26Charlie
07-01-2016, 07:06 PM
I have to preface this write up with a little explanation - been shooting the longer range guns at 300yd. with jacketed bullets to sight in; haven't been shooting much cast - someone lent my wife an Armalite with red dot sights, very light weight, so she had to have the exact same thing for herself. The deal shook out so she got the rifle, and I ended up with an 8-lb jug of Vihta-vuori N-133 powder, which is the go-to powder for the .223 with 55 gr. bullets. I loaded some with 24.5 gr, which were quite accurate at about 3300 fps.
So, I'm looking at my powder measure all set up for that charge, and thinking to myself that N-133 is close to IMR 4198 burning rate, which I use in 30 calibers with a cast bullet at about that charge. Inspiration strikes; I have some 153 gr. CBs handy - a Loverin design RNGC out of a Belding and Mull mould M-311-910. So I loaded up some rounds in .300 Savage brass.
Results are passable. In a M99 Savage the first shot was lost, but the next 9 gave a 3.85" group at 100 yards. In a Remington 722, all 10 were there, but gave a 6.8" group with three outliers, the seven good-shot group giving a 2.7" group. Groups are at 100yards; sights on both rifles are aperture rear and bead front.
The groups are higher on the paper, and the sound and few wide shots tell me the powder charge is too high - I'll reduce it a couple of grains and try it.
So, I'm looking at my powder measure all set up for that charge, and thinking to myself that N-133 is close to IMR 4198 burning rate, which I use in 30 calibers with a cast bullet at about that charge. Inspiration strikes; I have some 153 gr. CBs handy - a Loverin design RNGC out of a Belding and Mull mould M-311-910. So I loaded up some rounds in .300 Savage brass.
Results are passable. In a M99 Savage the first shot was lost, but the next 9 gave a 3.85" group at 100 yards. In a Remington 722, all 10 were there, but gave a 6.8" group with three outliers, the seven good-shot group giving a 2.7" group. Groups are at 100yards; sights on both rifles are aperture rear and bead front.
The groups are higher on the paper, and the sound and few wide shots tell me the powder charge is too high - I'll reduce it a couple of grains and try it.