6BR 105VLD 'thick' ladder test

[gemmellsc]

Just thought I would give everyone an update on my first outing with the Berger 105gr VLD 'thick', part # 24429. I settled on 30.4gr of Varget seated .015' in the lands. This is producing around 2950fps out of my 30' 8 twist McGowen. I went up to 30.9, but started seeing pressure signs around 30.7grs. Temp was around 70F. Shooting in the high 1s and low 2s at 100. This is from lot #1770. I did have to seat the bullets about .020' further out than the previous lot of 105 'thins' I was using. I did a ladder test at 200yds.

I started out with a clean barrel and went in .1gr increments from 29-31grs of Varget,note:new lot of Varget... clocked about 50fps faster than last lot w/ 'thin' 105VLD).
Ladder went as follows:

Grains: Velocity:
29 2768
29 2818
29 2810
29 2811
29 2822
29.1 2819
29.2 2829
29.3 2838
29.4 2849
29.5 2861
29.6 2861
29.7 2876
29.8 2888
***5 minute break***
29.9 2880
30 2903
30.1 2915
30.2 2937
***Chrono quit working due to lack of sunlight***
30.3 ERROR
30.4 ERROR
30.5 ERROR
30.6 ERROR
30.7 ERROR ***SLIGHT STICK ON BOLT LIFT***
30.8 ERROR ***SLIGHT STICK ON BOLT LIFT***
30.9 ERROR ***STICKY BOLT... ENDED TEST***
31 ***DID NOT FIRE THIS ROUND***

last 9 rounds in bold went into .45 @ 200yds.
All 29gr loads were fired for sighters and foulers.
All 19 rounds fired for group went into 1.41' @ 200yds.

 

[expiper]

That is a pretty short,,not far between the rungs)) ladder!!! grin...you have once agin shown how it is hard to NOT get a 6-BR to shoot great....the chrono. info is very helpfull...thank you for the effort....Roger

 

[gemmellsc]

Roger,

It was a short ladder for the 'short bus'. I was trying to fine tune in on the upper velocity node. I'm going to try and get my chrony back out to the range in the next week or so to fill in the blanks on the last increments. I'll update then.

Take Care,
Bill