holed there. And several touching. The top line of holes where all the last 5 shots. Very little vertical variation in them. Could have been squeezing trigger on wrong part of my heart beat. Lol just saying not the steadiest hand out there.

They might be touching, but we have no idea what load generated the holes, and thus "I" cannot make a sound recommendation. See the ~12:30 mark of the video. "I" am not saying do it his way, but it helps in the analyses of your load development.

 

[Plinker147]

80.4- 81 you have a pretty good flat spot in velocity. If it's not over pressure I would work around there

 

[Hawk in WY]

What does your brass look like? I would look in the 79.2-79.8gr range for potential brass life. Is this virgin cases?

FWIW, I got to 76gr/3198 FPS with Rl 23, in ADG cases with the 181gr HH at 3.62" COAL with a 26" Proof.

Different rifle, slightly different bullet.

I started at 73.3 with RL-23 and the 180 HH, Norma brass in 26 inch Proof carbon fiber barrel and hit pressure immediately, ejector marks and stiff bolt lift. The chronograph showed I was well over pressure.

I pulled the remaining bullets and will work up from 69.1 grains for the next test. I suspect my barrel will pressure out before 3,000 fps. May then go to RL-26.

Every rifle is different. Start low and work up.