Whats the correct answer?

[Smokinyotes]

I loaded up some 55gr Nosler Ballistic tips for my 243. Started low and worked up to max load of 50grains of H414. At 50grains i head no case head expansion or any pressure signs at all. I shot two 3 shot groups, best group was .250" and the other just over .325". The velocity was 3755 but according to hodgdons site the velocity should be 3950. Do you?

A.- Keep increasing powder chg above max until you see signs of pressure or reach the published velocity?

B.- Try a different powder to try and increase the velocity closer to what the book says?

C.- Be happy with the good groups and slower velocities and go shoot coyotes?

Just wondering what you guys do in a situation like this. My barrel is 22-1/2" and the book is 24"

[58thecat]

Your grouping is great so go and get some yotes but you will also question the speed and different powder so do up a bunch with the original load and play with developing another load.

[Bergerboy]

Definitely C.

[purgatory.sv]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

I loaded up some 55gr Nosler Ballistic tips for my 243. Started low and worked up to max load of 50grains of H414. At 50grains i head no case head expansion or any pressure signs at all. I shot two 3 shot groups, best group was .250" and the other just over .325". The velocity was 3755 but according to hodgdons site the velocity should be 3950. Do you?

A.- Keep increasing powder chg above max until you see signs of pressure or reach the published velocity?

B.- Try a different powder to try and increase the velocity closer to what the book says?

C.- Be happy with the good groups and slower velocities and go shoot coyotes?

Just wondering what you guys do in a situation like this. My barrel is 22-1/2" and the book is 24"

c

[James 1]

I'll bite.
D. If you can go shoot 3 rounds at 500yards and measure the bullet drop. Input this into a ballistic calculator and double check your velocity to make sure chrony is accurate.

[Smokinyotes]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Your grouping is great so go and get some yotes but you will also question the speed and different powder so do up a bunch with the original load and play with developing another load.

I also tried 43-45gr of Reloader 15. With 45gr velocity was slightly better at 3780 but groups were .860" and all vertical.

[Salavee]

I think I would be happy with the nice groups and go get some puppies.

[Dick284]

B
And or
C

[lone wolf]

With groups that size I would not be at all concerned with trying to milk out those last few fps.

[Tactical Lever]

There is no "correct" answer. But B, is not viable as it leads the reader to think that you can switch powders while relying on published velocity to determine pressure from a different powder.

You could get a little more velocity out of it, but then again, for what? The short bullet will shed it nearly as quick. And as of right now that load you've worked up is accurate and probably 10% easier on the rifle.

If there are no pressure signs, you are not at "max", but there is nothing wrong with that, and why push it? The pressure barrel is a little longer, but it is very possible that you can go a little higher in your barrel.

[bulletman]

I use Varget in .243 with the Nosler 55 grain BT's. I don't like the ball powders in the cold weather.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by bulletman

I use Varget in .243 with the Nosler 55 grain BT's. I don't like the ball powders in the cold weather.

I think Varget was made for the 6mm's .. or vice-versa.

[Smokinyotes]

Originally Posted by bulletman

I use Varget in .243 with the Nosler 55 grain BT's. I don't like the ball powders in the cold weather.

I had tried varget back in march with a 75gr V max. Group sizes were similar to H414 but velocities were about 100fps slower

[Hunt4Ever]

Originally Posted by James 1

I'll bite.
D. If you can go shoot 3 rounds at 500yards and measure the bullet drop. Input this into a ballistic calculator and double check your velocity to make sure chrony is accurate.

I did this and found my chrony can be under by up to 250 f/s depending on light conditions.

[Smokinyotes]

Originally Posted by Hunt4Ever

I did this and found my chrony can be under by up to 250 f/s depending on light conditions.

I used my shooting chrony today and it seemed to work well with the cloudy conditions. This past summer i compared my shooting chrony to my magnetospeed and the shooting chrony was consistently 30-40 fps faster

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

I had tried varget back in march with a 75gr V max. Group sizes were similar to H414 but velocities were about 100fps slower

Wondering if you have tried Varget with the 55's. Also, it is very temp stable compared to the ball powders. Nice at - 20.

[Smokinyotes]

Originally Posted by Salavee

Wondering if you have tried Varget with the 55's. Also, it is very temp stable compared to the ball powders. Nice at - 20.

No i havent but i am thinking i probably should.

[260 Rem]

Have you any other bullet/charge comparisons...to give some comfort that the barrel is not tight or rough?

[Smokinyotes]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

Have you any other bullet/charge comparisons...to give some comfort that the barrel is not tight or rough?

I have tried H380, Varget & H414 with 75gr vmax. I tried Reloader 15 and H414 with the 55 gr ballitic tips. All velocities are significantly lower than Hodgdons or Nosler #7 manual. I thought it was mainly due to the test barrels being 24" and mine 22-1/2".

[Johnny G1]

Just go shootin, with a group like that leave it alone and go kill em.

[elkchaser]

Great groups stay with it ! I don't think the yotes will be able to tell the 205 ft diff ..

[260 Rem]

I would be surprised if the shorter barrel was responsible for reducing velocity by more than 50 fps? A friend (competative F-open) had a freshly chambered barrel that shot well, but would not produce the velocity required... He had it lapped, and was able to get satisfactory velocities.

[JD848]

How much better do you want,double check your crony and after that do the math for yardage,C

[Twisted Canuck]

At 3755 with that bullet, and those groups, what coyote will shrug it off? I go with C. It isn't the extra couple hundred fps of speed that kills, tis the accuracy of the shooter, and his confidence in his rifle/load/bullet. Seems like you have a good combo.

I shot a coyote with a much slower (900 fps) 140 gr ballistic tip from my 7mm-08 at almost 300 yards, and trust me, it did not dispute the results.

[catnthehat]

If you are using a range finder a couple of hundred feet per second makes no difference .
C for sure !

[Rdamours]

C and save yourself powder and barrel life.. Those are great groups and Wiley Coyote won't be able to out run them.