6PPC Load Development

[HTSmith]

Needing some help on load development for my new 6ppc barrel. The new barrel is a HV Bartlein 237 bore and is about a 6oz heavier than my old HV Krieger 236 bore. New barrel was chambered with the same reamer and headspace seems to be exactly the same. My old load was between 29.5 and 30.2 Gr N133 with bullets into the lands about .010 from touch. Bullets are 68 Barts Dominators (The seem to work a bit better for me that Avengers). I got 28.5 Gr of N133 to shoot pretty good, but not quite as consistent. So what range of powder charge and seating depth would you try? Should I just test a bit around my old load? Shoot a 4x4 matrix? What would you suggest?

Also at 30.2 Gr the speed is about 3500 fps. Wondering if this is just too fast after reading my Boyer's book. Bbl is 24".

Appreciate any help.

 

[Bill Norris]

I would go back and do the old powder charge/seat depth combination test and see if there is something there that will work.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I’m surprised you are getting 3500 from the 30.2 grn load. I shoot 30.4 and it averages 3430 out of a 22 inch barrel with my own 68 grain BT. That fps is taken over my Ohler 35 Chronograph.

30+ grains of 133 is considered the upper window, where a lot of shooters stay. I find it to be the most consistent window to shoot in. Of course, there is a drawback. Brass life will suffer.

However, some very notable shooters are finding that the new Alpha Brass is handling that upper load window quite well.

 

[BoydAllen]

I would probably experiment with seating depth, remembering that there are nodes in seating depth, just like there are for powder, and that when seating into the lands they can be narrow and fairly closely spaced.

 

[HTSmith]

I would go back and do the old powder charge/seat depth combination test and see if there is something there that will work.

That is my inclination but this new barrel is a fair amount different than the old one. Thanks

 

[Tim Singleton]

That is my inclination but this new barrel is a fair amount different than the old one. Thanks

sometimes they do hit in the same place with the same reamer and same bullet and barrel manufacture sometimes not
best to always do a full Boyer workup on each new barrel

 

[HTSmith]

I’m surprised you are getting 3500 from the 30.2 grn load. I shoot 30.4 and it averages 3430 out of a 22 inch barrel with my own 68 grain BT. That fps is taken over my Ohler 35 Chronograph.

30+ grains of 133 is considered the upper window, where a lot of shooters stay. I find it to be the most consistent window to shoot in. Of course, there is a drawback. Brass life will suffer.

However, some very notable shooters are finding that the new Alpha Brass is handling that upper load window quite well.

I've noticed my primers are seating easier for sure. I'm using one of the orange boxes for speed. Would you be afraid of 3500 fps if it shot? I've got a 100 of the alpha to try. Thank you

 

[HTSmith]

sometimes they do hit in the same place with the same reamer and same bullet and barrel manufacture sometimes not
best to always do a full Boyer workup on each new barrel

That was what I was afraid of. Would you start seating depth at touch and work out or at jam and work back? Is .003" ok for depth increment? Thank you

 

[Bill Norris]

With the PPC I would go .002 per increment and work in towards the lands from just touch first.

 

[Tim Singleton]

the thing is, don't ever get TOOOO married to one seating depth.
there is a tuner thread going on now talking about using tuners to stay in tune and I agree they do work.
BUT some times of the year and at different ranges and weather and wind that day, your 10 in from touch sweeeet place just gets manhandled by the wind and the 20 in from touch place works much better

do the Boyer seating depth thing and hang on to that target there may be a couple of good places and if one isnt working that day try the other. in short range seating depth is KING

 

[HTSmith]

the thing is, don't ever get TOOOO married to one seating depth.

Just when I think I'm starting to figure it out. Thanks for sharing.

 

[WyleWD]

Needing some help on load development for my new 6ppc barrel. The new barrel is a HV Bartlein 237 bore and is about a 6oz heavier than my old HV Krieger 236 bore. New barrel was chambered with the same reamer and headspace seems to be exactly the same. My old load was between 29.5 and 30.2 Gr N133 with bullets into the lands about .010 from touch. Bullets are 68 Barts Dominators (The seem to work a bit better for me that Avengers). I got 28.5 Gr of N133 to shoot pretty good, but not quite as consistent. So what range of powder charge and seating depth would you try? Should I just test a bit around my old load? Shoot a 4x4 matrix? What would you suggest?

Also at 30.2 Gr the speed is about 3500 fps. Wondering if this is just too fast after reading my Boyer's book. Bbl is 24".

Appreciate any help.

Are you using the same lot of powder and same primers? WD

 

[HTSmith]

Yes sir

 

[JMayo]

I run 3480's. That's 30.1 n133. At touch

 

[Andy Work]

I’m surprised you are getting 3500 from the 30.2 grn load. I shoot 30.4 and it averages 3430 out of a 22 inch barrel with my own 68 grain BT. That fps is taken over my Ohler 35 Chronograph.

30+ grains of 133 is considered the upper window, where a lot of shooters stay. I find it to be the most consistent window to shoot in. Of course, there is a drawback. Brass life will suffer.

However, some very notable shooters are finding that the new Alpha Brass is handling that upper load window quite well.

I think the newer N133 is a bit hotter. 29.4 with a 68 grain Berger gives me 3425. I'm using N133 from February 2024.