N140 or XBR 8208 with 95VLD?

[Cfshooter]

About to work up something in 6BR with some 95VLD hunt. I have N140 and XBR to start with, which would you choose? Anyone use either of those combos? I’m kind of guessing on starting charges so feel free to chime in.

I know it’s not ideal, but it is a 7.5 twist 26” Bart.

 

[marchx]

I have 7.75 26” in one of my BRs and just recently started load development for 95gr VLDs with N140.
I started with 29.8 up to 30.5 gr of N140 seating depth 10thau off.
30.2 looks promising however I find N140 not particularly temperature stable. My best group was shot 2 weeks ago in 10 degrees celsius. The group I shot 2 days ago in 24 degrees was worse and group pattern was different. All in all it’s not a bad combo.

 

[Cfshooter]

I have 7.75 26” in one of my BRs and just recently started load development for 95gr VLDs with N140.
I started with 29.8 up to 30.5 gr of N140 seating depth 10thau off.
30.2 looks promising however I find N140 not particularly temperature stable. My best group was shot 2 weeks ago in 10 degrees celsius. The group I shot 2 days ago in 24 degrees was worse and group pattern was different. All in all it’s not a bad combo.

Good info, any info on the speed? Here is what I was going to start with if i go with the N140:
N140
30.4 x3
30.7x3
31.0 x6
31.3 x3
31.6 x3

Maybe i should start lower?

Will probably start at light touch and just work back if need be once i find a good speed.

 

[30378]

XBR 8208 has been outstanding in mine

 

[Cfshooter]

XBR 8208 has been outstanding in mine

Have you used it with 90's?

 

[dgeesaman]

Given powder availability and cost, N140 is the overwhelming winner

 

[Cfshooter]

Given powder availability and cost, N140 is the overwhelming winner

lol, so true. I have XBR and N140 not being used for much now, so those are the two I will go with.

 

[30378]

Have you used it with 90's?

90 Accubonds, 95, 105 and 109 Berger VLDs.

 

[Cfshooter]

90 Accubonds, 95, 105 and 109 Berger VLDs.

cool. I have used it with 107's, but first time with 95's, going to go up to 30.0 i guess.

 

[Allen Corneau]

This is one of my loads for Silhouette this year. Berger 95 VLD Targets, Kreiger 7.5 twist 26" barrel, 28 grains of N140, Lapua brass, CCI 450 primers.

White card is three shots at 100 yards, Tan card is 300 yards.

 

[Cfshooter]

This is one of my loads for Silhouette this year. Berger 95 VLD Targets, Kreiger 7.5 twist 26" barrel, 28 grains of N140, Lapua brass, CCI 450 primers.

White card is three shots at 100 yards, Tan card is 300 yards.


View attachment 1557342View attachment 1557344

Very nice! That is great info there, I may need to start lower in charge. Is the mid 2600’s the speed?

 

[Allen Corneau]

Very nice! That is great info there, I may need to start lower in charge. Is the mid 2600’s the speed?

Yes, that's the average velocity (two different sessions over the winter.) I'm using a softer load than others might because we shoot standing/off-hand and reduced recoil is important.

 

[Cfshooter]

So I made it out for a quick OCW before a match today and the XBR 95VLD hunt combo did not show all that great promise.

Next trip I will load up 10 at 29.4 just to see what it does, but will primarily be going to try an OcW with the N140 and see if it starts off any better.

It also may have not like the .005 off seating depth I was using, who knows.

 

[Allen Corneau]

Did you change something between the first 29.4 group and the second?

Also, I'm jumping ~0.065" with my N140 load (did several rounds of seating tests to dial it in). I can't jam bullets because it's quite possible to run out of time each five-shot bank and have to pull an unfired round. If I got a bullet stuck it would be a big problem.

 

[Cfshooter]

Did you change something between the first 29.4 group and the second?

Also, I'm jumping ~0.065" with my N140 load (did several rounds of seating tests to dial it in).

I did change POA after the sighters, but the 29.4 in the OCW still had a lower POI compared to all other charges. They were all shot round robin also.

 

[jwink]

I personally am getting good results from the XBR, it seems to like being pushed a bit harder on speed. And only jumping .020.

 

[Cfshooter]

I personally am getting good results from the XBR, it seems to like being pushed a bit harder on speed.

2993 was the highest I got, but no pressure signs. That is from 26”. What are you seeing?

 

[jwink]

2993 was the highest I got, but no pressure signs. That is from 26”. What are you seeing?

2950 and was packing tight, but I've not seen any evidence of pressure problems at all either, but accuracy kept getting better, probably have room to improve.

 

[Cfshooter]

So I did some seating depth testing with the XBR load (2930'ish) and not sure this barrel likes these bullets much, some of the worst groups ever shot from this thing lol. I didn't even shoot all the ones I had because it was so bad. I tried from .010 in - .035 off, they all sucked, produced split groups even. I will seat the other 21 I have left from .050 - .140 off and see if it does any better, if not, done!

 

[Cfshooter]

Adjusted seating depth with the leftover rounds I had loaded, made some big jumps. Actually found a good one at .080 off, the rest look like crap though lol.