6.5 BR set for Sierra 107gr. HPBT seated 20 thousands into the lands.
Stiller 1500 action.
Kreiger barrel 8.5 twist cut to 26 inches.
Lapua brass.
Stock and gunsmith work done by myself.
Finally got out to the range with a bit of IMR 8208 XBR…still very tight for powder out here in Oregon. The weather of course kinda sucked. Changing strong winds and rain squalls and about 60 degrees.
I started my load where Hodgons left off…31.3 grs. Averages at 2820 fps. Absolutely no sign of any pressure. 32.5 averages 2995 fps. And no pressure signs. 33.0 averages 3019 fps. No pressure, just normal primer flat with rounded edges. 33.5 was 3038 fps. Same primer marks. 34.0 averages 3098 fps. And primers still the same. Went up till I broke into the 3200 fps. Range and the primers were still good, bolt lift was normal and the case still had a little more room to go up the neck for a compressed load. Groups at this end were not good, but the stormy weather was not conducive to good groups anyway. Settled on 32.7 for an average of 3010 and the groups were in the 2’s.
The bullets were all tipped and HBN coated, and the barrel was HBN coated after every cleaning…sure makes cleaning easy!! Next time out I’m gonna try H4895, I still have some! The 8208 was very clean and the SD was pretty low. Next time the brass will all be prepped and trimed…just sized it for the first time out.
All in all this seems to be a sweet little round that can reach out there and score small groups. I was really surprised to reach 3200 fps with room to go yet! I hope the weather next time is a little better…gotta love the spring in Oregon. I’ll post my results with the other powders as I go along. Good shooting, Gary Madderom.
Stiller 1500 action.
Kreiger barrel 8.5 twist cut to 26 inches.
Lapua brass.
Stock and gunsmith work done by myself.
Finally got out to the range with a bit of IMR 8208 XBR…still very tight for powder out here in Oregon. The weather of course kinda sucked. Changing strong winds and rain squalls and about 60 degrees.
I started my load where Hodgons left off…31.3 grs. Averages at 2820 fps. Absolutely no sign of any pressure. 32.5 averages 2995 fps. And no pressure signs. 33.0 averages 3019 fps. No pressure, just normal primer flat with rounded edges. 33.5 was 3038 fps. Same primer marks. 34.0 averages 3098 fps. And primers still the same. Went up till I broke into the 3200 fps. Range and the primers were still good, bolt lift was normal and the case still had a little more room to go up the neck for a compressed load. Groups at this end were not good, but the stormy weather was not conducive to good groups anyway. Settled on 32.7 for an average of 3010 and the groups were in the 2’s.
The bullets were all tipped and HBN coated, and the barrel was HBN coated after every cleaning…sure makes cleaning easy!! Next time out I’m gonna try H4895, I still have some! The 8208 was very clean and the SD was pretty low. Next time the brass will all be prepped and trimed…just sized it for the first time out.
All in all this seems to be a sweet little round that can reach out there and score small groups. I was really surprised to reach 3200 fps with room to go yet! I hope the weather next time is a little better…gotta love the spring in Oregon. I’ll post my results with the other powders as I go along. Good shooting, Gary Madderom.
