You Guys Shooting 168's In Your .284...

[yukonal]

I finished up some load work this weekend, and chrono'ed some loads. My best two loads with 168 Berger Hunting VLD's and [56.0 grains] of H 4831 SC chrono'ed right at 2520 FPS, in a 24" barrel (9 twist).

This seems awful slow to me.

Any of you guys shooting a similar set-up have a velocity figure to share?

My load is 1/2 grain over Noslers book max for 160's, which lists it at over 200 FPS faster.

 

[BradY]

Every barrel and gun is different. You might want to run a faster burning powder like H4350 to make sure its all burnt inside the barrel and getting you the velocity you want. I ran some 168SMK's on the weekend in a 32 inch krieger with 54gr H4813SC and while I dont know velocity, they were accurate albeit alot more wind affected than what I expect the bergers to be.

 

[yukonal]

This load is shooting in the high 2's at 100, and high 5's-low 6's at 200, and is a hunting rifle. So I'm not sure I want to change anything just yet.

I'm just trying to see if I'm about where others are before I think of changing anything. If several others tell me I'm way too slow for this particular load, I'll:

1) use someone else's chrono to confirm

2) boost charge weights to get a little more velocity

ES and SD is 14, and 7...respectively.

 

[Raptor]

Try H4350 with the 168s. Mine shot really well with 51.5grs and 52.5 with the 162s.

 

[effendude]

Al,
Your groups looked great Sunday. No animal ever laughed off a round 2-300 fps slower than it's potential max. That said, the first thing I do after breaking in the barrel with the first 10 rounds or so is to find max. Load up one round with the 168, each going up .5 grain increments for until about 3 grains higher than where you are. Shoot each round from lowest one up and carefully examine each for pressure signs. Stop if you get any over-pressure signs. That will be your .5 grains above your absolute max and never shoot another load that high again. This will tell if you have another node to reach yet without wasting any barrel life.

Call if you have questions,
Scott

 

[LCazador]

I shoot a 284 Shehane not much difference between the two but a few fps and few grains of powder. In a hunting gun who cares. I think your load is at the bottom node for your rifle. Like Scott says try to find the upper node for it. I personally think that 4831 is too slow. I'd try a double base powder like RL-19, it's inbetween 4350 and 4831. I think a double base powder will enhance your velocity and still shoot those great groups. If you're in a high humidity cold climate, it will work better than 4831.

 

[its only light]

I'd try h4350 and maybe even hybrid 100v. I've used these a little with the 162gr bullets. Both gave decent accuracy especially for hunting. Both are great for temp sensitivity. The 100v gave a little more velocity. I want to say around 2975 from a 27"(not max in my gun).

Or get some 175 gamekings or 180 hunting vlds and stick with 4831sc

 

[alf]

This seems awful slow to me.

Step on the gas........ ;D

 

[338 Mollett]

Establish a near perfect 100 yd zero,take a sheet of ply wood and set it up at say 500 or 600 yds.Keeping your 100 yd zero hold the top edge of the ply wood,measure the drop and crunch the numbers to verify your data.

 

[tac284]

I'm getting 2792 avg with a 26" Brux barrel. My load is 55.2 of 4831sc, BR2 primer, 168 hunting vld, .010 jump. My notes show that at 56 grs I was getting 2824 fps but it shot better at 55.2 with ES 17 SD 6

 

[boltfluter]

I think it's time for a new chrono. I too would check the drop and back figure the velocity as suggested. Hopefully you will be surprised. ;D

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[yukonal]

I'm getting 2792 avg with a 26" Brux barrel. My load is 55.2 of 4831sc, BR2 primer, 168 hunting vld, .010 jump. My notes show that at 56 grs I was getting 2824 fps but it shot better at 55.2 with ES 17 SD 6

That's what I was looking for. Thank you!

I was shooting in a 25 mph wind, and the chrono got blown over three times between strings. Another funny thing...any other time I had a duplicate velocity, the chrono always flashed "DUPLI". I had several that session, and it never did it. First time since I've owned it.

