Thread: Testing a conventional approach to load development

Originally Posted by c-dog

Just done a quick load development in a howa mini and was quite happy with the results, had to break up the groups as the mirage was a bit of an issue.

Checked length to refiling and dropped back 2mm to suit ease of mag feeding.

Started .5 grain above minimum and .5 grain increase until 25.5gr. 26gr was max in the adi for 69gr sierra hpbt and I am using 69gr targex. Loaded 12 rounds at 25.5 worked up looking for pressure, one over the chronograph and the last 10 into a group (would have liked to put them all over the chronograph but it was in use) mirage became an issue at about 4 rounds so had to space the shots out. I also used this range session to mount a scope (used some sako factory ammo for sight in)

I don't have the app used above but looks about 19mm outer edge to outer edge at 50mm high at 100m.

Going to load up 30 or so to put in the safe ready to go hunting then have a play with the other new brass and see if I cam get the 80gr eldm to work. In the same rifle (although i think it will be too compressed to work in the mag)

Attachment 273557

That's a good shooting Howa. Is it in a factory stock? @c-dog

Originally Posted by gimp

That's a good shooting Howa. Is it in a factory stock? @c-dog

It's a Ken Henderson stock. I think it may have been @Dreamer old rifle which I purchased off @25/08 IMP
Only taken out hunting for wallaby with factory ammo (sako stuff seems to shoot pretty good) but thinking I'll take it out looking for a deer now.
How long are your 80gr eldm seated out, I can go to about 62.5mm so will see what sort of velocity and accuracy I can get with the magazine limitation.

I'm at about 61mm OAL for the 80ELDM, my throat is shorter than I really thought. Next barrel I will get it throated a little longer

Originally Posted by gimp

I'm at about 61mm OAL for the 80ELDM, my throat is shorter than I really thought. Next barrel I will get it throated a little longer

Ok, I thought it was going to be too far in the case, I've settled at 62mm so I'll see how it goes, from the research I've done it looks like the howa minis seem to stabilize them ok. I'll report back this evening.

Testing done for the arvo about 56mm outside diamater 10 shot group with the 24gr charge. Looks like I will stick with the targex at this point, half tempted to get a box of 77smk. I've got 20x 80gr targex here that I can also do a test with. Apart from the different projectiles and powder all was the same rest brass etc (new brass checked to fit chamber and measure for trim length, give a visual then load) I had high hopes for the 80gr eldm as I have had good results in other calibers but doesn't look like it's ment to be in this rifle, (I may try again with 2206h) I've never done loads in this sequence before but it's fairly quick and to the point (3 shot groups could have had me fooled into thinking it was 1/2 moa load) ill try get better data with my next lot of testing (the lane with the chronograph setup is usually a bit busy)

Originally Posted by c-dog

Testing done for the arvo about 56mm outside diamater 10 shot group with the 24gr charge. Looks like I will stick with the targex at this point, half tempted to get a box of 77smk. I've got 20x 80gr targex here that I can also do a test with. Apart from the different projectiles and powder all was the same rest brass etc (new brass checked to fit chamber and measure for trim length, give a visual then load) I had high hopes for the 80gr eldm as I have had good results in other calibers but doesn't look like it's ment to be in this rifle, (I may try again with 2206h) I've never done loads in this sequence before but it's fairly quick and to the point (3 shot groups could have had me fooled into thinking it was 1/2 moa load) ill try get better data with my next lot of testing (the lane with the chronograph setup is usually a bit busy)
Attachment 273753

The 80s the big group under the handloaders logo? My mini seems to hate the eld range with all 3 barrels.

Originally Posted by Stocky

The 80s the big group under the handloaders logo? My mini seems to hate the eld range with all 3 barrels.

Yea mate correct, I should have said. What are you running in yours? I've got a few 69gr targex if you want to try some of those. That's the group to the right, pretty happy with them.
Also did 3 shots without the suppressor and the were same height but 70mm to the left, more for my reference than anything. Are your three all 223? I like the look of the 6mm arc barreled action but then I'd have to muck around and fine another stock dies etc

Originally Posted by c-dog

Yea mate correct, I should have said. What are you running in yours? I've got a few 69gr targex if you want to try some of those. That's the group to the right, pretty happy with them.
Also did 3 shots without the suppressor and the were same height but 70mm to the left, more for my reference than anything. Are your three all 223? I like the look of the 6mm arc barreled action but then I'd have to muck around and fine another stock dies etc.

2 howa barrels and and an aftermarket nz barrel I wont name yet all in 223.

Originally Posted by c-dog

Just done a quick load development in a howa mini and was quite happy with the results, had to break up the groups as the mirage was a bit of an issue.

Checked length to refiling and dropped back 2mm to suit ease of mag feeding.

Started .5 grain above minimum and .5 grain increase until 25.5gr. 26gr was max in the adi for 69gr sierra hpbt and I am using 69gr targex. Loaded 12 rounds at 25.5 worked up looking for pressure, one over the chronograph and the last 10 into a group (would have liked to put them all over the chronograph but it was in use) mirage became an issue at about 4 rounds so had to space the shots out. I also used this range session to mount a scope (used some sako factory ammo for sight in)

I don't have the app used above but looks about 19mm outer edge to outer edge at 50mm high at 100m.

Going to load up 30 or so to put in the safe ready to go hunting then have a play with the other new brass and see if I cam get the 80gr eldm to work. In the same rifle (although i think it will be too compressed to work in the mag)

Attachment 273557

The 69 targex always shot well and I think that was the magic load.
I can't remember if I tried 80grn Targex or not but they should shoot ok.
I never had any luck with the 80 ELDM in either of my rifles with 1-8 twist barrels.

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