I bought a 1:12 twist barrel for my TL3 and loaded a 53 gr V-Max with the starting charge of 27gr of CFE223. I am also using my Garmin C1Pro for the first time. My results after 15 rounds are MIN Vel. 3265.4, AVG 3306.9, MAX 3353.9. The max spread is 88.5 fps does this sound normal or is there too much spread? I am relatively new to this experience and would appreciate any feedback.
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Velocity of Loads
- Thread starter IndianCent
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I load them all the same, what is the likely reason for the higher diviation.
I also shot some Hornady 55 gr factory loads I had for a long time and they got a diviation of 49.6 fps (10 shots) same session.
Is it new brass? Your spreads will be higher with new brass usually, so it should come down if it's new brass. But you should definitely expect lower for your handloads.
Monitor your reloads with new or once fired brass and moving forward you can figure out the exact powder charges to use if using new or old brass to get consistent velocity and results
Nooooo. You don’t look at 100 yard paper with that. You will end up with issues at distance
Is your brass prep squared away? If so, you’ll see sd/es tighten up on fired brass vs new brass with a known load, speeds will change also. I wouldn’t put much stock in any numbers right now. Reload that same brass and see what you get.
Sounds like you’re new to this, not a bad thing, we’ve all been new at some point. Do some reading over in the reloading section on load development. Lots of good info over there. Lots to get lost in the weeds, also, lots of voodoo some subscribe to, some don’t. If you change something, only change one thing at a time, shoot, observe/record any changes, proceed from there. Keep at it, it’ll come together.
Edited to add: Don’t get overwhelmed in the gear race. Yes, better equipment and components can make things easier. That said, lots of matches have been won and animals killed with basic equipment but solid reloading fundamental skills. Again, I encourage experimentation and have fun.
Sounds like you’re new to this, not a bad thing, we’ve all been new at some point. Do some reading over in the reloading section on load development. Lots of good info over there. Lots to get lost in the weeds, also, lots of voodoo some subscribe to, some don’t. If you change something, only change one thing at a time, shoot, observe/record any changes, proceed from there. Keep at it, it’ll come together.
Edited to add: Don’t get overwhelmed in the gear race. Yes, better equipment and components can make things easier. That said, lots of matches have been won and animals killed with basic equipment but solid reloading fundamental skills. Again, I encourage experimentation and have fun.
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How big an issue, and at what distance?
1,000 yards, certainly, but the OP didn’t tell us what his goals were.
P
Thanks, I am somewhat new in my journey to quarter inch groups. I started last year with a 1:9 twist and 69 grain TMK's (see picture). All my shooting is at 100 yards at this point. I am now using the same setup with a 1:12 twist barrel for lighter bullets and added the Garmin C1Pro to monitor the consistancy of my loads.
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Im pretty sure that 53gr vmax requires faster than 12 tw, it is looong bullet and not really far bc-wise from the 69smk.
Maybe another thing I need to learn.
I thought twist rate is determined by bullet weight?
Yes and no, depends on bullet construction. An all copper bullet is lighter than a lead/copper bullet. Equal weights of those yield a longer all copper bullet. I'm not sure what the core is in that 53 vmax, or if it's got a larger void behind the tip, but it is significantly longer than a 50 or 55gr vmax. Pretty sure it has a min tw rate on the box.
They might be fine in a 12 if you drive them hard enough. Just looking around on the web, guys said it would not stabilize in a 14tw, at all. I always figured since length is close to 69smk, actually a horn 68hpbt is real close, and both of those recommend 9tw or faster. I always erred on the safe side and figured 9-10tw would be as slow as I'd run them in.
Also, if you are running new brass, are you chamfering & deburring as well as running a mandrel through it?
Thank you, I will use this tool for the 70-80 grain VLD's in my 1:7 twist VLD barrel that I haven't even unpacked yet. I am still looking for a a calculator that addresses -60 grain bullets, even the Berger calculator starts only at 70 grain bullets.
Sometimes new brass gets dinged in its package from factory and some necks will have a very obvious dent. Others won't. This leaves your necks having inconsistency from one piece of brass to another. Even if they don't have any dings or dents, running a mandrel will uniform your necks and help Even them out. This is what many refer to as setting "neck tension" and pretty crucial to virgin brass in my opinion.
No! Think of a bushing as a huge donut. Your brass necks go into said donut. The neck will fit very tight in the donut hole so the donut is essentially pushing on or squeezing the the neck in. I would not do this on new brass. This will serve you more on fired brass.
For the mandrel, think of it as a large pin or a cylinder that slides into and out of your brass neck. This mandrel will be be larger than the inside neck diameter so it's gonna open it out and push out any dents or inconsistencies. However, it is not so large that it will stretch your brass neck so much that a bullet will fall freely into the case without the neck being able to hold the bullet. The mandrel will open it enough to size the neck uniformly and still hold a bullet with more consistent tension across all your brass pieces.
Inside neck mandrel and powder charge.
When I started using an auto-trickler v4 I tossed some charges with the old Hornady onto the fx120 out of curiosity.
No wonder my SD and ES got cut in half or less changing powder throwers. The Hornady was at best within .5grn, but was off by up to 1 full grn with a few different powders.
When I started using an auto-trickler v4 I tossed some charges with the old Hornady onto the fx120 out of curiosity.
No wonder my SD and ES got cut in half or less changing powder throwers. The Hornady was at best within .5grn, but was off by up to 1 full grn with a few different powders.
