30 Major with LT-32

[GSPV]

I normally shoot N120 in my 30 Major. I like that stuff a lot. It is sometimes hard to get, however.

I had 8 lbs of LT-32 sitting there begging to be tried.

I laddered up from 32.8 in 0.1 grain increments. I found a competitive velocity at 34.5. It shot very well there.

It's a very full case. You have to use a long tube funnel and trickle it in.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Thanks for doing this and for letting us know, Greg.

 

[GSPV]

I know that you said that AA-5744 worked well. What about AA-1680? Burn rate is right.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I know that you said that AA-5744 worked well. What about AA-1680? Burn rate is right.

It's a go. Tried it early on with some success. Some have told me it was their powder of choice. It does meter well and will shoot. Just keep in mind that we are talking about very fast powders in a rifle cartridge when we're talking about N120,1680 and 5744. They all seem to give decent fill rates, but also leave enough room to do serious damage if one continues to use available space for load data.

 

[30EX]

Greg

What weight bullet were you using in the testing?


The X-Man

Big thanks for doing the testing, we need more info on it as well.

 

[GSPV]

115 grain 10X. Lapua brass. 205M primer. I have a 20 thou freebore reamer.

BTW, I have a batch of Reloader 7 that works well too. Mike tells me that it can vary a bunch lot-to-lot.

I should have more time this weekend. I'll try to post results.

 

[GSPV]

What about AA-1680? Burn rate is right.

It's a go. Tried it early on with some success. Some have told me it was their powder of choice. It does meter well and will shoot. Just keep in mind that we are talking about very fast powders in a rifle cartridge when we're talking about N120,1680 and 5744. They all seem to give decent fill rates, but also leave enough room to do serious damage if one continues to use available space for load data.

Noted. That's one reason that I'm exploring. Just trying to find the perfect fill.

 

[jonbearman]

Not trying to hijack your thread but what is a 30 major. Just for my knowledge of cartridge conversions.

 

[potatoe]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2013/02/now-thats-accuracy-mike-ezells-tack-driving-30-major/

 

[GSPV]

The fundamental thing about the 30 Major is getting 30 BR type performance with a PPC bolt face.

There are lots more great used 6PPC rifles for sale than 30 BRs.

Same bullets, same reamer characteristics, same accuracy nodes.

No rebating rims, it's slightly easier to form cases.

The cost is powder. There just isn't the broad information on powders tht there is for the 30 BR.

 

[GSPV]

At 60 degrees, 34.2 yields 2905. 34.6 gives 2935. It shot well, but I think the center of the tune is more like 2925. The next window is going to be somewhere between 2950 and just under 3000. So, it looks like 34.9 or 35.0 to get there. The case is going to be very full there.

I'll try to get back out tomorrow to get the same charge at a higher temperature and a couple of different charges at that temperature. We should be able to put together a decent picture.

 

[GSPV]

Still on the LT-32 in a 30 Major. Lapua brass, 205M primer, 115 10X bullet. 34.4/34.5 at 2925-ish and at 34.9 at 2575. I don't think we can reach the 3025 node.

So, an interesting aspect of this is that you can shoot a 220 Beggs/22-100 and a 6PPC *and* a 30 Major. All the same bolt face, all the same primer, all the same powder.

That's a sweet advantage.

 

[AlNyhus]

I think the 30 Major is a savvy way to go for those with a PPC boltface setup. It certainly gives a lot of flexibility to the rifle. Good to hear that AA5744 works well, too.

Good shootin' and keep us updated. 8) -Al

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I think the 30 Major is a savvy way to go for those with a PPC boltface setup. It certainly gives a lot of flexibility to the rifle. Good to hear that AA5744 works well, too.

Good shootin' and keep us updated. 8) -Al

Thanks Al! When I first started playing with it N120 was eay enough to find and not much more expensive that H4198. On top of that, it proved to be the reason not to look further for what I felt was THE powder. It holds every attribute that I'd hope for from a powder. Since then, it became more pricey, Viht quit selling 8lb'ers in the US, and availability has become scarce to say the least. With the future of Viht powders being somewhat questionable altogether, it makes sense to revisit tested powders, and explore new options. LT32 seems to be a viable alternative. I've been planning on testing with it and will soon, to add to what Greg is doing.
As to the 30 Major, it makes sense to me because it seems to equal the 30BR in performance, with the added benefit of working with a dedicated ppc bolt. I've heard all kinds of different arguments for why not to use it from people that have never tried it, but so far, the only thing I see holding it back is powder availability. If something else works as well as as the aforementioned N120, that's no longer an issue.

 

[AlNyhus]

Mike, I wonder if AA5744 in the 30 Major is like trying to get 4227 to shoot in the 30BR's?

There's enough empty case with H4227 in a 30BR that mine would go from shooting .3's , to shooting honest mid .1's 8), to wrecking cases with another .3 gr. :'(

When I blended H4198 with H4227, (would that be H4212???) the H4227 characteristics seemed to dominate, no matter what the blend ratio. I wish we had something a bit faster than H4198 for the 30BR. N130 works great..but we're in the same boat as you guys with the N120 in the 30 Major...spotty supply. I know for sure that on damp, humid mornings my 30BR's with 4198 are slightly out of tune. I've tried to tune for it and it seems the best thing is to just get a bunch of heat in the barrel before going to the sighter target. Good thing we shoot warm up matches! Mostly, I just have to let the temp and humidity catch up with my tuneup as the day goes on.

Best of luck with your shootin' this season. 8) -Al

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Mike, I wonder if AA5744 in the 30 Major is like trying to get 4227 to shoot in the 30BR's?

There's enough empty case with H4227 in a 30BR that mine would go from shooting .3's , to shooting honest mid .1's 8) , to wrecking cases with another .3 gr. :'(

When I blended H4198 with H4227, (would that be H4212???) the H4227 characteristics seemed to dominate, no matter what the blend ratio. I wish we had something a bit faster than H4198 for the 30BR. N130 works great..but we're in the same boat as you guys with the N120 in the 30 Major...spotty supply. I know for sure that on damp, humid mornings my 30BR's with 4198 are slightly out of tune. I've tried to tune for it and it seems the best thing is to just get a bunch of heat in the barrel before going to the sighter target. Good thing we shoot warm up matches! Mostly, I just have to let the temp and humidity catch up with my tuneup as the day goes on.

Best of luck with your shootin' this season. 8) -Al

Al, it sounds like your experience with H4198 in a 30 BR is exactly what I've seen...Many a'morn you hear people complain about that shot that dropped out the bottom. Then it seems the gremlins leave and all is well.
When I started shooting the N120 in the Major, miraculously, those gremlins stopped showing up for me. I feel that it is because N120 actually suits it better than H4198 suits the 30BR. Don't get me wrong, obviously the 30 BR and H4198 are a formidable combination, and many will disagree with me, but I think those early "flippers" are a result of 4198 being a tad slow in the br case.
From Greg's posts, I'm starting to think that while it too may be a tad slow, the density of the lt32 may allow us to tune those wild shots out of the br, where 4198 doesn't leave much room. That's strictly speculation on my part so far.
I've spoken with Greg, and it sounds like lt32 may be good in the 30 Major, too.


About the 5744...I've read where others have had the problem you describe with it spiking in some chamberings. So far, with limited testing, I haven't seen it act silly in the Major. As you know, it could well be because of the bore to case capacity ratio. That seems to smooth some of those spikes out that may be present with other chambering/bullet combinations. It could lso be from a lack of testing at this point....Maybe it just hasn't happened YET. Thanks for your input! I respect and appreciate it.