Interpreting hand load results - .308

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

Re: Interpreting hand load results - .308

Post by nightforcenxs » 12 May 2018, 3:24 pm

powelly2006 wrote:Yeah, I've got a mate that shoots the Z-Max. He seems to think they're really good for smashing at the range as opposed to the ELD Match stuff he uses for serious comp.

Do they hold up as a round that would drop pigs ?

I've been doing groups of 5 and allowing the barrel to cool down in between - plinking with my little Ruger in 17HMR while I wait. ;)

Cheers.


powelly i cant say yes or no as i dont hunt but a friend uses the .22 cal 55gr zmax in his 223 and says they make decent holes in stuff and dont have a problem with dropping critters so i would only be guessing that the 168gr zmax is good but i know alot of americans love to use the 168gr Amax for hunting with no problems even though your not meant to
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Re: Interpreting hand load results - .308

Post by SCJ429 » 12 May 2018, 4:30 pm

The ZMax is a frangable bullet that will do well on pigs, probably not ideal to shoot them in the shield, neck but at normal hunting ranges they will be effective. I would start a ladder test at 43.5 grains of 2208 and run it up to and perhaps beyond 45.5. Look for consecutive shots that are sitting on the same vertical axis and commence load testing from there.
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Re: Interpreting hand load results - .308

Post by SCJ429 » 12 May 2018, 4:35 pm

The Amax was an excellent hunting projectile at short or longer range. Perhaps you are thinking of the ELD or SMK? The ELD-X is the replacement for the Amax. I have had good results from ELD-X at longer ranges.
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Re: Interpreting hand load results - .308

Post by powelly2006 » 16 May 2018, 3:46 pm

Alright.

Tested three loads today. Two which had the best results from the last test (which sparked this thread - and the question about interpreting the results), and one more load in between those.

So the original loads which performed best initially were the 46.5gr and 47gr loads of AR2208. So this time I loaded 46.5gr, 46.7gr and 47gr loads.

The 46.7gr performed badly. Not exactly what I was expecting. The 47gr performed in much the same way as it did last time. With the spread on the vertical plane more so than on the horizontal. But, the 46.5 shot beautifully well. The groups were noticeably tighter, and with very little deviation on the vertical axis of the target.

Quite please with the results. So, in this instance, the best option from the first load development test probably would have been the 46.5gr load with the least vertical spread over the different charges.

I don't know if this is a "rule of thumb", or if it is coincidence, but I just thought I'd let everyone know the results from today. Thanks to everyone for their input and advice. This forum really is a great resource for such discussions.

Cheers and beers,
Powelly.
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