my thanks and new 30br

[savet06]

I just wanted to post the results that couldn't have been possible without help from this site. I have been reading every day trying to glean every last bit of information before I headed down the slippery slope of customs and precision shooting.
I have been shooting since I was a kid, and my dad and I have been reading P.S. for the past 2 years and drooling over the rigs and results. I wish I had better pics, but I think the idea gets across.
The specs:
Action: Savage LRPV RBLP with stock accutrigger set at about 6oz
Stock: Richard's custom rifles BR2000 in English Walnut with cherry down the middle. Prepped by me and finished by an unfinished furniture store down the road,I highly recommend them if you have access!)
Barrel: Shilen SS select match pre-cut and chambered in 30BR with Robinette reamer.
Scope: Sightron 36x
Base/rings: DedNutz single piece base with integral rings.
Tuner: Time Precision super tuner set at "0" for now.
Bullets: BIB 118 7-ogive sitting over H4198 in lapua brass and the only primers I had on hand Rem 7.5. Necked up with K&M expandiron and turned with K&M neck turner.
I was having great success with the upper load window of 34.1gr H4198, but found craters, mildly heavy bolt lift, and some mild scraping of the brass on the heads of the cartridges. I plan on dropping the load a grain or so, and try to find the lower node. I only have 155 rounds down this barrel, but some of the better groups really make me think this thing has great potential. I should also let you know that this is my first time with a wild cat, neck turning, custom anything,and fixed high powered scopes. My dad ended up kicking my butt and dropped that middle target with the rifle in view,0.18!!!) My best effort was just below it and came in at .337...stupid flier. Anyway, my learning curve is at 90degrees right now, and I am having a blast figuring out the ins and outs.
Tuner work to come later.

 

[Forum Boss]

Savet,

Thanks for posting. This is a great project that shows what can be done with a "humble" Savage Action.

Re the cratering and brass wipe on the cases. If you have not done so already, have the bolt bushed by Greg Tannel. That should take care of the cratering. The bright spot on the cartridge is probably coming from the ejector hole. Some guys remove the ejector for that reason. As for hard bolt lift--not much you can do about that except lower your load.

But don't necessarily jump down a full grain. You may find that 0.2 to 0.3 grains will be enough to make a difference. Then tweak seating depth and you may find the accuracy is still there.

 

[savet06]

Thanks for the reply, Mr. Moderator. I did have some loads that were a few tenths lower, and didn't have quite the same accuracy as the 34.1. Of course my time is very limited with the gun, and I am sure that I will revisit these loads when I have learned better manners at the bench, and the gun starts to show its true colors.
I have to apologize for the huge photos. I resized them in photobucket, but they didn't transfer over very well. I will try and repost them.
Mike

 

[eww1350]

Remove the tuner..!..and start again..That tuner is NOT,IMO)going to help your centerfire..it is primarily for rimfire..Get a full length Redding type "S" die and bump the shoulder as you size the body...Jam the bullets hard into the lands...and chronograph your loads to about 2950-3000...And did I mention lose the tuner..!

 

[Ogre6br]

great work
hopefully Santa will bring my 30BR for Christmass

LAter
p

 

[savet06]

thanks for the posts, guys.
I will have to let time and experimentation decide whether the tuner will help or not. The maker has had very good success with it on his centerfires, and has many customers with similar reports. I figure that the only thing that can happen is that it doesn't work, and at least I have tried it. There are a lot of posts over on benchrest.com about guys using tuners...maybe different makes/models, but this was the one that was in front of me at the time. Some have said the clamp type will eventually move with time, again time will tell. I love experimenting anyway, and so even if this fails I will have had a lot of fun shooting all those rounds and maybe finding something out few people have tried. I have a rimfire that is begging for a new barrel anyway, and as long as I can match the taper it will work just fine. win-win.
can't wait to get back out there when the weather warms up!

Ogre6br,
Thanks for the compliment, and I will keep my fingers crossed for you. It's a great cartridge.
Mike