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Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Thanks, I’m pretty excited about this new rifle!
Im gonna give the Dillon a shot. It may not pan out, but we’ll see.
I discovered the powder dispenser on the Dillon is not consistent at all so I converted to a funnel die instead and I use a Lyman Gen 6 Digital Powder Dispenser then pour the charge thru the die. Seems to be very accurate.
200 yd load checks, that seems like a good idea. I always zero at 200 anyways.
My 6.5CM has a Brux barrel. It’s been fantastic. My 300 PRC has a Bartlein 28” 1.350” 5R.
I own a Cortina EC Tuner/Brake I tested on my 6.5CM. When the weather changed it was no longer helpful. I find it odd you have to re-tune it every time you use it/shoot. I took it off.
January 31, 2023
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Kurt,
Bringing this over from my thread, I forgot to mention that I also try to avoid YT since Bongino turned me on to Rumble. I guess some of these guys get more exposure on YT or something so they stick around that commie craphole. *smiles*
I've read UR's site but didn't know he has a Rumble channel. Thanks, man!
I like his stuff on the .300 WSM, the F-Open favorite now. But 2-3 yrs from now I’ll be putting something together that rocks hard out to a mile plus that doesn’t kick like a .338 LM. Pushing a 208gr Berger LRHT (.354 BC) at ~2800 sounds enticing, but then that made me look at your .300 PRC with the 230 Hybrids (.368 G7), because if you and your bros chose the PRC over the rest of the .30s, your research must be solid.
(I’m guessing you ruled out the .300 Norma Mag because of barrel life? Too bad a barrel will only last 1000-1200 rounds, that Norma is scary accurate!)
Out of the 3 criteria, a large bullet signature for spotting, low recoil, and a high BC? Coming out even, favoring the WSM, and roughly even? Hmm, nothing to persuade me to go with the PRC and that bullet.
So I did some digging, ‘cuz I was gonna research this soon anyways. Permit me to stick my nose in here, OK partner?
If you’re already planning on trying the 230gr A-Tips, this is for everyone else. If not, just like the 176gr A-Tips (and 174gr ELD-VTs at half the price) smoke all of the Bergers for the .308 choice, the 230 A-Tip has a .414 G7 BC! 12.5% better. Hell, 5% gets my attention.
I didn’t run it through JBM, I use ShootersCalc for a good estimate first. All of the extra variables are nice, but the results are very close to each other. Yeah, even at your altitude it looks really good for over a mile. At 1900 it hits the speed of sound at 68* (always dependent on TEMP and nothing else, people!). I don’t have any experience with what these newer bullets will do when they go subsonic, but I’d bet they transition well, so you’ll have room to play before it drops like a rock.
Oh, looking around for the first time at the newest big .30s, I saw that a company called Defensive Edge will do what they call a “+P throat” on the .300 PRC and many other cartridges. Supposedly reasonable pressure with some smokin’ loads, so barrel life stays good. I haven’t looked at potential loads for the PRC aside from yours, but 4 yrs ago a guy who goes by “Ladd” on LRO was saying he is getting 3000 fps with Berger 245 EOLs (.414 BC - same as the 230 A-Tip) with both his +P .300 PRC and +P .300 WinMag. Really? If so, imagine what the *250gr* A-Tip will do with .338 LM velocity and a nasty .442 BC. That’s a slightly higher BC than the beastly 300gr .338 LM A-Tip but with less powder and 5/6 of the recoil. Hmm. More research.
(Bad angel sez “Yeah, baby!” while good angel says “Your shoulder will be happier with a 230 at 2800.” Bad angel sez “18-20 lb rifle with an ACE brake, Beeyotch!”)
*wicked laughter*
Crossing up again with the other thread, good ta know about that EC Tuner. I was debating it and decided "no" 'cuz I use the APA Little Bastard except for F-TR. Rifle stays on target, even testing it BR style, reaching around and tickling the bang switch, then letting it free recoil an inch or so.
Adjusting whether it’s attached or not only requires just a lil' tweak on my zero and I'm good here, there, and everywhere. Having to adjust that EC Tuner every time I go out would annoy me, too. I always thought my match loads were tuned to the barrel anyway! Well, they must think they are, so I won’t tell them otherwise if you don’t.
Seeya.
There's an old saying about those who forget history.
I don't remember it, but it's good ...
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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You do way more research than I do!! This is my first time doing custom rifle loads. I’ve only done pistol loads. My 6.5CM loves Hornady 140gr ELD-M ammo so I had no reason to do custom. I buy that ammo by the case to keep plenty on hand.
