28 Nosler final loads

[Switchbarrel]

Been searching around, looking at/for 28 Nosler loads. The little bit I've found talks mostly about initial load development. Some mention backing off after barrel break-in. Also got some info. from Berger tech support to get me started.

I'm starting off with a "seasoned" barrel that had a few hundred .284 Shehane rounds through it before being rechambered to the Nosler. My reamer is .313" neck, .270" freebore.

My question for those that may have 100+ rounds through their 28 Nosler's is, where did you end up at load wise AFTER barrel break in? Powder charge, velocity & barrel length please.

I'll be starting off with RL33 powder, CCI 250 primers, Nosler cases, Berger 195's & Sierra 197's. Barrel is a 30" Krieger. I have other powders & primers but, this is what I intend to try first. Will start with a ~20 thou jump.

Based on the reading I've been doing, I'm hoping to end up in the 3130-3150 fps range for what I want to do (1 mile steel target, no hunting).


I know all the usual caveats apply. I intend to start low and work up for my own setup. The nearest range over 100 yards is an hour and 15 minutes away so I need to preload a range of charges and don't want to go over by a lot and have to pull a bunch of rounds when I got home.

Thank you for reading & any insights you can provide.

-Rick

 

[jeffreybehr]

D

Been searching around, looking at/for 28 Nosler loads.

...

-Rick

Do you have the Nosler #8 manual? It contains data with bullet weights thru 175.

Here's Hodgdon's. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

Lyman 50 has pressure-barrel data thru 175g. bullets. FWIW, their highest velocity from a 26" barrel was 3195FPS from 92.0g. of US869 (63700PSI); 2nd-high tie at 3164-6 FPS was from 79.5g. of Re25 (64200PSI) and 84.0g. of Retumbo (63700PSI).

Seems like a LOT of powder per charge, which generates short barrel life*, but some are willing to pay the price. Good luck; pls let us know what you end up with.


* But understand that this comes from a guy who is rebarreling his 6.5-284-chambered long-range benchrest rifle to 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[effendude]

I run 86.5 gr of RL-33 behind the 195 Berger with Federal 215M primers. 3175fps with a 26" Bartlein gain twist barrel. Load is very near the top end for my barrel.

Scott

 

[Switchbarrel]

Thanks guys.

Jeffrey- The book data isn't going to be real pertinent since my bullets will
be 20-ish grains heavier & I believe my freebore is probably a fair amount
longer, allowing me to seat the bullets longer.


Scott- Trying to go into this with an open mind but, that's right about where I was thinking I would be based on the reading I've done. My longer barrel & quest for just a little less speed should be doable without too much pressure...I hope.

Thanks again,
-Rick

 

[effendude]

Thanks guys.

Jeffrey- The book data isn't going to be real pertinent since my bullets will
be 20-ish grains heavier & I believe my freebore is probably a fair amount
longer, allowing me to seat the bullets longer.


Scott- Trying to go into this with an open mind but, that's right about where I was thinking I would be based on the reading I've done. My longer barrel & quest for just a little less speed should be doable without too much pressure...I hope.

Thanks again,
-Rick

Rick,
I started my pre-ladder tests with the 195 and RL-33 at 83 grains and went up in 1/2 grain increments. I had started to get faint ejector marks at 87 and noticeable ones at 87.5. In January, I went to Sonora Mexico for a mule deer hunt. Coming from the frozen wasteland of the North, I loaded some ammo at 86 just to be safe. POI followed the warmer load all the way out to 600 yards. Two shots, two bucks. No issues with a black cerakoted rifle in a dark stock riding in the sun for 10 hours a day.

Scott

 

[Alex Wheeler]

All of the ones I have built have been on 26" barrels. I recommend that guys load 84-85 grains with a 195 .015" off the lands. This will put you at 3050, and is a great node for hunting. If you want to run the high node, you will be up around 88-89. You will see close to 3200 fps, and the node seems to be up about 3180-3190 fps. Depending on your barrel. I use mainly rock creeks for these and their rifling profile is quite different, and they dont seem to speed up. However, the Brux barrels I have used tuned up the same way.

