I recently had my 28" Criterion barrel reamed out to Ackley Improved so I could get extra case capacity and try to push 105 gr bullets well past 3000fps and I finally had some time this weekend to load up test loads for ladder/group testing. I used IMR 4350 and started @ 41.6 gr and loaded up .4 gr increments up to 43.2 gr to go ladder test them.
Here's everything set up ready to shoot today..........
Here's the results I got with the chronograph........
41.6 gr - 3051/3058/3058/3065/3079 FPS
42.0 gr - 3065/3079/3102/3100/3108 FPS
42.4 gr - 3112/3122/3137/3128/3115 FPS
42.8 gr - 3144/3137/3144/3144/3150 FPS
43.2 gr - 3152/3167/3167/3162/3182 FPS
I did 2 separate ladder tests @ 265 yards and decided the lowest load and near the highest load showed the best potential so I loaded up 10 rounds @ 41.8 gr and 10 rounds @ 43.0 gr and shot some 5 shot groups @ 225 yards later in the day and the 2, 5 shot groups of 43.0 gr produced right at and just under 1" groups running right around 3150 FPS +/- 10-15 fps.
Here's the 2 groups I got @ 225 yds with the 43.0 gr loads, and yes they were 5 shot groups, I one-holed 2 shots once in each group..........
I hope to get 40-50 rounds loaded up this next week and get a dope chart put together for out to at least 750-800 yards as I'm not going to mess around testing any more with this load as it's shooting under 1/2 MOA as is and that will be plenty good for coyotes/deer this winter and the Hornady 105 A-Max ought to easily do the job running @ 3150 fps.
Here's everything set up ready to shoot today..........
Here's the results I got with the chronograph........
41.6 gr - 3051/3058/3058/3065/3079 FPS
42.0 gr - 3065/3079/3102/3100/3108 FPS
42.4 gr - 3112/3122/3137/3128/3115 FPS
42.8 gr - 3144/3137/3144/3144/3150 FPS
43.2 gr - 3152/3167/3167/3162/3182 FPS
I did 2 separate ladder tests @ 265 yards and decided the lowest load and near the highest load showed the best potential so I loaded up 10 rounds @ 41.8 gr and 10 rounds @ 43.0 gr and shot some 5 shot groups @ 225 yards later in the day and the 2, 5 shot groups of 43.0 gr produced right at and just under 1" groups running right around 3150 FPS +/- 10-15 fps.
Here's the 2 groups I got @ 225 yds with the 43.0 gr loads, and yes they were 5 shot groups, I one-holed 2 shots once in each group..........
I hope to get 40-50 rounds loaded up this next week and get a dope chart put together for out to at least 750-800 yards as I'm not going to mess around testing any more with this load as it's shooting under 1/2 MOA as is and that will be plenty good for coyotes/deer this winter and the Hornady 105 A-Max ought to easily do the job running @ 3150 fps.
