best speed range for 180gr hybrids

[bsumoba]

I hear a lot of internet and watering hole talk about 180gr 7mm hybrids shooting better at a particular range speed, specifically between 2800 and 2930fps. Anything over this range seems to be a little too fast according to some people.

My 30" barrel ran well at 2870 and my new barrel, which is 32", seems to have a nice node and when I chrono'd it earlier this afternoon, it clocked at around 2920 fps. This is for a 284 shehane.

My fireform load is actually running around 2720 fps and it is very accurate.

What are your experiences?

 

[lawrence97]

I've had the same experience as you. My current 32" barrel is running at 2880 with 55gns of h4831sc.

 

[fourpower]

we are running them at 2950 in 7mm mag= 3185 in 7mmx300 mag and they are great out to 1500yds. trying to find place we can shoot a mile. we are running h-1000.

 

[BradY]

2820 for me but I would shoot what ever is accurate and not be too fussed with speed.

 

[nhm16]

2820 for me but I would shoot what ever is accurate and not be too fussed with speed.

Right. What velocities are optimal depends on caliber/case capacity and barrel length, and the particular barrel. Also, when most people discuss what velocities are optimal with the 180gn Hybrids, it's more about brass or barrel life when shooting F-class, etc. That is, for a case like the .284 Winchester, running it faster than mid-2800fps will reduce brass life, though you can run it a little faster with a case like the .284 Shehane. Likewise, a short magnum like the 7mm SAUM or WSM will easily drive the 180r Hybrids faster but at the expense of (drastically) reduced barrel life.

 

[Steve Blair]

Right. What velocities are optimal depends on caliber/case capacity and barrel length, and the particular barrel. Also, when most people discuss what velocities are optimal with the 180gn Hybrids, it's more about brass or barrel life when shooting F-class, etc. That is, for a case like the .284 Winchester, running it faster than mid-2800fps will reduce brass life, though you can run it a little faster with a case like the .284 Shehane. Likewise, a short magnum like the 7mm SAUM or WSM will easily drive the 180r Hybrids faster but at the expense of (drastically) reduced barrel life.

[br]
This is correct. Optimal velocity is related to case capacity, barrel length, powder choice, throat configuration, etc. All of my Shehane barrels tuned at ~2930-2940, expect for one Krieger that tuned at 2965 fps with .2 grains less powder. Just a fast barrel. [br]
Do your load development, find what is optimal for that combination and go shoot. A few fps either way will not make a big difference.

 

[GRshooter]

Thank you for the great info, I do have a question on the hybrid Berger 180 gn. I am using mine in a 7mm x.284 what have you been using for your Lands. I have been using the VLD at .015 into the lands. Next week I am going to try the hybrid and wondering what everyone have found for the lands setting
Thanks

 

[thomasholbrook43]

That all depends on your freebore an each barrel is different. But they will shoot some where between .30 to .15 thousands off the lands.
Hope this helps you out.

 

[FeMan]

That all depends on your freebore an each barrel is different. But they will shoot some where between .30 to .15 thousands off the lands.
Hope this helps you out.

I have had the same experience with the hybrids.

 

[GRshooter]

That all depends on your freebore an each barrel is different. But they will shoot some where between .30 to .15 thousands off the lands.
Hope this helps you out.

Thank you looks like I have a some trial and error rounds to make

 

[boltman223]

Thank you for the great info, I do have a question on the hybrid Berger 180 gn. I am using mine in a 7mm x.284 what have you been using for your Lands. I have been using the VLD at .015 into the lands. Next week I am going to try the hybrid and wondering what everyone have found for the lands setting
Thanks

Isn't a 7mm a .284?

 

[calgarycanada]

Thank you for the great info, I do have a question on the hybrid Berger 180 gn. I am using mine in a 7mm x.284 what have you been using for your Lands. I have been using the VLD at .015 into the lands. Next week I am going to try the hybrid and wondering what everyone have found for the lands setting
Thanks

Isn't a 7mm a .284?

