Powder Nodes

[BartsBullets]

When shooting a 6ppc with V133 there are pretty clear nodes with the powder. So say if a load of 30.1 shoots so will 29.1 and 28.1. So kind of a high, middle and low node.

So when shooting a dasher or 6 BR has anyone noticed this same type of pattern with varget or RL 15?


Bart

 

[BartsBullets]

3% or so Bart. I'm thinking it carries over to about any cartridges. So on my dashers you see about every +-1.1 grain. I'm betting Matt would say he sees it about every +-2.1 grain on his wsms.

Tom

Genius ! I'll try it tomorrow!

Bart

 

[dmoran]

^^^ me neither...... or he'll get big-headish (er)

Donovan

 

[dkhunt14]

3% or so Bart. I'm thinking it carries over to about any cartridges. So on my dashers you see about every +-1.1 grain. I'm betting Matt would say he sees it about every +-2.1 grain on his wsms.

Tom

I really don't see this In a WSM but I am usually near the top where .02 will put me over, the dreaded bolt click. That's where most of mine have shot their best. Matt

 

[dkhunt14]

Now maybe I am closer to a 1 grain increment, because I only gain about the same velocity with a tenth of powder as a Dasher does. Matt

 

[BartsBullets]

I really don't see this In a WSM but I am usually near the top where .02 will put me over, the dreaded bolt click. That's where most of mine have shot their best. Matt

Matt,

I prefer to shoot as hot as I can if the tune will hold together. However, my current dasher barrel refuses to shoot my normal 33.8 of Varget. It appears to like a puny load of 32.2ish. So I'm not arguing with the barrel I'm going to give it what it wants!

Have you tried going down on powder to see if there is another node or two that will shoot. I suspect there is, but maybe not with some calibers.

I'm trying to get a feel for what works with a Dasher and the powders that are commonly used with it.

How far apart nodes are for a certain powders and also what type of velocities seem produce accurate loads.

Bart

 

[BartsBullets]

Say NO to Varget!

Damn Tom! I just bought 700.00 of it! Are you a RL 15 man? Or perhaps H4350?

 

[dmoran]

Bart -

Many run on the lower Varget nodes (especially at 600).
Those uppers can be hard on brass and touchy to pressure.
Keeping ammo in a cooler has proved well for some running up there.

Just my 2-cents
Donovan

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Bart, 33.8 of varget is hot. I am betting most barrels wont let you run that hot without clickers. I agree with Tom and Donovan. If your in th south and dont see big temp swings I have always had my best accuracy with RL15. Up here where the temp swings are large I have to load at the range to stay on rl15. H4895 seems to be very good in these conditions. I only had one barrel that liked varget, its good to have on hand just in case. My nodes in the dasher have ran about 1.2 gn.s apart. But I always shot the mid/high node around 2980-3000. Some barrel will let you get to the next node up but most will not. I had a Broughton that shot 34 of RL15 at 3150, never had a clicker but that was an odd ball. All were 28".

 

[davidpatton]

Bart I cant speak for a dasher, but in my br I ended up having to go with a slow load. I tried to shoot the normal 30g of varget load but i never found any accuracy until I got down to 29. I really felt like faster would be better but so far it seems to be ok. I believe I would take accuracy over the speed.

 

[dkhunt14]

Matt,

I prefer to shoot as hot as I can if the tune will hold together. However, my current dasher barrel refuses to shoot my normal 33.8 of Varget. It appears to like a puny load of 32.2ish. So I'm not arguing with the barrel I'm going to give it what it wants!

Have you tried going down on powder to see if there is another node or two that will shoot. I suspect there is, but maybe not with some calibers.

I'm trying to get a feel for what works with a Dasher and the powders that are commonly used with it.

How far apart nodes are for a certain powders and also what type of velocities seem produce accurate loads.

Bart

My first Dasher was a Krieger and would only shoot 32 grains max. It only ran 2950 tops. When the temps got into the mid 90's I had to drop to 31.7.

Every dasher I shot after that were Broughton 5C's and I could 34 plus in every one of them. Most shot good at 33.8 to 34 and got 3025 to 3050. There was another node lower at 33 to 33.3 that shot good also. I also shoot a .155 freebore and that is a little more then most use.

I just got back from my gunsmith and bought a new Krieger to put on my New Borden action. It's a .236 4 groove 8 twist. I am hoping I like it.

I see the guys in Montana use H4895. We tested it in a bunch of guns at Williamsport and none of them shot better then Varget. We also tested R15 a lot and it didn't work better either. One thing I did notice was R15 seemed better with a 450 primer and Varget seemed a lot better with BR4's. I thought maybe altitude or something else came into play for the powders. Matt

 

[Alex Wheeler]

My first Dasher was a Krieger and would only shoot 32 grains max. It only ran 2950 tops. When the temps got into the mid 90's I had to drop to 31.7.

Every dasher I shot after that were Broughton 5C's and I could 34 plus in every one of them. Most shot good at 33.8 to 34 and got 3025 to 3050. There was another node lower at 33 to 33.3 that shot good also. I also shoot a .155 freebore and that is a little more then most use.

I just got back from my gunsmith and bought a new Krieger to put on my New Borden action. It's a .236 4 groove 8 twist. I am hoping I like it.

I see the guys in Montana use H4895. We tested it in a bunch of guns at Williamsport and none of them shot better then Varget. We also tested R15 a lot and it didn't work better either. One thing I did notice was R15 seemed better with a 450 primer and Varget seemed a lot better with BR4's. I thought maybe altitude or something else came into play for the powders. Matt

Matt, there does seem to be a trend, you guys use Varget, in the south Rl15, and in Mt. H4895. When I moved I had a loaded worked up at sea level, high heat and humidity. I used the same load here at high altitude, dry, cold, only adjusting for temp. swings. So I don't know what causes the trend. I know if I didnt load at the range to stay on top of 15 here I would have hated it. I will proceed this year with H4895 because of the stability.

 

[dkhunt14]

Yes I see the same thing. But what wonders me, is they say the R15 is temperature sensitive yet they seem to shoot more of it where it's hot. It wonders me if the H4895 isn't an altitude thing. It gets cold here early in the year and late. Matt