simon_rook
Member
An acquaintance says he had good results loading Rainier 124gr hp under about 7 gr of blue dot. I had enough info to start but no OAL.
To start I measured a federal HST 124 gr. It came in at 1.100 and thats what I went with. The HST is .595 in length and and the Rainier is .551-.555 so I figured it would be safe. My chamber length is 1.185 with this bullet in a fired case.
I worked up from 6.3 to 7.1 in .2gr increments. These tests weren't for accuracy just consistency of velocity and actual velocity as well as safety. I like to do my accuracy testing at the indoor range and unfortunately the floor is always littered with brass and I dont want to have to search for my spent cases in the mess. I shoot velocities and check cases in the desert then bring them indoor for finals.
Around 7.1 the velocities began to stabilize but I decided to push it up to 7.2 to see if tolerances tightened any further. This is what I'm working on now.
I just got done putting 50 of them together and before I crimp I measure all 50. I know a varience of +/- .003 is to be expected But I had a few (4) come out at 1.094. Are they safe?
I know I put a lot of extra info in here but I figured the more you know the more it would help and being new I would like any info or critique as to what I'm doing right and what I may be doing wrong. Secondly I noticed a lot of people vary their over all length some at 1.115 all the way up to 1.150. I went with 1.1 based on the most accurate production bullet I've shot and similar characteristics (length and weight) .Wise or foolish?
To start I measured a federal HST 124 gr. It came in at 1.100 and thats what I went with. The HST is .595 in length and and the Rainier is .551-.555 so I figured it would be safe. My chamber length is 1.185 with this bullet in a fired case.
I worked up from 6.3 to 7.1 in .2gr increments. These tests weren't for accuracy just consistency of velocity and actual velocity as well as safety. I like to do my accuracy testing at the indoor range and unfortunately the floor is always littered with brass and I dont want to have to search for my spent cases in the mess. I shoot velocities and check cases in the desert then bring them indoor for finals.
Around 7.1 the velocities began to stabilize but I decided to push it up to 7.2 to see if tolerances tightened any further. This is what I'm working on now.
I just got done putting 50 of them together and before I crimp I measure all 50. I know a varience of +/- .003 is to be expected But I had a few (4) come out at 1.094. Are they safe?
I know I put a lot of extra info in here but I figured the more you know the more it would help and being new I would like any info or critique as to what I'm doing right and what I may be doing wrong. Secondly I noticed a lot of people vary their over all length some at 1.115 all the way up to 1.150. I went with 1.1 based on the most accurate production bullet I've shot and similar characteristics (length and weight) .Wise or foolish?