30BR load development help *updated*

[Kevin1990]

Sorry for the length of this.
Firstly I took everyone's advice in my last post and made some crude wind flags. It was really surprising to see what the wind was doing while I would normally be shooting. Wind was only about 1-4mph though.

I did 3 shot groups.
I was using 112 hottenstien bullets, 205m primer N130 powder, .004 neck tension and .03 out from just touch. I went from 33.5 to 35.5. However, I started to get a little pressure at 35gr with a sticky bolt, and then 35.5 gave me ejector marks and a really heavy bolt lift, as well as a black ring surrounding the primer.

Below are my targets. I did the same test twice, and I also loaded about 20 rounds with 34.5gr just to shoot and have some fun.

TEST #1 33.5 was the smallest group of the day.


TEST #2 pulled one shot on 34 and called it.


Forgot 33.5gr. on test #2


THEN I shot the last few rounds of 34.5gr I had over a crono and got this.



QUESTIONS:

What charge should I go with? and then play around with seating depth and some neck tension?

Also, when I shot the 34.5 gr of N130, some rounds felt totally fine when lifting the bolt and some felt a little heavier. I'd say it was about 50/50. Is that normal? Everyone that felt heavy I looked at the crono and nothing seemed off and the cases looked okay. Some of them had a little black ring around them, but the primers looked okay and I didn't see any ejector marks. Any suggestions. Below is a picture of those rounds.

 

[Kevin1990]

I can't imagine I'd be getting pressure signs at 34.5 of N130

Just one more picture of my "wind flags."

 

[Larry Koch]

3050 fps is a good velocity.

 

[Kevin1990]

3050 fps is a good velocity.

Perhaps I'll play around with the 34.5gr charge then. Has me wondering what velocity the 33.5 was though.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Bolt lift is usually a little heavy for me but I’m cocking on open. I shoot N130 and 118 BIBs around 3050, no loose primer pockets or any issues with the case rims after 25-30 firings.

I use either 4 or 5 shot groups. I usually pick the highest powder load that has a nice round-shaped tight group. The extra velocity seems to help a little when shooting 200 yds. My loads are usually in the range from 35.2 to 35.6.

 

[Dimner]

First off, very nice shooting! Those all look good.

I'd personally try your test one more time at 200yds. if you have it available, unless your test was at 200? A longer distance might give you a bit more info to go on to see the differences in those loads.

At a longer distance I would be looking for horizontal stability. Draw a straight line with sharpie on your target, then place your stickers right in the middle of that line. Aim middle sticker and see if the groups vary horizontal.

I'd do 34.0 - 34.3 - 34.6 - 34.9 - 35.2

And see where two or three of those groups have the same horizontal POI. Pick the middle charge, and then do a seating test.

 

[BRGUY]

First off, very nice shooting! Those all look good.

I'd personally try your test one more time at 200yds. if you have it available, unless your test was at 200? A longer distance might give you a bit more info to go on to see the differences in those loads.

At a longer distance I would be looking for horizontal stability. Draw a straight line with sharpie on your target, then place your stickers right in the middle of that line. Aim middle sticker and see if the groups vary horizontal.

I'd do 34.0 - 34.3 - 34.6 - 34.9 - 35.2

And see where two or three of those groups have the same horizontal POI. Pick the middle charge, and then do a seating test.

Excellent advice!

 

[AlNyhus]

Was the seating depth the same for all the groups?

 

[Kevin1990]

Was the seating depth the same for all the groups?

Yes. The seating depth was the same for all groups and they were shot at 100 yards.

 

[AlNyhus]

Yes. The seating depth was the same for all groups and they were shot at 100 yards.

Where was the bullet from the T.P. (touch point)?

 

[Kevin1990]

First off, very nice shooting! Those all look good.

I'd personally try your test one more time at 200yds. if you have it available, unless your test was at 200? A longer distance might give you a bit more info to go on to see the differences in those loads.

At a longer distance I would be looking for horizontal stability. Draw a straight line with sharpie on your target, then place your stickers right in the middle of that line. Aim middle sticker and see if the groups vary horizontal.

I'd do 34.0 - 34.3 - 34.6 - 34.9 - 35.2

And see where two or three of those groups have the same horizontal POI. Pick the middle charge, and then do a seating test.

My range goes out to 200. I will give that a go, and report back. I figure I'd mess with seating depth or neck tension and see if they tighten up then go out to 200, but I will try 200 first

 

[Kevin1990]

Where was the bullet from the T.P. (touch point)?

.03 into the lands from touch

 

[Larry Koch]

Sorry for the length of this.
Firstly I took everyone's advice in my last post and made some crude wind flags. It was really surprising to see what the wind was doing while I would normally be shooting. Wind was only about 1-4mph though.


