30-28 Nosler continued

[Alex Wheeler]

So I built another 30-28 a little heavier this time. Man what a pleasure to shoot. Anyhow, kind of shot myself in the foot.... Figured Id hit the next node with a little bigger case 30-28 vs the standard 30 nosler and use a 28" barrel. Well this barrel ended up very tight. I am running 30 nosler speeds with LESS powder. Oh well. Heres a ladder at 300, then one at 1k. Blue, green, and red on the 1k ladder bracket 3100 fps. Those 3 are 1 3/4" tall at 1k. I didnt like how the retumbo ladder looked.

 

[savageshooter86]

So 85.2?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

So 85.2?

What you didnt like 1.75" of vertical at 1k at 3100 fps? I did shoot a small one at 1k with 85.2 but cases will probably only get 3-4 firings before primers are loose. Normally I would like that load but like I said this barrel is tight. Normally in a 30 nosler (few grains less capacity) 85 would give 3100. So you can see this is a tight one..

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Good to see youre not buried in snow like we are in the NW. Lucky duck

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Good to see youre not buried in snow like we are in the NW. Lucky duck

The wind blows it away

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The wind blows it away

Lol. Yeah I suppose there's a tradeoff there

 

[Bruce Pooley]

So I built another 30-28 a little heavier this time. Man what a pleasure to shoot. Anyhow, kind of shot myself in the foot.... Figured Id hit the next node with a little bigger case 30-28 vs the standard 30 nosler and use a 28" barrel. Well this barrel ended up very tight. I am running 30 nosler speeds with LESS powder. Oh well. Heres a ladder at 300, then one at 1k. Blue, green, and red on the 1k ladder bracket 3100 fps. Those 3 are 1 3/4" tall at 1k. I didnt like how the retumbo ladder looked.
View attachment 1025444 View attachment 1025445 View attachment 1025446 View attachment 1025447

What kind of pressure signs were you seeing in you ladder test both with H1000 and Retumbo? At what point were you seeing excessive pressure? Your loads seem to be on the high side at the top end but then I have not ran them though Quick Load so don't have a reference point.

I'm getting ready to rebuild my 30-28 Nosler with a longer barrel and Freebore. I made a mistake with the first barrel of ordering a reamer with too short of a freebore. This one I'm looking at matching the freebore of the 300 PRC at 0.2328 or longer. Still doing some calculations and measurements. I know I will have to purchase a Remington 700 Oberndorf Extended Well floor plate and Magazine by going to the longer throat.

I was going to continue testing the 200 gr Hornady ELD-X's but also add the 212 gr version with the higher BC.

I already have two 28 Noslers I love shooting that are tack drivers with 175 gr Horndady ELD-X's. One has a SS barrel with a SAAMI chamber and the other has a match grade 0.212 Freebore chamber on a Proof Research Carbon fiber barrel. As expected the match chamber has a smaller SD on velocities but then I also turn the case necks for it.

I would love to learn more about your load testing and experience with the 30-28 Nosler to compare with mine.

 

[JFrank]

What you didnt like 1.75" of vertical at 1k at 3100 fps? I did shoot a small one at 1k with 85.2 but cases will probably only get 3-4 firings before primers are loose. Normally I would like that load but like I said this barrel is tight. Normally in a 30 nosler (few grains less capacity) 85 would give 3100. So you can see this is a tight one..

I'm not clear on which powder charge you settled on
85 gr of H1000 or 83.6 ?

 

[IdahoCTD]

Have you tried any IMR8133 Alex? I'd be curious if you could get the speed up with it.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have built quite a few of these and they will not hit the next node up from what a 30 Nosler will do. Both a 30 and a 30-28 will push the 215 at 3100 fps in a 26" barrel with 83-86 grains of H1000. Accuracy, stability, and ease of tune is awesome. The only issue is the primer pockets are shot in 5-6 reloads and thats why I prefer the 30-28 with its slight increase in capacity. I love H1000 for its clean burn, stability, and accuracy so I have not messed with anything else. The H1000 ladders are better than the Retumbo ladders so I have not tuned up a retumbo load. At some point bullets will explode on game and not perform like we want, 3100 fps is plenty for a 215 IMO. I have said from the start that if Lapua made brass for this case Id be done looking for a better elk round. Looks like ADG is gonna do it and I have been impressed with their stuff. Its a simple neck up, I use 28 nosler redding s-dies that I bore out the neck ID on and straight 30 Nosler seating dies work or I make Wilson dies. I have my reamer set up to work just right with the s-die. Like most of my rifles, this one has a new owner, but I have owned a couple of these and they were all solid 5" 1k rifles or better and they tuned easy like the 28 nosler does, but better hunting bullets and almost twice the barrel life. I really like this cartridge. This group at 1k is from another one I owned.

 

[kvd]

Is that a BEAST brake from Muzzle Brakes and More I see on the end of the barrel?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

It is. Very effective, but it does put a lot of concussion and noise on you. Ear plugs are a MUST. I have other options that give up a little effectiveness but wont blow out your ears as well.

 

[Ironworker]

Where is this Rifle range at ?

 

[kvd]

It is. Very effective, but it does put a lot of concussion and noise on you. Ear plugs are a MUST. I have other options that give up a little effectiveness but wont blow out your ears as well.

I feel sorry for your Labradar!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

@rpierce
Here are some retumbo numbers. This was a tight bore so I would expect to get a little more.

 

[greisdor]

What is the difference between the 28 NOS vs the 300 WM ?

JR

 

[simo hayha]

 

[FURMAN]

View attachment 1107924

The Hornady 300 PRC brass I have averages around 97 grains of H20 to the top of the neck. My 30 Nosler brass is right at 99 as the pic above shows. The 300 WM varies greatly depending on brand. The Norma/Nosler is around 95 grains.

 

[greisdor]

Ok so from the picture it looks like a rebated rim - thanks for the picture

JR

 

[distantfoe]

I sure hope my 30 Nosler shoots that well.