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lancetkenyon

New Cartridge Load Development, Meet the 6SST

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The new post today about what to buy a 3006 or a 6.5cm just got so complicated that a newbe would have to take a class on all of the different calibers and what you have to do to be a rifleman.  😜

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Got some rounds loaded up for tomorrow.  I sure hope it is not windy like last week.

Hitting the range for some 200 yard groups with the 110s, and headed to the desert for two ladder tests if the wind is not ridiculous.  

Top left 3 round groups with the 110 SMK for the PRS loads between 3130-3200 hopefully.  

Top right row is a ladder test w. 115 Berger HVLD over RL23 to see if we can get a bit more speed out of them.

Bottom row is a ladder test with 87 VMax over RL19.  Hoping to be between 3200-3600 for the charge weight range.  

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110 SMK seated @ 2.223" CBTO

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115 Berger HVLD seated @ 2.223" CBTO

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87 VMax seated @ 2.168" CBTO

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To be continued...

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Waiting patiently for the results !!! 

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Back from the range and the desert. Shot some amazing groups with the 110 SMKs staying within the PRS speed cap range. Recoil is very mild, as can be expected with a 22+# rifle with a 5 port brake shooting a light bullet at moderate pressures.

Shooting a few different Axisworks rifles today. 6SST, 6.5SS and 6CM.

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Here was the best group, but all were in the .1-.2 range. 

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3 shot group @ 100 yards

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After the range, I went out to one of my LR spots to shoot a couple more ladder tests since the winds were pretty clam, and the air was cold and humid.

115 Berger over RL23. Had a bit better speeds than I anticipated with lower charge weights. So only got 5 rounds in the ladder test. Rich figured we would max out about 55.0, I was hoping for a bit more. Too bad Rich was so far off....

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Shot the ladder test @ 404 yards.

Not bad for 5 different charge weights spanning 120fps @ 404 yards. About 1.1", or .26MOAish.

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On to the 87 V-Max.....
Results were not what I had hoped, until I figured out why....and witnessed something I have only heard of.

I loaded the 87 V-Max over RL19. Did a very broad charge weight gain of a full grain just to see where we could expect speeds to end up. I started at 50.0, figuring that would be plenty low, and went up to 59.0gr of RL19. Bullet was seated .020" off the lands for testing purposes.

Shot #1 @ 3300 to shot #7 @ 3530fps

Shot a ladder at 404 yards again. Results were less than spectacular......

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.....until shot #8. My Labradar gave me an error "could not track bullet". I studied the target through my spotter, and could not find the bullet hole on target. No way I missed a 12"×18" target @ 404 yards. 

So, shot #9, I watched. Let me set this up. I was shooting northnorthwest. Time was about 10:00am. Sun at my back almost directly. Got set up prone again, got on target through the scope w. my right eye, but kept my left eye on the distant frame I had set up. When I touched off the shot, I witnessed it for the 1st time ever firsthand. 
About 20 yards out, I saw a very brief flash, like the sun shining off 1000 tiny pieces of lead about 5' in diameter. A tiny dust cloud about 20' wide appeared below it. The bullet had vaporized when it left the barrel. I guess a thin jacketed varmint bullet cannot withstand 340,800 RPM. (3550+fps from a 1:7.5" twist).

So I guess we are going to play with a 95TMK and some sort of lighter all copper bullet to see how fast we can get them going and hold together. Sure wish I would have had a super slo-mo video camera going. I laughed so hard I almost had tears. 

I wonder how fast I could get the 88 or 101 Hammer Hunter going? I know those would stay together out of a 1:7.5" @ 3500+. I had easy bolt lift and not a single sign of pressure (except the bullet vaporizing) with my higher loads. Last recorded velocity was 3530 that stayed together. So I am betting we had MV of over 3600 with at least 2 more shot that I didn't even record. I have always said "You can't over spin/stabilize a bullet". Guess I proved that wrong.

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I didn't know it was possible to blow up a V-Max! Got the 53 gr V-Max up to 4100 fps from my 7 twist 22-250 AI and they stayed together. Had some problems with the 75 gr A-Max at around 3600 fps.

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I have heard of that from many guys that are building wildcat rounds and trying to push speed.  Have never seen it and by the sounds of things it is over and done with in a flash.   Kind of cool.   One of the biggest challenges with really fast wildcat rounds is finding a bullet that will perform at the given speed.   Even if the bullet does stay together will it perform on critters at the given speed?   I guess it doesn't matter if you are just shooting targets but it can be a concern if you are wanting to shoot fur.   

Keep at it.   Sounds super fun and the groups you got with the ladder test look great considering the different weight charges........signs of a forgiving cartridge.   

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17 hours ago, muledeerarea33? said:

It’s crazy to watch, I had some 40 grain .224” blow up in mid air coming out of my 223wssm.

Was it a faster than factory twist? I've got the 40 gr v- max to 4700 fps from a 14 twist 22-250 ai.

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