Who's loading 160gr FTX and Leverevolution powder?

[ssyoumans]

Well, I am thinking it might be time to try out the pound of Leverevolution powder I bought a few months ago. I've fired a few boxes of the Hornady 160gr FTX factory loads and had pretty good results (2350fps) out of the marlin and acceptable accuracy. I had tried using BLC2 with the ftx bullets before Lever came out but was unhappy with the velocity loss (2055fps using 33.5gr BLC2).
Anyone work up any loads? I havent seen much activity with this bullet/powder combination

I'm surprised to see the huge disparity in data between Hodgdon and Hornady.
Hornady #8: 27.7gr (1900) - 37.0gr (2300fps)
Hodgdon bottle: 35.5C (2389fps).
Same bullet, same powder, same COAL.
Different case & primers.
If 35.5 was compressed, 37.0 would be really packed!

Guess I'll start at 33.5 and go up in 0.5gr increments. Using Federal cases and CCI 200 primers.

 

[NCsmitty]

I've not tried the Lever powder, but that sounds like a good plan, just be cautious if you are considering working past Hodgdon's maximum of 35.5gr.


NCsmitty

 

[popper]

Check castboolits.com for a years history on this powder.

 

[jacksgd]

I spent this last weekend working up a load for my Winchester Model 54 bolt action .30-30 using the 160 grn. FTX and the Leverevolution powder.

I fired four rounds of each of the following loads with the exception of the 35.5 grn. load

Rounds were shot at 100 yards using a receiver sight.

34.1 grn./ avg. vel. 2261/ 2.5" group
34.3 grn./ avg. vel. 2274/ 2.5" group
34.5 grn./ avg. vel. 2292/ 1.75" group
34.7 grn./ avg. vel. 2318/ 2.00' group/ elevation dropped 1" and 1" right.
35.5 grn./ fired one round, case head expansion of .002 in.

I am happy with the 34.5 grn load and will continue to load that round.

 

[NCsmitty]

I spent this last weekend working up a load for my Winchester Model 54 bolt action .30-30.

Thanks for the info, jacksgd, I'm just wondering what the barrel length is on your M54 Win?



NCsmitty

 

[jacksgd]

It has a 24" barrel.

 

[ssyoumans]

Jacksgd- thanks for sharing your load experience. I recall someone else on here posting before that they had case head expansion before max load when they were using Hornady brass. Doesn't look possible to even get close to the Hornady factory loads. I was hoping to get around 2275-2300fps with my 20" Marlin, but if I have similar results, I'll probably be stopping before hitting 2200. Factory runs 2350 fps out of my rifle. Not purely chasing numbers, just had hoped to be better than 200fps less. May just stick to factory loads in this one, they were also quite accurate for me. Hmmmmm.... That Hornady #8 data seems insane!

This weekend tinkering with some 243 loads before switching to 30-30, and it's too hot out (97 degrees) so not conducive to working up wintertime hunting loads anyhow. We're having some serious heat down here in Atlanta for so soon in the summer, wait, still spring.