Range Report Heavy 6.5 cm report

[michiman]

I was able to get out this past weekend and work on some more load development.

Rifle: Sako TRG 22 6.5 cm. 26” barrel
Brass: virgin lapua brass
Bullets: Hornady A-tip 153 gr and hornady Eld-m 147 gr
Powder H4350
Primers: cci br2

I was shooting at 200 yards. Conditions weren’t ideal It was very sunny with a lot of mirage.

I started with my eld-m with varying seating depths. Charge was 42.7 gr of h4350 Group size was just over 0.5 moa. ES was 27, SD was 8.8. Average velocity was 2779

Next I tested my A-tips. Seating depth was the same for all but varying charge weights ranging from 42.2-42.8.

At 42.4 my group size was about 0.25 moa, ES was 6, and SD was 2.5. Average velocity 2734.

At 42.6 my group size was a little over 0.3 moa. Velocity was at 2749, ES was 11, SD 5.2.

At 42.8 group size was 0.4 moa, velocity 2764, ES 15, sd 6.3.

I can add more details about seating depths if anyone is interested.

I think I will be sticking with the a tips given the better numbers and group sizes.

Which charge weight would you favor? All of the a tip charges seemed to perform well. Should I continue to test with more shots. I only shot 5 at each charge weight. Advice is appreciated.

 

[NamibHunter]

Your results with the A-tip projectiles are superb sir! Loaded a box this weekend, and hoping to see similar results.

If you are using a heavy contour match barrel, group size might be good enough (<0.5”) for a fairly wide range of powder charges. [Group size will likely still be somewhat sensitive to bullet jump, might be worth optimizing if you can find a wide node that buys you some insurance against ambient temp and hot barrel temperature (cooking the round).]

i would recommend that you pick your dominant distance, and test what powder range gives you the best positive compensation (PC). Goal is to achieve the smallest possible vertical spread at distance. [If you shoot a very wide range of distances, PC will not help you that much, unless you develop multiple loads for the various distances... and nobody wants that much complexity in their lives!]

BTW: Did a quick calc to check total cost to hand load the more expensive A-tip bullets. My Lapua brass lasts 25+ rounds so under 5 cents per reload. So even at 75 cents per Atip bullet, i can load for just under $1.00 per round, instead of $0.75 per round loading Berger Hybrids. Add 26 cents of barrel replacement costs and you have tp compare $1.26 vs $0.96 per shot fired. If hit percentage goes up by 15% at 1000 yards (due to better BC consistency and less wind drift), i would be happy to pay the 20% premium. Add in fuel and depreciation on your truck to drive to a shooting range 30 miles away, and the cost of premium bullets almost becomes a non-issue.

 

[NamibHunter]

Just a minor comment:

If PC is not going to help you (shooting at medium and long distances), then decide how much you care about barrel life and brass life. Barrels and brass are consumables, but there is still a major cost component there. If you don’t care if the barrel lasts maybe 250 rounds longer (10%), and if the brass will survive for 25 rounds or only 5 rounds, then go for the highest speed that will not give you overpressure on hot days.

If barrel life and replacement cost is a factor, go for a lower speed (a wide node 50-100 fps lower is still ok).

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

So I have been shooting the 153 Atips for well over a year now. You cant go wrong with h4350. BUT if you end up looking for some more speed RL16 will get you to 2830 no problem which has a nice node. and well rl26 will get you to 2930 without pressure issues.
What was your COAL out of curiosity?

 

[michiman]

So I have been shooting the 153 Atips for well over a year now. You cant go wrong with h4350. BUT if you end up looking for some more speed RL16 will get you to 2830 no problem which has a nice node. and well rl26 will get you to 2930 without pressure issues.
What was your COAL out of curiosity?

I will get you the COAL in the morning. I am able to push it to 2775 without pressure signs with h4350, I haven’t tried to go past that. But 2930 sounds fantastic. Unfortunately I just purchased an 8lb jug ?. I may try some of the powders you mentioned though.

 

[NamibHunter]

So I have been shooting the 153 Atips for well over a year now. You cant go wrong with h4350. BUT if you end up looking for some more speed RL16 will get you to 2830 no problem which has a nice node. and well rl26 will get you to 2930 without pressure issues.
What was your COAL out of curiosity?

Barrel is old, 3150 rounds down the tube, and the lands have been eroded by at least 0.2”. Maybe more. So it was intentionally loaded very long to get within 20 thou of the lands, COAL around 2.935”. Picked this long heavy bullet to get close to the lands without the bullet falling out of the brass. Single feed only, but they shot several 1.5” groups at 450 yards a few weekends ago. I was very impressed. Got an SD of 7 fps.

Aside: It is an old Savage factory barrel worth $1 (scrap metal value), and was brought back to life after a deep clean: Found a carbon ring, and a significant buildup of hard burnt-on carbon. Also did the Tubb Final Finish treatment. Discovering the carbon ring was a nice side benefit of getting a Teslong bore scope. ES was around 100 fps prior to the rescue effort.

I realize the barrel might not last much longer, but it was a fun project to try this.

 

[Longshot85]

Sounds like I need to try some 153 A-tips and IMR 4451 as I am already at 2856 with the 147's and a 26 in barrel and 9 inch form1 can with slight signs of pressure on 95F days