Testing the 135gr Apex-Outdoors Afterburners

[Petey308]

Got my 135gr .308" Afterburners in today. So here starts the testing on them. Follow along.

I'll be starting the testing in a 24" 1:10 twist 308win and the intent is to test them close range first on whitetail this November.

First thing was first, I wanted to see how consistent these bullets are out of the box. So I weighed all 50 on my AnD FX120i and then measured all 50 with my Sorteez digital indicator. The results are pictured below, in the notebook.

The extreme spread for weight was .9gr with the average coming in at 134.85gr. The extreme spread for base to ogive was .0065" but the majority were within .0025"

I did some initial comparing in QuickLoad to determine which powder combo would likely be best. My go-to powders in 308 (albeit with heavier/longer bullets), being Varget and RL-15.5 look to be too slow burning, and thus fill the case up way too fast. Both are showing compressed already at starting loads, and way compressed at max loads. Not a big surprise, but nice to know ahead of time.

IMR 8208 XBR looks the the most promising temp stable option, with a potential node possibly being around 2922fps. This of course will change once I start testing it, but it gives me an idea of what to maybe expect. I'm still hopeful I can get 3000fps.

I've decided to use small rifle primer Peterson brass, as I really like the consistency I get from them, as well as I have more SRPs on hand lol.

COAL looks to be around 2.810" based on as far as I can seat them out without the bore rider and crimp groove negatively interfering and potentially producing issues with runout.

The next step is to load up a few rounds each at 3 different charge weights so I can go shoot them and record velocities. I'll then use that to calibrate QuickLoad to my actual results. That'll allow me to get much more accurate node estimates from it. Then I'll be able to load up some more to confirm where the node actually is. If that goes well, I may or may not need to do a seating depth node test, then I should be set for deer season with bullets to spare.

The ballistic chart below shows the potential at my altitude for this bullet with a MV of 2922fps. For this initial test, it's unlikely I'll take a shot further than 300 yards.

 

[FEENIX]

Got my 135gr .308" Afterburners in today. So here starts the testing on them. Follow along.

I'll be starting the testing in a 24" 1:10 twist 308win and the intent is to test them close range first on whitetail this November.

First thing was first, I wanted to see how consistent these bullets are out of the box. So I weighed all 50 on my AnD FX120i and then measured all 50 with my Sorteez digital indicator. The results are pictured below, in the notebook.

The extreme spread for weight was .9gr with the average coming in at 134.85gr. The extreme spread for base to ogive was .0065" but the majority were within .0025"

I did some initial comparing in QuickLoad to determine which powder combo would likely be best. My go-to powders in 308 (albeit with heavier/longer bullets), being Varget and RL-15.5 look to be too slow burning, and thus fill the case up way too fast. Both are showing compressed already at starting loads, and way compressed at max loads. Not a big surprise, but nice to know ahead of time.

IMR 8208 XBR looks the the most promising temp stable option, with a potential node possibly being around 2922fps. This of course will change once I start testing it, but it gives me an idea of what to maybe expect. I'm still hopeful I can get 3000fps.

I've decided to use small rifle primer Peterson brass, as I really like the consistency I get from them, as well as I have more SRPs on hand lol.

COAL looks to be around 2.810" based on as far as I can seat them out without the bore rider and crimp groove negatively interfering and potentially producing issues with runout.

The next step is to load up a few rounds each at 3 different charge weights so I can go shoot them and record velocities. I'll then use that to calibrate QuickLoad to my actual results. That'll allow me to get much more accurate node estimates from it. Then I'll be able to load up some more to confirm where the node actually is. If that goes well, I may or may not need to do a seating depth node test, then I should be set for deer season with bullets to spare.

The ballistic chart below shows the potential at my altitude for this bullet with a MV of 2922fps. For this initial test, it's unlikely I'll take a shot further than 300 yards.

View attachment 391861View attachment 391868View attachment 391862View attachment 391863View attachment 391864View attachment 391865View attachment 391866View attachment 391867

I am looking forward to the range and harvest reports.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

FWIW - I had the best results using 46.5gr Benchmark under a 130gr Barnes TTSX bullet. Loading density was better than most other options, velocity was 3,150 ft/sec in a 22" Broughton bbl and accuracy was .5moa @ 400yds.

Good luck with your test - I'll be interested in your results.

 

[Petey308]

FWIW - I had the best results using 46.5gr Benchmark under a 130gr Barnes TTSX bullet. Loading density was better than most other options, velocity was 3,150 ft/sec in a 22" Broughton bbl and accuracy was .5moa @ 400yds.

Good luck with your test - I'll be interested in your results.

Yeah, of the other temp stable options, Benchmark looked promising as well. I've used a lot of IMR 8208 and I know it's a really great powder, which is one main reason I'm leaning towards it. Plus, I have 8lbs of 8208 and only one pound of Benchmark, currently lol.

I definitely like the sounds of your results with the Barnes. That's definitely promising. And in my experience so far, usually actual results are faster than the initial QL predictions.