I was using 112 hottenstien bullets, 205m primer N130 powder, .004 neck tension and .03 out from just touch. I went from 33.5 to 35.5. However, I started to get a little pressure at 35gr with a sticky bolt, and then 35.5 gave me ejector marks and a really heavy bolt lift, as well as a black ring surrounding the primer.

Below are my targets. I did the same test twice, and I also loaded about 20 rounds with 34.5gr just to shoot and have some fun.

TEST #1 33.5 was the smallest group of the day.
View attachment 1589412

TEST #2 pulled one shot on 34 and called it.
View attachment 1589413

Forgot 33.5gr. on test #2
View attachment 1589414

THEN I shot the last few rounds of 34.5gr I had over a crono and got this.View attachment 1589417
View attachment 1589421


QUESTIONS:

What charge should I go with? and then play around with seating depth and some neck tension?

Also, when I shot the 34.5 gr of N130, some rounds felt totally fine when lifting the bolt and some felt a little heavier. I'd say it was about 50/50. Is that normal? Everyone that felt heavy I looked at the crono and nothing seemed off and the cases looked okay. Some of them had a little black ring around them, but the primers looked okay and I didn't see any ejector marks. Any suggestions. Below is a picture of those rounds.View attachment 1589417

Kevin, I shoot my own bullets and they are 115gr. just off of jam. I cant say exactly because I dont even no. Dont really care. I found on a 17 twist barrel 23" long Im getting 3050 fps. I can go up to 3150 or lower to 2940 fps. But it seems to shoot the best consistently above 3000 fps. I never had a bolt lift issue, that I can remember.
Also my bullets are a little fatter than off the shelf. But I dont know if it matters. It maybe just mental.
Good luck. I've had better luck with lt30 than v130, some say v120. I dont know but you might just test other powders. You won't wear out a 30br like a ppc barrel. 18 twist barrels shoot good too. I been playing with one and its a shooter too. What action are you using. Just make sure the firing pin runs free.

 

[Kevin1990]

Kevin, I shoot my own bullets and they are 115gr. just off of jam. I cant say exactly because I dont even no. Dont really care. I found on a 17 twist barrel 23" long Im getting 3050 fps. I can go up to 3150 or lower to 2940 fps. But it seems to shoot the best consistently above 3000 fps. I never had a bolt lift issue, that I can remember.
Also my bullets are a little fatter than off the shelf. But I dont know if it matters. It maybe just mental.
Good luck. I've had better luck with lt30 than v130, some say v120. I dont know but you might just test other powders. You won't wear out a 30br like a ppc barrel. 18 twist barrels shoot good too. I been playing with one and its a shooter too. What action are you using. Just make sure the firing pin runs free.

I ended up finding a good deal on N130 with free shipping months ago so I ended up getting 24 pounds of it for this 30br. I have seen a few threads about N120 as well as lt30, but never took a cahnce on it.

I'm using a Kauger BRii action. I really like it. That being said I need a different scope and rest. My scope is a 6-24 power arken ffp. and my rest is a bald eagle, and the top has seen better days, or maybe it was never great to begin with. Looking to get a 36x sightron and a shade tree top when funds allow.

The hottenstien bullets that im using are .3088 at the base I believe. Id love learn to make my own bullets one day!

 

[JFrank]

03 into the lands from touch

.03 ?? Or .003 ? Need to clarify this..

Also imo shooting groups at 100 yards doesnt give you any separation, basically they all look the same.

 

[JFrank]

Also, when I shot the 34.5 gr of N130, some rounds felt totally fine when lifting the bolt and some felt a little heavier. I'd say it was about 50/50. Is that normal?

How much are you setting the shoulder back on the bass ?

 

[Kevin1990]

How much are you setting the shoulder back on the bass ?

Brass fireformed is 1.510 and I set it back to 1.490. So .002.

 

[Kevin1990]

.03 ?? Or .003 ? Need to clarify this..

Also imo shooting groups at 100 yards doesnt give you any separation, basically they all look the same.

.03.. I will be shooting this at 100 yards 99 percent of the time. But I will go out to 200 anyway

 

[JFrank]

.03.. I will be shooting this at 100 yards 99 percent of the time. But I will go out to 200 anyway

That’s 30,000 jam ?
also you may want to set the shoulder back another .001 and see if your extraction gets more consistent.

 

[Larry Koch]

Kevin your doing well with the equipment, rest and scope. So r u planning on competing? Get a higher magnifying scope 30mm tube. I use a Kauger BR2 as well. good out of the box. I have it glued and screwed in. I like the Kauger so much I purchased another for ppc. But I havent competed with it. Kind of hard to let go of what Im using as of now.
Federal Primers work well for the Kauger action.