Seamaster31
Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2019
- Messages
- 171
I am getting just under 2,800 fps from my 22" barrel using a fairly stiff load of IMR 4350.
I chrono'd a range of RL-16 loads with 168gr ttsx this morning and the results were a bit disappointing. No published data for this combo, but trying to extrapolate between H4350 loads with the 168's vs other lead bullets vs RL-16 loads, I came up with 52gr - 55.5 gr and loaded them in half grain intervals.
Velocities were as follows:
52gr - 2,492 fps
52.5gr - 2,462 fps
53gr - 2,483 fps
53.5gr - 2,502 fps
54gr - 2,522 fps
54.5gr - 2,512 fps
55gr - 2,551 fps
55.5gr - 2,608 fps
No pressure signs, but too slow.
I then fired two of last year's loads (180gr Accubond, 56gr RL16) just to make sure the Chrono wasn't going wacky:
2,660 fps
2,670 fps
That's about right for bare muzzle, with my can mounted they chrono about 2,690 fps.
I think I'm going to load up similar runs of H4350 and RL17, maybe up into the 57gr - 58gr range, and see what velocities I get vs any pressure signs I see. 165 gr jacketed bullets over 59gr of H4350 run ~ 2,825 fps out of this rifle, I know copper bullets usually require smaller charges for similar pressure, but I was counting on being able to get to the same velocity range.
RL-16 is pretty bulky and I was already crunching quite a bit, I just don't know if I can fit much more in.
If anyone has Quick Load, it would be really interested to see what it says about these powders and this bullet.
Thus far I expect my coppers to be a titch slower than their counterparts, you're right around 50 fps slower, and that I would call acceptable, I think you're on the right track chasing a different powder here. I'm just spitballing, but the 4350 should get you closer to the 2740-60 range. 4451 performs similarly and is pretty temp stable too.I chrono'd a range of RL-16 loads with 168gr ttsx this morning and the results were a bit disappointing. No published data for this combo, but trying to extrapolate between H4350 loads with the 168's vs other lead bullets vs RL-16 loads, I came up with 52gr - 55.5 gr and loaded them in half grain intervals.
Velocities were as follows:
52gr - 2,492 fps
52.5gr - 2,462 fps
53gr - 2,483 fps
53.5gr - 2,502 fps
54gr - 2,522 fps
54.5gr - 2,512 fps
55gr - 2,551 fps
55.5gr - 2,608 fps
No pressure signs, but too slow.
I then fired two of last year's loads (180gr Accubond, 56gr RL16) just to make sure the Chrono wasn't going wacky:
2,660 fps
2,670 fps
That's about right for bare muzzle, with my can mounted they chrono about 2,690 fps.
I think I'm going to load up similar runs of H4350 and RL17, maybe up into the 57gr - 58gr range, and see what velocities I get vs any pressure signs I see. 165 gr jacketed bullets over 59gr of H4350 run ~ 2,825 fps out of this rifle, I know copper bullets usually require smaller charges for similar pressure, but I was counting on being able to get to the same velocity range.
RL-16 is pretty bulky and I was already crunching quite a bit, I just don't know if I can fit much more in.
If anyone has Quick Load, it would be really interested to see what it says about these powders and this bullet.