SharpsShooter
04-09-2006, 08:10 PM
I'd like the opinion of you guys on an item or two. Buckshot and I have been batting this one around and decided to throw it out for your intellectual analysis. I'm currently shooting the 8MM Max in my K98 and I'm having good and bad out of it. Loads of around 1160fps and a bit higher shoot pretty well, but if I try to go higher to say 1450 I get tumbling at 50yds. I am sizing to .324, but am forced to seat to a short OAL due to a very abrupt short throat. The boolits engrave lightly upon closing the bolt. I know I could get another size and lube die of .3225 and size the nose down to allow longer seating, but I'm not sure that is the problem. It seems that a longer bearing surface would produce better accuracy??
That said:
1. Is OAL causing some of my problems or
2. Do I need to crank up my MV to stabilize that long boolit.
My seating depth is 2 lube grooves and the gas check below the case neck. (eyeball measurement) (2.715" OAL actual ) There are differing opinions on that topic as some have better luck than others. I have always been a straight wall case shooter when it came to cast boolits, so it never entered the arena as a potential problem.
if it is a velocity issue and we need to dispense with the Unique loads, I do not have any surplus powder(s). However, I do have 2400, 4350, 4198, 4064. 4350 is a slow powder and looks promising for midrange to real thumper loads if the stability issue can be resolved. Of course no data exists for the 8mm with a 250gr boolit. I do have data for 225gr J-Boolits that I found recently and suspect the minimum loads could provide a starting point for work up.
Comments, suggestions welcome
That said:
1. Is OAL causing some of my problems or
2. Do I need to crank up my MV to stabilize that long boolit.
My seating depth is 2 lube grooves and the gas check below the case neck. (eyeball measurement) (2.715" OAL actual ) There are differing opinions on that topic as some have better luck than others. I have always been a straight wall case shooter when it came to cast boolits, so it never entered the arena as a potential problem.
if it is a velocity issue and we need to dispense with the Unique loads, I do not have any surplus powder(s). However, I do have 2400, 4350, 4198, 4064. 4350 is a slow powder and looks promising for midrange to real thumper loads if the stability issue can be resolved. Of course no data exists for the 8mm with a 250gr boolit. I do have data for 225gr J-Boolits that I found recently and suspect the minimum loads could provide a starting point for work up.
Comments, suggestions welcome