Jackaroo wrote:Thanks OB and AS30N appreciate the replies.
I'm just after a nice slow round I can shoot at metal for Wild Bunch.
Looking at 303 data (and 30-40 Krag data which they say is interchangeable) there's a lot of suitable loads using the pistol powders that I have, but I REALLY don't want to burn them up loading 303.
I wanted to stay away from putting gas check on, but that may not be possible. There's a lot of info (mind boggling) on the net and in manual and a lot using low rifle powder charges and fillers, not keen on using fillers.
bladeracer wrote:
How low do you want to go? I would experiment with AR2206H and save the pistol powders for your pistol ammo.
Jackaroo wrote:bladeracer wrote:
How low do you want to go? I would experiment with AR2206H and save the pistol powders for your pistol ammo.
A BAM Side Match (Bolt Action Military Rifle) in Wild Bunch at the clubs I shoot at is a max 100m at steel targets, so I don't need a hot round.
Not keen though on using dacron filler which on reading seems to needed for light charges of powder(?).
ADI don't have a listing for cast pills, the jacketed pill starting load is 34.0 grains @ 2262 fps for a slightly heavier pill than what I have.
bladeracer wrote:
You shouldn't have to use a filler even down to subsonic levels, but the only way to know is to try it. 165gn is a heavy bullet so you won't need to go very low with AR2206H. Load some at about 25gn and see how they shoot, then work up or down to suit. What diameter are the bullets though? I prefer .314" for .303. If they keyhole you'll need fatter bullets.
Jackaroo wrote:The diameter is my next concern, its an early SHTLE but with a very good barrel (never slugged it) pills are sold as sized to .312" but they mic out for me at .313" with the Hitek coating.
I'm starting to think I might have to break into my stash of other powders and maybe use AS50N, even though I have a lot of powder, I don't think I will even now get out of the hoarding mentality. I can understand more now when I was younger the people who had gone through the depression wasted nothing and were loath to use up all of anything.
One thing that has me pondering, I've shot pistols competitively for over 40 years and there's always been talk (and photos) of exploded pistols from a small charge of powder that detonated instead of burned. How does small charges of fast powders in a large case like a .303 have not the same issue?
Tank wrote:Kinda thought this is right in Trailboss wheelhouse (?)
Taking up all that volume and weighing so little is its reason for existing…..
You won’t use ‘heaps’ in a side match surely? (8 to 10gr?)
How’s it working out for you?
Kind Regs,
Tank.
Tank wrote:Kinda thought this is right in Trailboss wheelhouse (?)
Taking up all that volume and weighing so little is its reason for existing…..
You won’t use ‘heaps’ in a side match surely? (8 to 10gr?)
How’s it working out for you?
Kind Regs,
Tank.
bladeracer wrote:Yep, Trailboss is the ideal for greatly-reduced loads as it tops out on velocity at roughly half your velocity with normal powders.
In 8x57mm I tested TB behind a 182gn cast bullet from 8gn up to 19gn charges. From 14gn onward velocity didn't change by a significant amount. 8gn loads average around 970fps. My highest recorded of 125 test loads was with 19gn at 1430fps (the 19gn loads averaged 1370fps), but 14gn averages 1380fps (the same as 20gn of AR2206H). 19.75gn of TB fills the case to the top, compared to 58.5gn of AR2206H to the same level.
It can be worth experimenting with larger charges of TB though as it may improve group size, as we found with my brother's .243 - we didn't make more velocity but groups were better. The excess powder is basically acting as a filler.
TB is not so useful if you're just wanting to reduce noise and recoil a bit (say 80% or normal velocities), AR2206H is better in that situation.
Jackaroo wrote:bladeracer wrote:Yep, Trailboss is the ideal for greatly-reduced loads as it tops out on velocity at roughly half your velocity with normal powders.
In 8x57mm I tested TB behind a 182gn cast bullet from 8gn up to 19gn charges. From 14gn onward velocity didn't change by a significant amount. 8gn loads average around 970fps. My highest recorded of 125 test loads was with 19gn at 1430fps (the 19gn loads averaged 1370fps), but 14gn averages 1380fps (the same as 20gn of AR2206H). 19.75gn of TB fills the case to the top, compared to 58.5gn of AR2206H to the same level.
It can be worth experimenting with larger charges of TB though as it may improve group size, as we found with my brother's .243 - we didn't make more velocity but groups were better. The excess powder is basically acting as a filler.
TB is not so useful if you're just wanting to reduce noise and recoil a bit (say 80% or normal velocities), AR2206H is better in that situation.
I loaded up some 30-30 cases with the same weight pills (165gr Hitek) with 20gns of AR2206H and was pleased with that load.
bladeracer wrote:Yes, that would be very pleasant shooting. The .303 is about 30% larger capacity than the .30-30 so the same charge will see less velocity. If you were happy with the .30-30 maybe try about 25gn of AR2206H in the .303.
Jackaroo wrote:bladeracer wrote:Yes, that would be very pleasant shooting. The .303 is about 30% larger capacity than the .30-30 so the same charge will see less velocity. If you were happy with the .30-30 maybe try about 25gn of AR2206H in the .303.
Thanks,
Its a rabbit hole, but a fun rabbit hole to go down.
Stumbled on this page, interesting read if you haven't already read it.
Tank wrote:It’s all good fun!
I understand completely.
I’m sitting on a bit over a kilo of AP70N for my .310 Cadet for the same reason.
(I don’t shoot handguns anymore).
Hope you have some joy with 2206H and 2207!
Horrible memories of vaporising some HRBC .264s thinking the copper coloured coating would let me load them to around 2,000fps. I was wrong.
Tank wrote:It’s all good fun!
I understand completely.
I’m sitting on a bit over a kilo of AP70N for my .310 Cadet for the same reason.
(I don’t shoot handguns anymore).
Hope you have some joy with 2206H and 2207!
Horrible memories of vaporising some HRBC .264s thinking the copper coloured coating would let me load them to around 2,000fps. I was wrong.
Tank wrote:35gr of 2209 in my M96 under 140gr HRBC…..nothing arriving at target at 50m. 5 shots. Big clean up.