Casting Session, NOE 310-165-FN (30 XCB)

[Bret4207]

Same question as Ian, and isn't 40.0 Varget super hot for a first time out with cast? Just looking online I see 42.0 gr Varget with a 165 jacketed est at 2500fps. Am I misreading something?

 

[fiver]

5/5 alloy is good but it ain't that good.

 

[fiver]

he is only about 1/2gr above my favorite XCB bullet load of 4064 in the 308.

 

[S Mac]

Same question as Ian, and isn't 40.0 Varget super hot for a first time out with cast? Just looking online I see 42.0 gr Varget with a 165 jacketed est at 2500fps. Am I misreading something?

If you're going, go big.

 

[Idaholewis]

Hey, dumb question, did you lube them?

That’s actually a GOOD Question Ian! They don’t look it, But they are Lubed

 

[Idaholewis]

Results are in, Better than I expected for my Very first Go Around

Target is 70-80 Yards

My first (Cold Clean Bore) Shot was put in the End of a SOLID Block of Tamarack Firewood so i could dig it out Later and see how it did? The bullet Traveled about 12” This stuff is DENSE/HARD Wood, This stuff weighs TWICE what a Piece of Douglas Fir would weigh, There’s a good reason it is Rated #1 for Heat BTU Here

Pretty impressive Mushroom for a HARD Bullet! I found the Gas Check Right with the Bullet

The Bullet left the Barrel Weighing 166.2 Grains, Traveling at 2,530 fps

My first Shot on Target was 3” LOW, it felt good so i made an Adjustment. NO IDEA what happened on Shot #4? It felt good, but went left. Not making excuses, But There was a Guy pulling a Snowmobile Trailer sitting Behind me Waiting for me to Shoot my 4 Shots on Target so he Could Park in this Spot, I hurried through my Shots

And my Velocity, 2,530 Fps

 

[Ian]

About 3 MOA for your first try ain't bad, you got most of the setup right from the get-go. I'm with Fiver on the alloy, it might like a little less velocity, like half a grain. Can't tell much from four shots but if that first one is moved straight up it's in the group and you have a horizontal string.

As long as the barrel doesn't have any leading in it, I'd say load 20 more and start developing some statistical data now that you know it will work.

 

[Will]

My suggestion is to back off to the 2300fps area and work up till groups fall apart. I start having more troubles when I hit the 2400fps and above.
Great start though. If you stick with it you will find it’s not really that card you just have to find out what the rifle and load wants.

 

[popper]

I started with #2 in 308, probably same results as you. Drop down to 39gr to try. IMHO, tin doesn't help much.

 

[Idaholewis]

Better today, No explanation for Shot #1 and #5? My Rifle has 20 Cast Bullet Shots through it now Total, I know this Rifle takes 10-12 Shots from a Thoroughly Cleaned Bore before it will Settle Down, Maybe what was happening here with Shot 1 and 5? I can see it’s Gonna Shoot this bullet well, Just a little more tinkering and I’ll be Ready to Go Loooong

10 Shots Total, 8 in the Group, The 1st shot and 5th Shot are out? I made a mistake and Marked the lower right Shot #2, it was Shot #5, I was able to Correct it with an editor tool, You can Clearly see it in the Video above.

I dropped the Powder Charge down to 39 Grains, This stil might be a Little Fast? I plan to try 38 Grains Next, I’m load Developing Backwards

 

[Ian]

Hard to say with a sample of one group, but that looks like a couple of lube-related flyers. It's "stupid cold" there and the first shot being out is no shocker at all. #5 could be caused anything, but a lube burp is on the short list.

 

[RBHarter]

I get beat like a rented mule for this but is your brass matching ?

I had this 06' that was shooting just like that with jax. It was case volume throwing off the whole thing .

 

[Idaholewis]

Hard to say with a sample of one group, but that looks like a couple of lube-related flyers. It's "stupid cold" there and the first shot being out is no shocker at all. #5 could be caused anything, but a lube burp is on the short list.

What is your opinion on Velocity here Ian? Look good? Should i back off a Bit? I am hoping my Rifle is Now Settling in

 

[Idaholewis]

I get beat like a rented mule for this but is your brass matching ?

I had this 06' that was shooting just like that with jax. It was case volume throwing off the whole thing .

All the Same, Cheap Winchester Brass by the 50

 

[Bill]

Very nice Lewis, it would be nice to recover those after the big thaw.

Bill

 

[Ian]

Thin-necked glarbage IMO. But you're not using enough tension for it to matter much. I'd say your powder charge is spot on right there and I wouldn't mess with it anymore unless you need to adjust to compensate for something else you might change (lube, seating depth, ambient temperature, alloy, ad nauseam).

Did you notice how your horizontal (blown group) came together when you backed off a hair on the charge? Remember that. There's more to it but learning to read groups with cast bullets is helpful.

How did the velocity of the first shot's velocity compare to the others? How about #5's?

 

[Bret4207]

If you're getting decent grouping at those speeds for you first time out, just quit now and don't bother ever buying another lottery or raffle ticket. You just used up all your luck.

 

[L Ross]

Thin-necked glarbage IMO. But you're not using enough tension for it to matter much. I'd say your powder charge is spot on right there and I wouldn't mess with it anymore unless you need to adjust to compensate for something else you might change (lube, seating depth, ambient temperature, alloy, ad nauseam).

Did you notice how your horizontal (blown group) came together when you backed off a hair on the charge? Remember that. There's more to it but learning to read groups with cast bullets is helpful.

How did the velocity of the first shot's velocity compare to the others? How about #5's?

I love the fact that you don't mince words Ian. I'll bet you're a hoot in person. I picked up 500 rounds of once fired Federal brass from left over police sniper training. How does that rate on the Ian glarbageometer?

 

[Rally]

I'd load another ten just like those and give it another go. From a cleaned barrel to just ten rounds doesn't work for me.
Little drift here, but what kind of tires you running on your truck Lewis? Look like Good Year Wrangler Authority's

 

[fiver]

I'd repeat to check for a lube purge, if it throws shots low like that on a regular basis it's fighting build up going down the barrel, same as the first shot.

I'm not surprised by the results even a little bit, this is the third time I have seen this same basic combination throw these bullets at this speed into respectable little groups.
what is good to see is that your chrono is backing up my speed estimates.
I was estimating 39.6grs of 4064 pushing this same bullet about 2450 or so in my 30" barrel.
I'm actually more in the 2500 zone MV wise it appears, but [shrug] what's 50 fps here and there, unless it is here and there.
you could try a couple of things if you keep on seeing the horizontal, first one is a primer change.
second would be a fuller case of a slower powder, or a helper to make the powder think it's in a fuller case.
but I'd be looking at ES's for long distance stuff more than scrambling for another 1/4" right now.