BerdanIII
12-02-2006, 01:21 PM
I had some leftover .309" 165-gr. plain base bullets and a little Trail Boss left after trying it in reduced loads with j-bullets, so I figured I'd burn both of them up. I used Hirtenberger milsurp brass with the flash holes reamed out with a #40 bit and Federal large pistol primers. The bullets were tumble-lubed in Lee Liquid ALox and seated out to 2.604", which gave a little resistance when closing the bolt. I pre-lubed the bore with a little of CVA's Grease Patch. The results:
7.0 grs.
1025 fps, 52 es, 4" (4 in 2.75") @ 100 yds.
1023 fps, 34 es, 3.75" (4 in 2.75")
1010 fps, 18 es, 4" (4 in 3")
7.5 grs.
1061 fps, 30, es, 4.25" (4 in 3")
no chrono, 3" and 5.5"
8.0 grs.
1107 fps, 31 es, 5.5" (4 in 3.5")
no chrono, 2.5", 3.1"
8.5 grs.
1145 fps, 31 es, 4.1"
1141 fps, 35 es, 5.75" (4 in 3.5")
9.0 grs.
1191 fps, 34 es, 2.25"(4 in 1.75")
1186 fps, 23 es, 5.5" (4 in 3.75")
The bullets showed some yawing at 100 yds up until I hit 8.5 grains and the cases were all smoked to the base until I reached 9.0 grains. There was no leading at all and the 9.0-grain load burned so cleanly that it only took two Ed's Red patches and a half-dozen brush-strokes to get the bore clean. Judging by the flyers, I haven't solved my bedding problem yet, but this cast bullet stuff is beginning to take hold.
7.0 grs.
1025 fps, 52 es, 4" (4 in 2.75") @ 100 yds.
1023 fps, 34 es, 3.75" (4 in 2.75")
1010 fps, 18 es, 4" (4 in 3")
7.5 grs.
1061 fps, 30, es, 4.25" (4 in 3")
no chrono, 3" and 5.5"
8.0 grs.
1107 fps, 31 es, 5.5" (4 in 3.5")
no chrono, 2.5", 3.1"
8.5 grs.
1145 fps, 31 es, 4.1"
1141 fps, 35 es, 5.75" (4 in 3.5")
9.0 grs.
1191 fps, 34 es, 2.25"(4 in 1.75")
1186 fps, 23 es, 5.5" (4 in 3.75")
The bullets showed some yawing at 100 yds up until I hit 8.5 grains and the cases were all smoked to the base until I reached 9.0 grains. There was no leading at all and the 9.0-grain load burned so cleanly that it only took two Ed's Red patches and a half-dozen brush-strokes to get the bore clean. Judging by the flyers, I haven't solved my bedding problem yet, but this cast bullet stuff is beginning to take hold.