Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
Just for fun I've been reloading some 124Hammer bullets in a .308 rifle and some 124s in a 6.5 PRC rifle.
In the .308 I expected to reach about 3,200 ft/sec with the 124H bullets based on the velocities that I get with 130 TTSX bullets. Most powders that have been suggested fill the case well into the case neck and I'm not thrilled with that much compression. Only two powders, CFE223 and Benchmark have case fill levels in the shoulder of the case. 50gr of CFE did not meet my velocity goal but put 2 bullets into 1.5" @ 400yds. 46.5gr of Benchmark get 3,205 ft/sec and put 2 bullets into exactly 1" @ 400yds. I do see really high SDs which I may be introducing with the FCD, just not sure yet. It may also have been caused by switching to a Fed 215M primer. All-in-all I think this little bullet will work well in the .308 when I work the bugs out.
In the 6.5 PRC I tested the 124H bullet (again) with H4831, RE23 and RE26. I loaded 6 bullets of each load so that I could shoot 2-3shot groups with each powder. All 3 will shoot within 100 ft/sec of each other. I started with a squeaky clean barrel and fired 3 fouling shots with a cup & core bullet. Shooting the three different loads with the three different powders resulted in an unimpressive average group of 3.5" @ 400yds. However, after shooting about 20 rounds I retested the same 3 (124H) loads and groups shrank considerably. The 3 groups together now average a mere 1.5" @ 400yds. I have never seen this much change in group size after 20 rounds. The tightest group came from 60.0gr RE26 with a Fed215m in a Lapua case and crimped w/ a FCD. It measure a remarkable .76" @ 400yds.
One last thing I realized - I can shoot a 124 Hammer bullet at 3,200 ft/sec from either cartridge but the .308 will require a lot less powder to get you there.
I've been shooting/loading for 40 years and I learn something new every time I sit at the bench and sling some lead. or copper in this case.
In the .308 I expected to reach about 3,200 ft/sec with the 124H bullets based on the velocities that I get with 130 TTSX bullets. Most powders that have been suggested fill the case well into the case neck and I'm not thrilled with that much compression. Only two powders, CFE223 and Benchmark have case fill levels in the shoulder of the case. 50gr of CFE did not meet my velocity goal but put 2 bullets into 1.5" @ 400yds. 46.5gr of Benchmark get 3,205 ft/sec and put 2 bullets into exactly 1" @ 400yds. I do see really high SDs which I may be introducing with the FCD, just not sure yet. It may also have been caused by switching to a Fed 215M primer. All-in-all I think this little bullet will work well in the .308 when I work the bugs out.
In the 6.5 PRC I tested the 124H bullet (again) with H4831, RE23 and RE26. I loaded 6 bullets of each load so that I could shoot 2-3shot groups with each powder. All 3 will shoot within 100 ft/sec of each other. I started with a squeaky clean barrel and fired 3 fouling shots with a cup & core bullet. Shooting the three different loads with the three different powders resulted in an unimpressive average group of 3.5" @ 400yds. However, after shooting about 20 rounds I retested the same 3 (124H) loads and groups shrank considerably. The 3 groups together now average a mere 1.5" @ 400yds. I have never seen this much change in group size after 20 rounds. The tightest group came from 60.0gr RE26 with a Fed215m in a Lapua case and crimped w/ a FCD. It measure a remarkable .76" @ 400yds.
One last thing I realized - I can shoot a 124 Hammer bullet at 3,200 ft/sec from either cartridge but the .308 will require a lot less powder to get you there.
I've been shooting/loading for 40 years and I learn something new every time I sit at the bench and sling some lead. or copper in this case.
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