 

[trailrider121]

I found a good node with 180's, and I know most use 195's. I found 83.5gr ( high node ) of Retumbo in Norma case using CCI-250 primer generated 3200+ speeds. Norma brass is soft and getting ejector marks, no other issues . Accuracy is good, but now my barrel has broken in, the speed increased causing accuracy issues. So I dropped my charge down to 81 grs Retumbo and accuracy restored with speed around 3150 fps. 180's running 3150 fps seem to be a sweet spot.

 

[stacy]

I D SAY THAT WILL GETTER DONE !!!!!!!!!!

 

[hogpatrol]

All of the ones I have built have been on 26" barrels. I recommend that guys load 84-85 grains with a 195 .015" off the lands. This will put you at 3050, and is a great node for hunting. If you want to run the high node, you will be up around 88-89. You will see close to 3200 fps, and the node seems to be up about 3180-3190 fps. Depending on your barrel. I use mainly rock creeks for these and their rifling profile is quite different, and they dont seem to speed up. However, the Brux barrels I have used tuned up the same way.

What twist are you recommending for the heavier bullets? I'm running the 168 HVLDs in a 9 around 3480.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

What twist are you recommending for the heavier bullets? I'm running the 168 HVLDs in a 9 around 3480.

I use 8.5 twists with the 195s. If a guy is back east I may use an 8 twist. Mostly I use Rock Creek barrels on these, so the 8.5 twists are really about 8.3 because of the gain twist.

 

[hogpatrol]

I use 8.5 twists with the 195s. If a guy is back east I may use an 8 twist. Mostly I use Rock Creek barrels on these, so the 8.5 twists are really about 8.3 because of the gain twist.

The issue I have is that my load development is around 100 MSL but am hunting at 4000 to 6000 MSL. I'm going to try the Berger HVLD 175s & 180 HVLDs & see how they do. I think I'd be on the ragged edge with the 195s. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Switchbarrel]

All of the ones I have built have been on 26" barrels. I recommend that guys load 84-85 grains with a 195 .015" off the lands. This will put you at 3050.

I took mine out last Thursday & shot a few rounds. 84.5 grains of RL33
right about the above .015" off gave me ~3050 fps. with the 195's.

85 gr. averaged 3177 fps for 5 shots.
85.5 gave 3188 as I recall (only fired the one at this charge)
86 gr. gave me 3220-something. (Again, only round I fired)

I think I'm going to focus in that 85-85.5 gr. range & see what happens.
I only fired the 8 rounds to get some velocity data & sight in the scope at 100 yards.

Plan was to shoot the 1800 yard target after that. To my dismay, after moving & setting up, some grazing cows had other ideas (grazing right at the target & never left before I ran out of daylight ). I don't have the freezer space or $$$ to take the shot so, had to save the rest of the loads for another day. The real bummer was the weather was beautiful, 70*, no wind at the bench & the trees at the target weren't perceptibly moving either. God only knows what was going thru the ravine in the middle but, the confidence level was high that day.

 

[trailrider121]

I really enjoy the 28 Nosler. It's a great cartridge for hunting!

 

[trailrider121]

Ran a ladder test at 300 yards using RL-33 and 195's. 85-86 grs pin point a good node around 3050 fps with 26" barrel. Going to retest again to confirm. I hit pressure around 88 grs but my throat is setup for 180 hybrids.

 

[hogpatrol]

The issue I have is that my load development is around 100 MSL but am hunting at 4000 to 6000 MSL. I'm going to try the Berger HVLD 175s & 180 HVLDs & see how they do. I think I'd be on the ragged edge with the 195s. Thanks for the reply.

Follow up: Tried the 175 ELD hybrids and they were horrible, atl, RL33 and they were all over the place. I'm sticking with the 168 HVLDs. They're dialed in to 1000 and that's about my max distance for shooting.

 

[esromvre1]

Has anyone done any work up with 197 SMKs and VV 20N29 powder?

Or even 195 Berger???

 

[D-mon]

i guess you will be turning your necks if you have a reamer specified at 0.313neck diameter.
my match reamer from ptg is at 0.3185 . And I was quite surprised when I measured the necks of a brand new box nosler factory ammo at 0.3205.
they would have never fitted in my chamber!

 

[FNSafari]

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28 Nosler Load Data

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