I'm shooting a few today, using effendude's advice, and will report back. It may be the chronograph. I'll be curious to see what comes up today with the same load that clocked so slow.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Let's all give thanks to the guys and gals that have fought, and are fighting for our freedom.

 

[wyoming .260]

Chronies especially the cheaper ones can give consistent wrong numbers if not set up perfect. The factory guy said a difference of .1" between screens will give 75-100 fps difference. When the difference from expected is small it is hard to blame chrony, because of consistent velocities. Double check set up or call company and ask for exact set up info.
The best wast the day I got a four shot average of 4462 fps, with a 7x57 with 160s. ES of like 6...... consistent but obviously incorrect .

 

[yukonal]

Chronies especially the cheaper ones can give consistent wrong numbers if not set up perfect. The factory guy said a difference of .1" between screens will give 75-100 fps difference. When the difference from expected is small it is hard to blame chrony, because of consistent velocities. Double check set up or call company and ask for exact set up info.
The best wast the day I got a four shot average of 4462 fps, with a 7x57 with 160s. ES of like 6...... consistent but obviously incorrect .

It was crooked as hell. Horizontal, and vertical...

 

[effendude]

Al,
It was cold as bleep last week when you did the testing. Set up in the 100 yard shack with the heat on and keep your ammo a consistent temp too in an effort to eliminate variables. You can use my bench ;D Even with the Extreme Hodgen powders, temps will affect the results.

Scott

 

[yukonal]

Well guys, I have some good news. First of all, I think the conditions I shot in the other day played a big part in the chrono results. As I said, I was shooting in a 15-25 mph (mostly) tail wind. It was rockin! But, every now and then my wind flag would rip side to side. My chrono set-up blew over 3 times between strings. And countless times, when getting ready to squeeze off a shot, I would feel the wind gust so hard that I would look up and the chrono was about to go over! I would quick rip my bolt open and jump up and grab the chrono as it was going over. So it was crooked both ways, and I just wanted to shoot and get it over with. I know we've all been there before.

So a special thanks to all who gave advice, but especially to tac284 for his similar load results (something to compare to), and Wyoming.260 for putting the bug in my ear about the chronograph needing to be set up straight, if not perfect.

I went out today with the same set-up, but got the chrono as straight as I could. The first two shots were duplicates of the hammer load I came up with the other day. #1 was an oil shot (I knew it wouldn't chrono with the rest), and shot #2 was the same charge as #1. They were both 56.0 gr. 4831 SC. They chrono'ed 2750 and 2783, respectively. ;D Just what I had suspected.

But I had loaded some increased powder charges, per effendude's advice, so I thought I'd shoot 'em to see what they'd be at. Here are the numbers. I got an increase from 20 fps to 30 fps for each .5 grain increase. And after shooting the 58.0 grain charge, I still haven't seen any signs of pressure.

56.0 (good shootin' load)---2783 fps
56.5--------------------------2789 fps
57.0--------------------------2818 fps
57.5--------------------------2842 fps
58.0--------------------------2861 fps

I only shot 1 cartridge of each, as I was expecting something bad to happen with pressure. It looks like there is some room to chase another node, but for now, a .3 moa load at over 2750, at 200 yards, is giving me a warm feeling inside. ;D Maybe I'll play around with it this winter and see what it'll do. For now, I'm GTG!

Thanks again guys, for the help!

 

[tac284]

Glad I could help! Looks like your getting the numbers now. What's your setup? Is it custom or factory?

 

[yukonal]

It's a custom on a Tikka T3 action--action faced off and squared--my 700 style lug design, pinned, Kreiger #6 with Muscle Brake, A3 Adjustable (bedded by me), NXS 5.5-22.

My .284 Match reamer with .197 freebore, set up for 180's. I'll get to them this winter. I was using the 168's for break-in, but when it was putting everything into big holes and cloverleafs, I decided to put together a load for the 168's. ;D