6XC, Reloder 16 and Berger 109

[EdHarley]

It is nice looking. Did the barrel come with the color pattern as well or did you add that?

 

[EdHarley]

I have used RL16 in 6xc with 107 sierras. I was able to get more velocity without pressure signs. RL16 loads tended to be 1 to 1.5 grains heavier for the same velocities as H4350. I believe it also burns cooler.

I didn’t feel the accuracy was as good as H4350, but it still shot a 10x or 12x clean target prone at 600yds. I keep the couple jugs I have in case H4350 gets scarce again. I would say it’s worth trying. You’re barrel may like it.

Thanks for the input. I ended up getting 500 of the 107 SMK to start. For my ladder I loaded RL 16 from 37 to 40gn with Fed 210M in Norma brass. I also loaded the 115 DTAC with H4350 in the same powder charge range using Fed 205M in Peterson brass. Do these seem like the correct powder charge ranges for the initial ladder?

 

[STOMP442]

You should be fine in that range. Willing to bet you will find a happy spot right around 39 grains and another up around 41 if it looks like you can get there. I have never ran the 115s though, all my knowledge is with the 105-110 weight range.

 

[EdHarley]

Great, thank you.

 

[Dave Marshall]

Thanks for the input. I ended up getting 500 of the 107 SMK to start. For my ladder I loaded RL 16 from 37 to 40gn with Fed 210M in Norma brass. I also loaded the 115 DTAC with H4350 in the same powder charge range using Fed 205M in Peterson brass. Do these seem like the correct powder charge ranges for the initial ladder?

40gr of H4350 is getting to the very high end. You will likely see pressure signs and brass life will suffer. I wouldn’t shoot the DTAC’s loaded with that charge.

 

[EdHarley]

40gr of H4350 is getting to the very high end. You will likely see pressure signs and brass life will suffer. I wouldn’t shoot the DTAC’s loaded with that charge.

I shot both the 107SMK and the 115 DTAC last weekend. The 107s seemed to do best with ~39gn of RL 16. The SD and ES were single digits and velocity was 3060@ 38.9gn and 3078 @ 39.2gn. Groups were 0.2 to 0.5 but the Magnetosport was attached so I don't care yet. The 115 DTAC did well with RL 16 at 39.8gn reaching 3050fps avg with SD of 8 and ES of 16. Group for that was 0.231. None of the loads had a sticky bolt lift or marks on the brass. A couple had a small amount of flow on the primer. The H4350 did not do as well as I had hoped. The best was with the DTAC using 38.9gn at 3052fps but still had an SD of 12 and ES of 23. Not great. I am going to try the 107s again with RL 16 at 39.0, 39.2 and 39.4 using 15 rds each. For the DTAC 39.8 seems to be the only charge worth using. Temp was 80deg. Given what you said about the pressure at 40gn, do you think the fact that they were coated kept me from seeing pressure signs at 39.8

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Mine sped up, it’s now liking 40.2 RL16 108 Berger. 3135, sd 4 (10rds). Also no pressure signs.

 

[EdHarley]

Mine sped up, it’s now liking 40.2 RL16 108 Berger. 3135, sd 4 (10rds). Also no pressure signs.

Awesome, I will stay with the loads I posted and see if they stay accurate over a much larger shot number. FYI, I heard back from the gunsmith who built the rifle and it was the original Tubb Reamer not the XC II that was discussed earlier. Both Peterson and Norma brass worked great.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Awesome, I will stay with the loads I posted and see if they stay accurate over a much larger shot number. FYI, I heard back from the gunsmith who built the rifle and it was the original Tubb Reamer not the XC II that was discussed earlier. Both Peterson and Norma brass worked great.

Ya got a 278 neck? 160 freebore?

 

[EdHarley]

Ya got a 278 neck? 160 freebore?

I don't know. I would have to take it to the gunsmith to measure it.

 

[Dave Marshall]

I shot both the 107SMK and the 115 DTAC last weekend. The 107s seemed to do best with ~39gn of RL 16. The SD and ES were single digits and velocity was 3060@ 38.9gn and 3078 @ 39.2gn. Groups were 0.2 to 0.5 but the Magnetosport was attached so I don't care yet. The 115 DTAC did well with RL 16 at 39.8gn reaching 3050fps avg with SD of 8 and ES of 16. Group for that was 0.231. None of the loads had a sticky bolt lift or marks on the brass. A couple had a small amount of flow on the primer. The H4350 did not do as well as I had hoped. The best was with the DTAC using 38.9gn at 3052fps but still had an SD of 12 and ES of 23. Not great. I am going to try the 107s again with RL 16 at 39.0, 39.2 and 39.4 using 15 rds each. For the DTAC 39.8 seems to be the only charge worth using. Temp was 80deg. Given what you said about the pressure at 40gn, do you think the fact that they were coated kept me from seeing pressure signs at 39.8

I would say yes. Your bullets being coated typically allows going to a higher powder charge before seeing pressure. I don’t believe it results in higher velocity though.

