Marlin Junky
11-17-2006, 03:38 PM
I loaded up 11 rounds of 30-30 with DP85 for the range yesterday which produced interesting results that suggest a follow up experiment and I thought a little input from the cast-boolit bunch might help narrow down the list of variables so here goes...
Having worked a lot with H380, H414 and W760 in the 30-30, I figured a capacity load of DP85 wouldn't strain anything so I went right for 37 grains in Winchester cases without hesitation. DP85 is, according to AA, "...very close to Ramshot HUNTER". The boolit was my all time favorite for my '50 vintage 336A... RCBS 30-180FN at 196 grains checked (BHN 14+). Since I get about 50 more fps with F215's opposed to F210's when using H414, I decided to try the former since I was hoping to break 2000 fps. Shooting was done at 100 yards and it took six of my 11 rounds and the help of a buddy with a spotting scope to see what was going on. I usually shoot at 75 yards because I need a taller front sight (my rifle shoots way high with max. loads).
After getting two shots within an inch at the top of the paper, I settled in to shoot a nice 5 shot group (with iron sights) that measures under 1.5" C-C. Problem is my string stats in the order it was fired: 2066, 2045, 2066, 2070, 2089, 2059, 2088, 2075, 2121, 2113 and 2132 fps. Again, the last five rounds went into less than 1.5" (at 100 yds). I started with a clean barrel (wish I hadn't) and I was using a very slick lube I concocted with about 9 Tbs. of oil (3 each of mineral, castor and extra light olive oil) per pound of beeswax. I don't know why I started with a clean AND cold barrel but unfortunately I did. My old stand by load of the same boolit with F210 and 33 grains Special Ball (I think this powder is extinct now) produced an extreme spread of 36 fps and a std. dev. of 8.5 for 26 rounds after things had warmed up a bit and the barrel became seasoned again... I'll never clean that barrel again! Well, I'm just saying that, I have no clue whether the clean, cold barrel was the cause of the wide extreme spread while using DP85. Perhaps it was the F215 vs. the F210, or maybe DP85/Ramshot Hunter needs more pressure to stabilized. I don't shoot a heavier boolit in this particular 30-30 and I can't get anymore DP85 in the case. Any thoughts?
MJ
Having worked a lot with H380, H414 and W760 in the 30-30, I figured a capacity load of DP85 wouldn't strain anything so I went right for 37 grains in Winchester cases without hesitation. DP85 is, according to AA, "...very close to Ramshot HUNTER". The boolit was my all time favorite for my '50 vintage 336A... RCBS 30-180FN at 196 grains checked (BHN 14+). Since I get about 50 more fps with F215's opposed to F210's when using H414, I decided to try the former since I was hoping to break 2000 fps. Shooting was done at 100 yards and it took six of my 11 rounds and the help of a buddy with a spotting scope to see what was going on. I usually shoot at 75 yards because I need a taller front sight (my rifle shoots way high with max. loads).
After getting two shots within an inch at the top of the paper, I settled in to shoot a nice 5 shot group (with iron sights) that measures under 1.5" C-C. Problem is my string stats in the order it was fired: 2066, 2045, 2066, 2070, 2089, 2059, 2088, 2075, 2121, 2113 and 2132 fps. Again, the last five rounds went into less than 1.5" (at 100 yds). I started with a clean barrel (wish I hadn't) and I was using a very slick lube I concocted with about 9 Tbs. of oil (3 each of mineral, castor and extra light olive oil) per pound of beeswax. I don't know why I started with a clean AND cold barrel but unfortunately I did. My old stand by load of the same boolit with F210 and 33 grains Special Ball (I think this powder is extinct now) produced an extreme spread of 36 fps and a std. dev. of 8.5 for 26 rounds after things had warmed up a bit and the barrel became seasoned again... I'll never clean that barrel again! Well, I'm just saying that, I have no clue whether the clean, cold barrel was the cause of the wide extreme spread while using DP85. Perhaps it was the F215 vs. the F210, or maybe DP85/Ramshot Hunter needs more pressure to stabilized. I don't shoot a heavier boolit in this particular 30-30 and I can't get anymore DP85 in the case. Any thoughts?
MJ