I'm working on a load for my FIL's Ruger Hawkeye in .338 win mag. He says Winchester no longer sells the 200 gr Nosler (Combined Technologies) Silvertip factory load that he has used for years. I'm trying to use the OCW method of finding a load. The attached photo shows my first set of loads. Note that all of the loads, including the one factory round I fired, were impacting 3"-5" above POA. The writing at the bottom shows load charge weight, group max spread, and group center relative to POA.
ETA: Here is the load info in case it is hard to see in the photo. All loads are using IMR 4350, 200 gr. Nosler Silvertips, Hornady brass, and Win LR Magnum primers:
Load 3: 71.0 gr, 1.85" max spread, 3 1/16" high and 3/4" right of POA
Load 4: 71.8 gr, 2.3" spread, 3 1/4 " high and 1/4" right
Load 5: 72.5 gr, 1.4" spread, 3 7/8" high and 1 1/4" right
Load 6: 73.3 gr, 3.4" spread, 4 3/8" high and 11/16" right
Load 7: 74.0 gr, 1.9" spread, 4 1/4" high and 1 9/16" right
Load 8: 74.7 gr, 1.1" spread, 5 3/16" high and 1 1/2" right
Factory round (one shot): 4" high and 1 5/8" right of POA.
Loads 1 and 2 were low charge weight fouling shots (and to check for any pressure problems before working up).
ETA #2: Shots were fired round robin (1 shot of load 3, 1 shot of load 4, etc.). I shot the two fouling shots to get some heat in the barrel and then waited 5 minutes between shots to maintain a warm, but not hot, barrel.
What would you try next? I'm thinking maybe loading 5 each in the following charges: 74.2, 74.4, 74.6, 74.8, 75.0. The other promising possibility is trying loads on either side of 72.5 grains (load 5). Load 5 is an acceptable group (<1.5") and is impacting in the same location as the factory round fired.
I realize that my heaviest load is over the max charge listed on Hodgdon's website. There are no signs of overpressure and this is a hunting rifle. Once the load is developed, there will likely be no more than 2 shots fired per year (many years it will be 0 or 1).
I have other powders if you think I should cut bait. The powders that I have and Hodgdon shows loads with good velocity include: IMR 4451, H4831, and IMR 4831. Hodgdon doesn't actually show IMR 4451 in this bullet weight, but it generally produces similar velocities to H4350. I would call Hodgdon and ask about that powder in .338WM before using it.
ETA: Here is the load info in case it is hard to see in the photo. All loads are using IMR 4350, 200 gr. Nosler Silvertips, Hornady brass, and Win LR Magnum primers:
Load 3: 71.0 gr, 1.85" max spread, 3 1/16" high and 3/4" right of POA
Load 4: 71.8 gr, 2.3" spread, 3 1/4 " high and 1/4" right
Load 5: 72.5 gr, 1.4" spread, 3 7/8" high and 1 1/4" right
Load 6: 73.3 gr, 3.4" spread, 4 3/8" high and 11/16" right
Load 7: 74.0 gr, 1.9" spread, 4 1/4" high and 1 9/16" right
Load 8: 74.7 gr, 1.1" spread, 5 3/16" high and 1 1/2" right
Factory round (one shot): 4" high and 1 5/8" right of POA.
Loads 1 and 2 were low charge weight fouling shots (and to check for any pressure problems before working up).
ETA #2: Shots were fired round robin (1 shot of load 3, 1 shot of load 4, etc.). I shot the two fouling shots to get some heat in the barrel and then waited 5 minutes between shots to maintain a warm, but not hot, barrel.
What would you try next? I'm thinking maybe loading 5 each in the following charges: 74.2, 74.4, 74.6, 74.8, 75.0. The other promising possibility is trying loads on either side of 72.5 grains (load 5). Load 5 is an acceptable group (<1.5") and is impacting in the same location as the factory round fired.
I realize that my heaviest load is over the max charge listed on Hodgdon's website. There are no signs of overpressure and this is a hunting rifle. Once the load is developed, there will likely be no more than 2 shots fired per year (many years it will be 0 or 1).
I have other powders if you think I should cut bait. The powders that I have and Hodgdon shows loads with good velocity include: IMR 4451, H4831, and IMR 4831. Hodgdon doesn't actually show IMR 4451 in this bullet weight, but it generally produces similar velocities to H4350. I would call Hodgdon and ask about that powder in .338WM before using it.
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