@Sniper1*
Maybe I missed it but did you ever see pressure signs with the top load?
What mag are you using that has you capped @2.208 CBTO? It'd be cheaper to buy an Accurate mag then 1lb of new powder. This is assuming the Bergara action isn't the limiter? I have no experience with the Bergara's. If you cant go longer, try .020 shorter for a .100+ jump and see what happens. I've got a Steyr 6.5C with a CIP chamber that has 147's jumping a mile, but it shoots well.
It's a good move to use the 21st Century mandrel going forward. Should help with SD's
I'm not a fan of the Hornady sizing die's. Had 1 and sold it. They sized the base to small in my limited sample size of 1.
Below was my quick and dirty load work up recently done with 135 A-tip and RL16
My barrel is 25" PVA Rock Creek Button 8T (about 1100 on barrel)
Lapua sml primer brass. It gets annealed after each firing with a Mike's reloading bench flame annealer.
Redding type S FL with .289 bushing & expander removed. Shoulder bumped back .001 -.002
Dry Graphite lube. I run a 6mm VFD pellet saturated in the graphite through the neck instead of dipping the case.
21st Century .2625 mandrel
Fed 205 primer seated .003 below flush
Final load
RL16 - 44.2
135 A-tip loaded CBTO 2.205 = COAL 2.881. I like to always give COAL because ogive checkers can vary a lot depending on brand.
Jump to lands = .056
The starting jump & charges I picked after a lot of reading on here + modeling on Gordon's Reloading tool (Gordon's is free).
For this load I wasn't interested in finding a low node. My goal was 2900+ since this was for a match that went to 1900+y.
For me, having a defined goal and a time constraint keeps me from getting stuck in the quagmire of endless load development.
There was only enough time for 1 charge ladder followed by 1 jump ladder.
I shot 3 charges in PA at .050 jump 43.6, 43.9, & 44.2 and picked 44.2. Had the speed I was looking for with no pressure signs and shot a good 5 round group @100 with tight vertical.
I don't have pics of the first 2 charges just saved the one I picked 44.2
View attachment 8014970 View attachment 8014971
2 weeks later in MD same 44.2 charge, trying jumps CBTO 2.200 - 2.241
I got lucky on the first quick & dirty charge test. 2.200 & 2.205 CBTO shot the best @200y
I picked 2.205 as it seemed a little more in the middle of a forgiving zone. 2.886/2.210 shot a slightly better group &a 1 SD, but poi shifted and group opened @ 2.215
2.205/2.881 @200y with 44.2
View attachment 8014974View attachment 8014975
It should go without saying things don't always work out this well.
Proves you can have Rainbows & Unicorns without a 6GT..............................and then I screwed myself, just didn't know it yet.
This was all worked up under a pretty tight time crunch. The above 200y shot in the rain just to settle on load length for a match a few days latter.
I went home and loaded 150 of those in brass I already had prepped from a month or so prior.
Get to the match on Friday & head over to the 100y berm, attach magneto expecting 2914ish with low SD.
Nope WTF, now I've got 2965 - 2990 & SD's are shit. Group is also shit @ 1 -1/2" Well fuck me!
Looking for pressure signs as I put these in the case & a fucking light bulb goes off. Fucking dumb ass, that prepped brass had cci #41's in it.
There it was, a fucking inadvertent primer change screwed my load. I know the 41's are hot, but damn +50 - 70fps is surprising.
Luckily I had about 40 rounds left of 130 berger @2950 that I had dope for to 1000. POI difference was .3 higher @100 for the 135's
It was a PITA, but I shot the now shitty 135 load for everything under 800 & used the 130 Bergers for the long stuff. Had a mix stacked in the mag for a few stages requiring the poi adjustment mid stage.
Hey it was fun and lesson learned.
