So I decided to give myself a day off to try out a few different loads. I wanted to do some comparisons with mag vs std primers as well as trying out a new hunting load. It was off to a bad start when I found my target stand lying in an ant pile. I propped it up and pulled the ant saturated cardboard off the 2x4 slats. It was still teeming with them so I endured about a dozen bites as they flew off from stapling on the new cardboard.
When I get back to the bench or what's left of it, I realized I could really use a new top for it. I set up the chronograph and off I go! I start placing my bags and realized I forgot my nicer ones in the truck. So I make due with the smaller ones I keep there made from old blue jeans. It's a rickety setup but I was determined to make it work. At first there are no surprises as I work up through a load range in my Howa. Predictable results and not running anything too warm I was satisfied with a few groups.
Moved on to an AR 10 and at least seeing less case head swipes with the lower range of charges. From there, on to the 280 hunting load(139gr btsp). I ran threw some rounds ranging from 45-46 gr IMR4831 seeing similar accuracy to my RL19 load. Actually had about 50 more fps at max and no pressure signs. All good stuff.
So I move on to my next 308 load using TAC. 175gr SMKs with starting load at 41.5gr. shoot off three and they felt a little warm. I click over to a new string and didn't give it much thought. Next string feels way warmer. I decided look at the results and it averaged 2810 fps! Which would be great if I had a 30" barrel. The Howa is a 20"! Anyhow I felt only the tiniest but if stiffness in the bolt lift so I decided to fire one from the 42.5 load. 2818 fps and a blown primer is what I got.
When making these I remember dropping powder separately for each charge weight so I grabbed 1 round from the other batch using magnum primers but back at the starting load of 41.5gr. Heavy recoil and a super sticky bolt. That one was 2742 fps with another blown primer. Decided I had pushed my luck enough and moved on to some other loads.
I did have a few good takeaways seeing better results with magnum primers and BLC2 which I was hoping for. Also had a pair of .67" 3 shot groups. The 150gr load was over 1.5" in my AR10 but that's par for that gun. Overall just happy to live to shoot another day. Some bullet pulling is definitely in order as I really need to see where I goofed.
When I get back to the bench or what's left of it, I realized I could really use a new top for it. I set up the chronograph and off I go! I start placing my bags and realized I forgot my nicer ones in the truck. So I make due with the smaller ones I keep there made from old blue jeans. It's a rickety setup but I was determined to make it work. At first there are no surprises as I work up through a load range in my Howa. Predictable results and not running anything too warm I was satisfied with a few groups.
Moved on to an AR 10 and at least seeing less case head swipes with the lower range of charges. From there, on to the 280 hunting load(139gr btsp). I ran threw some rounds ranging from 45-46 gr IMR4831 seeing similar accuracy to my RL19 load. Actually had about 50 more fps at max and no pressure signs. All good stuff.
So I move on to my next 308 load using TAC. 175gr SMKs with starting load at 41.5gr. shoot off three and they felt a little warm. I click over to a new string and didn't give it much thought. Next string feels way warmer. I decided look at the results and it averaged 2810 fps! Which would be great if I had a 30" barrel. The Howa is a 20"! Anyhow I felt only the tiniest but if stiffness in the bolt lift so I decided to fire one from the 42.5 load. 2818 fps and a blown primer is what I got.
When making these I remember dropping powder separately for each charge weight so I grabbed 1 round from the other batch using magnum primers but back at the starting load of 41.5gr. Heavy recoil and a super sticky bolt. That one was 2742 fps with another blown primer. Decided I had pushed my luck enough and moved on to some other loads.
I did have a few good takeaways seeing better results with magnum primers and BLC2 which I was hoping for. Also had a pair of .67" 3 shot groups. The 150gr load was over 1.5" in my AR10 but that's par for that gun. Overall just happy to live to shoot another day. Some bullet pulling is definitely in order as I really need to see where I goofed.