Keep in mind chrono numbers are not the be all/end all of an accurate load. From my experience and from reports from others, H4350 tends to be more accurate than RL16. It’s an ok substitute though.

 

[Dave Marshall]

I don't know. I would have to take it to the gunsmith to measure it.

You don’t need the gunsmith. Measure the OD of the neck of a fired piece of brass. Deduct .001-.002 for springback. Early 6xc Match reamers based on .22-.250 brass had a .272 neck which can be problematic with Norma and Petersen. The CIP reamer has a .275 neck, which is fine. The .278 is a fairly recent update.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

I would say yes. Your bullets being coated typically allows going to a higher powder charge before seeing pressure. I don’t believe it results in higher velocity though.

Keep in mind chrono numbers are not the be all/end all of an accurate load. From my experience and from reports from others, H4350 tends to be more accurate than RL16. It’s an ok substitute though.[

I would say yes. Your bullets being coated typically allows going to a higher powder charge before seeing pressure. I don’t believe it results in higher velocity though.

Keep in mind chrono numbers are not the be all/end all of an accurate load. From my experience and from reports from others, H4350 tends to be more accurate than RL16. It’s an ok substitute though.

mine gets more speed with less pressure and really low sd with rl16. I like it. Only done a ladder with 4350, was kinda slow, never really tested much.

 

[EdHarley]

You don’t need the gunsmith. Measure the OD of the neck of a fired piece of brass. Deduct .001-.002 for springback. Early 6xc Match reamers based on .22-.250 brass had a .272 neck which can be problematic with Norma and Petersen. The CIP reamer has a .275 neck, which is fine. The .278 is a fairly recent update.

I can measure the neck, no problem. I don't have a way to measure the freebore. I have the Hornady guage to measure max case length but don't have a threaded XC case yet. Also that does not directly measure freebore. You have any trick for that? I have read you can subtract the base to end of case neck from the base to Ogive measurement using the OAL guage.

 

[EdHarley]

I would say yes. Your bullets being coated typically allows going to a higher powder charge before seeing pressure. I don’t believe it results in higher velocity though.

Keep in mind chrono numbers are not the be all/end all of an accurate load. From my experience and from reports from others, H4350 tends to be more accurate than RL16. It’s an ok substitute though.

Sounds good. I have 3-4 loads to recheck from the last outing. I will make enough this time to shoot at distance and see how they do there as well. Thanks for the input.

 

[esromvre1]

I shot both the 107SMK and the 115 DTAC last weekend. The 107s seemed to do best with ~39gn of RL 16. The SD and ES were single digits and velocity was 3060@ 38.9gn and 3078 @ 39.2gn. Groups were 0.2 to 0.5 but the Magnetosport was attached so I don't care yet. The 115 DTAC did well with RL 16 at 39.8gn reaching 3050fps avg with SD of 8 and ES of 16. Group for that was 0.231. None of the loads had a sticky bolt lift or marks on the brass. A couple had a small amount of flow on the primer. The H4350 did not do as well as I had hoped. The best was with the DTAC using 38.9gn at 3052fps but still had an SD of 12 and ES of 23. Not great. I am going to try the 107s again with RL 16 at 39.0, 39.2 and 39.4 using 15 rds each. For the DTAC 39.8 seems to be the only charge worth using. Temp was 80deg. Given what you said about the pressure at 40gn, do you think the fact that they were coated kept me from seeing pressure signs at 39.8

What were the results of your 15

 

[EdHarley]

Had to wait until this weekend to shoot. The public range was closed. Will be going to a private range Sat.

 

[EdHarley]

So I shot the 107SMK with RL 16 again. The 39.0gn loads shot the best out to 500yds at <1/2 minute. THe velocity avg was 3058 SD 13 ES 18, 39.2 was 3075 SD 8, ES 15 and 39.4 was 3095 SD 13 ES 25. The 115 DTAC shot better with a longer OAL also under 1/2 minute.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

So I shot the 107SMK with RL 16 again. The 39.0gn loads shot the best out to 500yds at <1/2 minute. THe velocity avg was 3058 SD 13 ES 18, 39.2 was 3075 SD 8, ES 15 and 39.4 was 3095 SD 13 ES 25. The 115 DTAC shot better with a longer OAL also under 1/2 minute.

Mine liked 40.2

 

[EdHarley]

Mine liked 40.2

I noticed the groups and SD weren't quite as good as the first time I shot RL 16 and am wondering if it is because I lengthened the round. The prior owner had it set up with a large jump because he used the same round in 4 rifles. It shot great for him so he went with it. I may do the same powder charge with varying lengths next to get better groups. I don't like that the SD increased some with the 39.0gn load. It stayed <10 for 39.2. any ideas?