Did a little testing with the new rifle today with 8208 in 6BR 13.5 twist 28" Krieger barrel using 68gr Bergers. The barrel had 25 rounds down it total before this test began. All groups are 100yrd 3 shot groups not counting the 5 shots in the un-labeled sighter target. Velocity ranged from 3480 to 3678 as loads went up. I understand that On Target's text covers where I had wrote my powder charges but the targets were shot from left to right top to bottom just like you would read a page. Lowest charge was 33.0gr (top row far left) and highest charge was 34.8gr (bottom row far left). The charges went up .2gr per group. I am kinda stuck on 2 of the charges...the top row far right was 33.4gr and i believe the shot in the black was my fault on trigger control. if you dont include this shot, the group is in the 0's. The other charge that looks promising is 34.6gr (which is 3rd row down far right). Any constructive critisizm and all other opinions are welcomed.
8208 XBR 6BR Load Development (68gr Bergers) & (70gr SMK's)
- Thread starter Bistem
- Start date
Re: 8208 XBR 6BR Load Development (68gr Bergers)
How far off lands? Thanks, Mike
How far off lands? Thanks, Mike
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
Re: 8208 XBR 6BR Load Development (68gr Bergers)
Bottom row, just above the sighter, looking at the the vertical, and the groups on either side, looks promising, a broader node than the upper right I think. Maybe some issues with conditions ?(Horizontal spread could be a weather report.) Flags? Bag setup? Trigger Pull? Stock? How many times have the cases been fired?
Bottom row, just above the sighter, looking at the the vertical, and the groups on either side, looks promising, a broader node than the upper right I think. Maybe some issues with conditions ?(Horizontal spread could be a weather report.) Flags? Bag setup? Trigger Pull? Stock? How many times have the cases been fired?
Re: 8208 XBR 6BR Load Development (68gr Bergers)
Thanks for the post. I've been waiting for some result with this powder in a slower twist 6BR with light bullets. My rifle has a 13.5 twist Kreiger barrel too, but cut at 24 inches.
I have not gotten my hands on any 8208, but my gun is shooting similar groups as yours with N133 and Sierra 70 grain match. Today I got a couple good groups using N135 and the Sierra 70 grain match bullets. I can't draw any conclusions yet, but it looks like the N135 might be the better choice with this bullet in my rifle.
Have not found the magic load yet with 68 grain Bergers. Best 5 shot group so far has been .380 with N133. These bullets didn't like the two groups I shot with N135 today with both measureing around 1/2 inch. By the way, I'm loading everything at the lands.
Thanks for the post. I've been waiting for some result with this powder in a slower twist 6BR with light bullets. My rifle has a 13.5 twist Kreiger barrel too, but cut at 24 inches.
I have not gotten my hands on any 8208, but my gun is shooting similar groups as yours with N133 and Sierra 70 grain match. Today I got a couple good groups using N135 and the Sierra 70 grain match bullets. I can't draw any conclusions yet, but it looks like the N135 might be the better choice with this bullet in my rifle.
Have not found the magic load yet with 68 grain Bergers. Best 5 shot group so far has been .380 with N133. These bullets didn't like the two groups I shot with N135 today with both measureing around 1/2 inch. By the way, I'm loading everything at the lands.
Re: 8208 XBR 6BR Load Development (68gr Bergers)
Thanks for the analysis. I tend to think you are right. That target you reference would be at 34.4gr. I didnt shoot over flags. Setup is the Caldwell front fire control rest and the Edgewood Gator rear bag (the biggest one with ears sewed on to pivot the bag). Rear bag has 25lbs of heavy sand in it then filled the rest of the way with play sand...probably 28lbs total. Trigger is a jewell set at 5ozs. Stock is the Shehane tracker. Rifle is shown near the end in the "Pride and joy" thread in the main discussion forum. As far as horizontal being weather report. That could be also true...we had winds today but not really bad....around 10-15mph gusts but i called myself trying to wait till between gusts.
Forgot to answer other part of your response. These were new Lapua cases being fire-formed and using CCI 450 primers
BoydAllen said:
Thanks for the analysis. I tend to think you are right. That target you reference would be at 34.4gr. I didnt shoot over flags. Setup is the Caldwell front fire control rest and the Edgewood Gator rear bag (the biggest one with ears sewed on to pivot the bag). Rear bag has 25lbs of heavy sand in it then filled the rest of the way with play sand...probably 28lbs total. Trigger is a jewell set at 5ozs. Stock is the Shehane tracker. Rifle is shown near the end in the "Pride and joy" thread in the main discussion forum. As far as horizontal being weather report. That could be also true...we had winds today but not really bad....around 10-15mph gusts but i called myself trying to wait till between gusts.
Forgot to answer other part of your response. These were new Lapua cases being fire-formed and using CCI 450 primers
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
Re: 8208 XBR 6BR Load Development (68gr Bergers)
Even sticks with surveyor tape will be a huge improvement in your setup. The first thing that you will learn from them is that what you feel at the bench does not necessarily correlate with what is happening down range. To the extent that this is true, you are "flying blind". Once you get some way to look at what the wind is doing down range, you too will be amused by posts that mention only shooting when there is no wind, or waiting till it stops. If Benchrest shooters could do what they do without flags, don't you think that they would? Lugging them around, setting them up, moving them is a pain in the neck, but they are key. I look forward to your report as to how much more consistent your results (which show great potential) have become with the addition of some way to judge the wind.
Even sticks with surveyor tape will be a huge improvement in your setup. The first thing that you will learn from them is that what you feel at the bench does not necessarily correlate with what is happening down range. To the extent that this is true, you are "flying blind". Once you get some way to look at what the wind is doing down range, you too will be amused by posts that mention only shooting when there is no wind, or waiting till it stops. If Benchrest shooters could do what they do without flags, don't you think that they would? Lugging them around, setting them up, moving them is a pain in the neck, but they are key. I look forward to your report as to how much more consistent your results (which show great potential) have become with the addition of some way to judge the wind.
Did the same routine today except I used 70gr SMK's....same powder charges. This time it was more windy and I did use some surveyor tape type wind flags although I cant swear that I am any good at reading the wind yet. Results attached. Cant really decide which bullet this thing seems to like.
As always....your input is appreciated.
As always....your input is appreciated.
Attachments
Re: 8208 XBR 6BR Load Development (68gr Bergers)
Looks like 34.6 to me if you're not seeing any pressure. Disregard the horizontal and look at the vertical only.
Looks like 34.6 to me if you're not seeing any pressure. Disregard the horizontal and look at the vertical only.
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