Panda 30br First Outing

[AlNyhus]

What bullets on that test target?

 

[Ccrider]

Cline 108

 

[Ccrider]

What bullets on that test target?

I used Cline’s on all of them. I have done no seating test . Just picked up where H4198 shot well.

 

[LCazador]

Is LT31 a new powder? I thought LT30 and LT32 were only powders?

 

[Bill Norris]

It is a blend of the two.

 

[Ccrider]

Is LT31 a new powder? I thought LT30 and LT32 were only powders?

I blend it 50/50.

 

[Ccrider]

I have been working up the load with Lt. 30 when I have had some spare time. Long and short of it, for me in this barrel Lt. 31 does not shoot as good as H4198. It shoots 3 shot groups in the mid 1’s and 5 shot groups in the low 2’s but I could not get it to dot up like H4198.

Stuffing as much in the case as possible (36+gr) with our cold weather I could not get much over 3000 fps. I did not find a good node under 3000 and it was not for lack of trying. This barrel wants to shoot at around 3045+.

After finishing working up with Lt.30, I went back to H4198 to make sure the gun was still capable.
I had worked up my H4198 load in warmer weather and it came in tune around 34.7-34.9grs. I started with 34.9 since it was colder and got 2990fps instead of the expected 3060+. The groups were clover shaped. I moved up to 35.2 and got 3010fps. The groups were vertical but a little better. I tried 35.4 and got 3030fps with a shooter induced clover shaped 5 shot group and a second zero 5 shot group.

35.4 was in tune but I wanted to see if I could get to 3050fps so I went all in with 35.7. The first 4 went into the same hole, the fifth one went left. Must have been a democrat. 3065fps and the gun felt right. I loaded 5 more 35.7 and a couple of foulers, making sure to leave the democratic bullets on the shelf. As expected, all five flew straight into the same hole.

I did not keep notes on my target like I usually do so it does not tell much. I will post it and highlight some of the groups.

I will circle back and try N130 next.

 

[Ccrider]

Following up, I initially started working up my load with Lt30 with temperatures in the 50s.
The cold front came through and dropped temps to freezing. When it was relatively warm, I had no problem getting the velocity node with 36gr of Lt 30- around 3050.


When the temperature dropped, stiffing the case the best velocity was around 3025 and the gun was not in tune.




H4198 needed an extra grain or so of powder to bring it back in tune with the freezing temperatures, but it dotted up just like it does when it’s hot.

My conclusion is that Lt30 will be ok in warmer weather but for me, it’s a no go if the temperatures are colder.

One more thing, here is the Lt30 target where I did the final work up and decided on .025 out of the lands:

 

[Ccrider]

Here is the initial target that I started when it was warm. I was fireforming but still got some interesting feedback.

 

[Ccrider]

Wanted to finish up my powder testing with this barrel but the wind was crazy today -11 mph wnw with 26 mph gust. Didn’t really want to get a weather report but figured l would try to catch a condition and get 5 off as fast as I could.

Based on prior experience shooting N130, I knew I would have to be between 36 - 36.6 or so to get the velocity I was looking for.

I shot three five shot groups and did not hold for pickups or let offs.

In the first group, shooting 36.2grs., I got lazy with my gun handling and pulled one shot out of the group—trying to shoot too fast. The velocity was 3069, a little faster than I expected.

I had 10 prepped pieces of brass left, loaded them all at 36.1. and shot two more 5 shot groups. The groups looked almost identical and hovered around .2. Considering the conditions and me not holding for pickups or let offs, I was pleased with the results. Also, I did not tune for seating depth with N130. I seated where tune landed with H4198.

Long and short of it, I feel as comfortable shooting N130 as I do with the H4198.