Range Report Brand New PVA 6.5cm Barrel - First 100 Round Range Report

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Finally had a chance to get the new PVA 6.5cm barrel out to the range last night, and I was extremely fortunate for the shooter next to me who struck up a conversation and offered his LabRadar for me to get some initial velocity data. Setup/Data is as follows:

Rifle Setup:
1.) Curtis Vector
2.) PVA 6.5cm, 22in M24 barrel, hand lapped/2x normalized, Surefire Brake (unsuppressed)
3.) TT 5-25x
4.) JAE Chassis
5.) TT Diamond

I put approximately 75 rounds through the tube before measuring the velocity, so it was relatively warmed up. These averages below were based of only seven rounds shot from each type of ammo (time was a factor).

Ammo​	BC​	Avg. FPS​	SD​	ES​
Hornady 120gr ELD (Match)​	.580 (G1)​	2819​	23.5​	70​
Hornady 140gr BTHP (American Gunner Ammo)​	.486(G1)​	2657​	26.9​	66​

(Climate = Indoor range)

Understanding more data points would be beneficial for this analysis, but anything in this data set worth highlighting?


I was fighting my bag/bench setup most of the night, couldn't get comfortable. But after I found a more comfortable position and got the barrel heated up, I was able to post these 3 x round groups just before grabbing velocity numbers:

 

[kriller134]

My pva barrel sped up significantly at around 200 rounds.

 

[blbennett1288]

That is pretty consistent with my findings for Hornady 6.5CM 140gr BTHP (American Gunner/Black). The Hornady 140gr ELD-M was slightly better but still not what I would consider acceptable. IIRC around 45-50fps ES. I gave Prime and Federal a shot with similar results. In a last ditch attempt I gave Berger factory Ammo a try and it shot lights out. I havn’t looked back since. You need to find a factory offering that your barrel likes.

You should be able to tel if it is speeding up from the chrono speeds and if that is the issue, but I doubt it.

Have you cleaned it yet?

 

[chrome]

That is pretty consistent with my findings for Hornady 6.5CM 140gr BTHP (American Gunner/Black). The Hornady 140gr ELD-M was slightly better but still not what I would consider acceptable. IIRC around 45-50fps ES. I gave Prime and Federal a shot with similar results. In a last ditch attempt I gave Berger factory Ammo a try and it shot lights out. I havn’t looked back since. You need to find a factory offering that your barrel likes.

You should be able to tel if it is speeding up from the chrono speeds and if that is the issue, but I doubt it.

Thanks for the pointers above, appreciate it. And agreed, still want to try some more factory ammo to ensure I am covering the spectrum. Reloading isn't in my immediate future yet, so next time I head out I'll bring some of the berger and prime factory out to see where it hits. I'll also

Have you cleaned it yet?

I have a very strict regimen when it comes to cleaning rifles, I rarely, if ever, clean.

But on a serious note, no, I haven't punched the bore yet. Probably not until 200-300'ish rounds.

 

[blbennett1288]

I’d give it a cleaning, couldn’t hurt anything and it’ll rule that out.

 

[kriller134]

Are you looking for better accuracy or better numbers? Your second group looks pretty good. Have you thought about hand loading?

 

[chrome]

Are you looking for better accuracy or better numbers? Your second group looks pretty good. Have you thought about hand loading?

I'm actually super happy with both at first glance, but given my inexperience with 6.5cm, I thought I'd get a temperature check.

No intent to hand load as of now, only have enough time for one hobby.

 

[blbennett1288]

Are you looking for better accuracy or better numbers? Your second group looks pretty good. Have you thought about hand loading?

groups won’t look like that at 600/800/1000yards, the ES will represent itself at distance

 

[kriller134]

groups won’t look like that at 600/800/1000yards, the ES will represent itself at distance

Yep I know. Just wasn’t sure what he’s after.

 

[jbailey]

questions:
(1) how many rounds is this chrono data based on?
(2) what is your intended use of this rifle/load?

That SD/ES would be unacceptable to me. As blbennett1288 cites, this is going to show up at >600.

On other hand, that precise looks good to very good. Bugholes or one-hole groups. Can't ask for much more out of a tactical rifle (assume this isn't a benchrest setup).

If it was me, I would redo this test with a chrono that I know is GTG. I would do at least 5 rounds, not including the CBS.

 

[chrome]

questions:
(1) how many rounds is this chrono data based on?
(2) what is your intended use of this rifle/load?

That SD/ES would be unacceptable to me. As blbennett1288 cites, this is going to show up at >600.

On other hand, that precise looks good to very good. Bugholes or one-hole groups. Can't ask for much more out of a tactical rifle (assume this isn't a benchrest setup).

If it was me, I would redo this test with a chrono that I know is GTG. I would do at least 5 rounds, not including the CBS.

Hey JB,

Thx for the ping. To your questions:

1 - 7 rounds for each factory load (all I had time for at the point I had access to the other shooter's labradar)
2 - PRS and the like, no bench rest or hunting at this time w/this barrel

Definitely worth another test after I clean (ick) and add some more rounds through the bore. Quick question back at you, what does CBS stand for?

 

[jbailey]

Quick question back at you, what does CBS stand for?

CBS = Cold Bore Shot.
I like to remove it from the calculation when I'm solving for SD and ES. It tends to be lower than the group, so I remove it from the data. I do note it however, so if I have a long CBS to make, I know the estimated MV of it. It is typically 10fps or so slower than the average on the rest.

If you only had 3 rounds or so in your data group and one was a CBS, it would have an impact. Shouldn't have much of an impact with the 7 rounds you collected.

 

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Bumping this back up with some new data on this 22in PVA Barrel. Sitting at approximately 160 rounds total through the barrel, cleaned it a week before shooting this session:

Ammo​	Manufacturer​	# of Shots​	Avg FPS​	SD​	ES​
130gr HPBT	Prime (warm/hot barrel)	10	2782	18.2	48
130gr HPBT	Prime (warm/hot barrel)	5	2793	24.8	6
120gr	Hornaday ELD (hot barrel)	14	2816	11.7	35
120gr	Hornaday ELD (hot barrel)	5	2822	8	22
120gr Lapua Scenar	Berger (hot barrel)	6	2927	31	81
120gr Lapua Scenar	Berger (cold/warm barrel)	10	2914	15.5	45
140gr BTHP	Hornaday (American Gunner) (cold barrel)	10	2620	18.7	59
140gr BTHP	Hornaday (American Gunner) (cold barrel)	5	2651	9.7	24