Not exactly, 0.284" = 7.2136 mm
And. 7 mm = 0.2755905512"
Just being smarty pants ;D ;D

 

[boltman223]

Thank you for the great info, I do have a question on the hybrid Berger 180 gn. I am using mine in a 7mm x.284 what have you been using for your Lands. I have been using the VLD at .015 into the lands. Next week I am going to try the hybrid and wondering what everyone have found for the lands setting
Thanks

Isn't a 7mm a .284?

Not exactly, 0.284" = 7.2136 mm
And. 7 mm = 0.2755905512"
Just being smarty pants ;D ;D

Haha, yeah me too. So does that make my 223 a 5.56 x .223 or wait, is that .224

 

[GRshooter]

Hi Brian
It looks like we are on the right page I have been running mine 2920 to 2930. there have been a couple hitting 2954 but the gun did not like it. I found running a brush through my neck has helped keep the bullet seating pressure more consistent plus I dropped my annealing .2 seconds that has also made the seating more consistent. My biggest pain is what primer to use. I have listened to the wrong people the wolf dose net seem to seat well in the lapua brass. what primer do you use?
Gordon

 

[GRshooter]

Thank you for the great info, I do have a question on the hybrid Berger 180 gn. I am using mine in a 7mm x.284 what have you been using for your Lands. I have been using the VLD at .015 into the lands. Next week I am going to try the hybrid and wondering what everyone have found for the lands setting
Thanks

Isn't a 7mm a .284?

It is different I take a 6.5x284 and neck it up then turn the out side down .001 for a better concentricity. After seating my bullet I have a .313 dia and my neck chamber is .315 this allows a better release of the bullet. Dose that help you
I am looking forward to my new rifle to get finished Mark King is building it for me and I am staying with the same caliber. The old rifle is going to be re chambered into a 6.5x47

 

[boltman223]

Thank you for the great info, I do have a question on the hybrid Berger 180 gn. I am using mine in a 7mm x.284 what have you been using for your Lands. I have been using the VLD at .015 into the lands. Next week I am going to try the hybrid and wondering what everyone have found for the lands setting
Thanks

Isn't a 7mm a .284?

It is different I take a 6.5x284 and neck it up then turn the out side down .001 for a better concentricity. After seating my bullet I have a .313 dia and my neck chamber is .315 this allows a better release of the bullet. Dose that help you .

Ok yeah, so like a 7mm-6.5-284? Or kind of like a 284 win? ;D

 

[bsumoba]

So I have been working two different loads, one that is producing velocities around 2930 fps. I also have another load that is around 2825-2830 fps, both with 180gr hybrids.

It seems like both loads are plenty accurate and produce good ES. I would say the lower velocity load produces more consistent groups @ 200, while the higher velocity load seems to have produced smaller individual groups, but aggregate groups seem to be slightly bigger than the lower load. I will be testing these loads at 1K later this month.

I guess one question for myself is whether or not the 56.9gr H4831SC charge weight producing that 2930 will hold up at higher temps and long strings, say in Arizona in late October : The lower node is 54.8 gr H4831SC, producing 2830fps.

I worked the ballistics and it looks like at 1K, the wind drift difference is 3 inches with a full value 10 MPH wind. Yes, that is enough advantage to potentially stay in the X/10 ring, but if my overall groups size (I am speaking primarily about the vertical dispersion) is smaller with the lower load, then it seems like that 3 inch wind advantage would be negated because I potentially lose more points to vertical than bad wind calls.

 

[Steve Blair]

I guess one question for myself is whether or not the 56.9gr H4831SC charge weight producing that 2930 will hold up at higher temps and long strings, say in Arizona in late October : The lower node is 54.8 gr H4831SC, producing 2830fps.

[br]
How wide is your charge node and where is 56.9 in relation to the node center?

 

[bsumoba]

I guess one question for myself is whether or not the 56.9gr H4831SC charge weight producing that 2930 will hold up at higher temps and long strings, say in Arizona in late October : The lower node is 54.8 gr H4831SC, producing 2830fps.

[br]
How wide is your charge node and where is 56.9 in relation to the node center?

it is 56.6-57.1gr, so I am on the middle/high side of the node.

 

[Steve Blair]

it is 56.6-57.1gr, so I am on the middle/high side of the node.

[br]
So, if you did your load development at say, 70°, and you anticipate 90° at Ben Avery, load to the bottom of the node and you'll be fine.