Yesterday I bought 1 lbs each of H1000 & VV N570 & 100 Berger 215gr hybrid target bullets. Gonna try the new powders with both the 230 & 215 gr bullets. Hopefully I find a precise grouping. I plan to also try the Hornady A-Tip bullets too. Gotta find them yet. Likely the local Scheels has them.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Update: my node at 77.0 grains of StaBALL HD gunpowder unfortunately has not panned out to be repeatable. My buddy told me I’m at the point where I should probably start over with another gunpowder choice. He’s had great success with VihtaVuori N570 in 300 PRC caliber so I bought a pound of it. I also bought 1 lbs of Hodgdon H1000. And 100 Berger 215gr Hybrid Target bullets. Hopefully I can find a good recipe soon with either 230gr or 215gr Berger bullets.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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I really like H1000 in my 300 WM.... That being said, you should concentrate on the process of reloading first- with any powder. Until you get your SDs down to single digits, you'll have a hard time finding a powder node. It's been my experience that bullet seating is where you make the most improvement. My Cliff notes: Decap in a separate process/ Bump shoulders back .002-.003"/ trickle your powder up to the final weight/ expand the neck using mandrels ~.003-.004" over diameter/ set the bullet off the lands ~.002"/ don't crimp- use the neck tension to keep bullets in place (increase tension by using smaller mandrels). There you have it, in a nutshell.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Hey thanks! So far I have my bullets seated to give .020” jump to the lands. I’ll have to adjust to less seating. I measured some factory Hornady 225 ELD-M rounds and they are .004” jump in my chamber. They give incredible ES (11.0) & SD (4.1), but the group was a horrible 2.10”.
Thanks again for the input.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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I may have found my node. Berger 230gr, VihtaVuori N570 76.0gr. It was crazy windy today so my group could potentially been even better. Hopefully I can repeat this grouping, then I’ll know for sure I’ve found the load my rifle likes. I can maybe improve it some by testing shorter jump distances.
This has been a fun process. I’m OCD anyway so this feeds that big time. 
January 31, 2023
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Good to see you’ve established a baseline with the 230gr Berger Hybrids. Saves time by giving you a tighter window for developing other 230 loads. Again, IMNSHO 100 yds is a waste of time, I’ve seen too many bugholes at 100 open way up at 200. For a comparison later, try them at 200 and see what the paper and the numbers tell you with a 10 round group. However, I’ll also reiterate that I *strongly* suggest you try a box of the 230gr A-Tips.
OP has them now, with free shipping and a 10% discount popup when you open the site:
The Berger Hybrid is a plainly inferior bullet. Again, using the more accurate and reliable G7 drag coefficients, the A-Tip has a BC that’s 12.5% better. All other things being equal, that means *much* more than the same decrease in SD. Elevation is easy, wind is tough.
For a comparison with something more familiar to most people, that is the difference in a .308 between using the old 175gr SMK vs. the best of the new bullets, the Hornady 174gr ELD-VT or 175gr A-Tip! I still have a ton of MatchKings and I’m good enough at reading the wind to compete with them, but does anyone out there seriously think I’m gonna use them in a bolt action for anything but foulers anymore?
So save those Bergers for foulers. *laughs*
Another tip: At the club that’s much closer to me, the F-Class range goes to 600 yds. I don’t settle on a load until it’s been proven at that distance.
There's an old saying about those who forget history.
I don't remember it, but it's good ...
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Thanks, I’ll take any advice I can get, everyone been very helpful! I’m definitely gonna try the A-Tip too. On my personal range, I can go up to 175 yds so I’ll definitely give that a try too.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Just bought those A-Tips from OP, great deal! Free shipping too.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Update: I discovered my rifle came loose in the chassis and was causing problems identifying its favorite load. Thankfully I caught it when I did.
So, the latest is VihtaVuori N570 77.5gr and Hornady 230gr A-Tip bullets. This recipe is the sweet spot!! FINALLY, I’ve found my load!!
Thanks for following along and everyone’s input, much appreciated.
Me and my 2 buddies are planning to shoot 1-mile May 2nd & 3rd. Looking forward to that day!!!
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Sounds like a blast (pun intended) hope you get her dialed in. If you haven't got a set already- you may want to invest in a set of "fix-it-sticks". I keep it in my range bag to check torques on action screws and scope rings before / after hunting/ shooting sessions.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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