Now I just need the time to load some up and test them. It might be a couple weeks. I'll be out of town all next week, so there's one week gone lol.

 

[Petey308]

So to be more transparent, I did look at several other powder options too, and I just didn't find anything that I thought looked like it would ultimately be worth dealing with groups opening a bit with temp swings.

I looked at CFE 223 first, since it's well known to produce top speeds with a lower rate of pressure, and it's 8.4% compressed at max load, at 51.5gr (wow) and at 3030fps. I know it's very dense stuff so that's why it's over 51gr and only 8.4% compressed. It would be a better option that RL-15.5 as far as top speed potential vs compression.

Also, FWIW, I know compressed loads don't translate or mean anything in regards to pressure. It's not like compressing a gas or liquid. It just makes seating the bullet to a consistent depth (COAL), difficult and very frustrating lol.

Here's a look at max loads with several other options (because this gives you an idea of top speed potential and worse case scenario for case fill/compression):

•H335 shows max 45.6gr at 2982fps and 95.9% fill

•H4895 is max 45.9gr at 3005fps and 105.3% fill

•BL-C(2) is max 49.2gr at 3023fps and 103.5% fill (node around 2971fps and 101.7%)

•aa2460 is max 46.3gr at 2951 and 98.7% fill

•aa2200 is 45.1gr at 2923fps and 101.9% fill

•aa2495 is 45.4gr at 3009fps and 106.5% fill

•aa2520 is max 47.8gr at 3005fps and 104.0% fill

•TAC is 48.1gr at 2943fps and 102.4% fill

•X-terminator is 46.5gr at 2935fps and 100% fill

•IMR 3031 is max 44.9gr at 3040fps and 110.2% fill (node around 2975 and 107.5%)

•Win 748 is max 47.3gr at 3025fps and 100.9% fill (node around 2958fps)

•N140 is max 46.4gr at 2952fps and 108.6% fill

•N130 is max 41.5gr at 2884fps and 101.9% fill

•N540 is max 47.8gr at 2977fps and 108.5% fill

•N530 is max 44.4gr at 2978fps and 101.3% fill

•AR Comp is max 44.2gr at 2996fps and 104.2% fill

•RL-15 is max 47.6gr at 3014fps and 109.2% fill

•IMR 4064 is max 46.2gr at 2959fps and 112.3% fill

I looked at a few others too, like IMR 4166 Hybrid 100V, etc and they were so compressed or so slow on MV potential I abandoned them immediately.

Also, some, like aa2230 and Ramshot X-Terminator are the exact same powder, just labeled differently. So I didn't look at both options.

Anyway, you can see that according to the predictions, none of those, when you factor in potential node area and still the case fill and then temp sensitivity, look like they'd be worth it compared to IMR 8208 at only around 30-60fps slower at the top node.

If I had a ton of the bullets, primers, brass, and tune, I'd be willing to test all the promising combinations, but unfortunately I don't. So, I have to work with what looks to be the best and I still think 8208 or Benchmark are it, all things considered.

I also fully understand QL is a prediction and real results could and likely would be quite different, but this at least gives me an idea on potential with all else equal and calculated as best as possible so far.

 

[DLJ6]

I'm tagging this as I am about to try some 8208 under Barnes 130 and 140s. TAC did pretty well with the 130s but I have more 8208 on hand.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

What does 100% fill mean in your application; to the top of the case or to the bottom of the bullet?

 

[Petey308]

What does 100% fill mean in your application; to the top of the case or to the bottom of the bullet?

Bottom of the bullet. It's based on the input bullet dimensions, case dimensions, and the COAL input, as well as the powder size and density.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Bottom of the bullet. It's based on the input bullet dimensions, case dimensions, and the COAL input, as well as the powder size and density.

Got it - it's interesting to note how close most of those powders are in velocity and load density.

Could you substitute the 124 Hammer bullet in QuickLoad and provide similar info?

 

[Petey308]

Got it - it's interesting to note how close most of those powders are in velocity and load density.

Could you substitute the 124 Hammer bullet in QuickLoad and provide similar info?

With the correct bullet dimensions, yes. I don't have the current update with all the Hammer bullet profiles. I can make a profile though, if I had the dimensions needed.

That's the profile for the 135gr Afterburner. So I'd need the sand measurements for the Hammer, then I could get the same predictions posted above with it.

 

[can1010]

here you go.
124 HH
oal. 1.060
small dia. .246
large dia. .308
length of taper .197
start pressure 2176

 

[Varmint Hunter]

here you go.
124 HH
oal. 1.060
small dia. .246
large dia. .308
length of taper .197

DANG - that was quick!

 

[can1010]

DANG - that was quick!

just edited for start pressure which i forgot, my quickload has most hammer bullets
i am also curious how the two compare

 

[Varmint Hunter]

just edited for start pressure which i forgot, my quickload has most hammer bullets
i am also curious how the two compare

I'd suspect that the Hammer would have a lot less engraving pressure.