Dougfirtree
Well-known member
Lend me your ear. It's winter and time to focus our brainpower on ridiculous topics. About a year ago, I was talking to a guy who works for Barnes Bullets. I was saying how I'd experimented extensively with the 140 ttsx and the 145 LRX in my 7mm-08, but hadn't found a single accurate load. I also told him I wasn't interested in the 120s. He said that the 139 LRX bullets seem to really like being loaded in the ol' 7mm HT and that he'd send me a dozen for free (what a guy)! But, they never arrived....until today (literally, this was a year ago)!
So, I've got 12 bullets to play with, which means I can play around with one powder. The question is: which powder maximizes my chance of finding a load I'd want?
A little background: I did eventually find a decent load with the 140 grain Nosler E-tip. It's nothing special; it shoots right around 1" and leaves the barrel at just under 2700fps. This load uses H 4895, a powder that I have an irrationally strong love for. So, for me to switch to the Barnes, I think I'd need to find a load that was shooting solid sub-MOA groups and at a significantly faster velocity for it to offer a real advantage. The powders I have on hand currently:
H 4895
Varget
IMR 4350
H 380
Big Game
RL 17
The last two seem to be big velocity-getters, but I had rotten luck loading other bullets with each of them. I have a suspicion that my rifle might just not like fast loads, period. (It's a WInchester M-70FW with a 22" barrel and it is picky, but I've generally been able to get 3/4" groups with it using accubonds, or BT's (before you suggest a really simple solution, know that I'd like to be shooting lead-free at this point). The secret seems to be getting the bullet to right around 2700...
Ok, which powder would you choose to test these 12 bullets?
So, I've got 12 bullets to play with, which means I can play around with one powder. The question is: which powder maximizes my chance of finding a load I'd want?
A little background: I did eventually find a decent load with the 140 grain Nosler E-tip. It's nothing special; it shoots right around 1" and leaves the barrel at just under 2700fps. This load uses H 4895, a powder that I have an irrationally strong love for. So, for me to switch to the Barnes, I think I'd need to find a load that was shooting solid sub-MOA groups and at a significantly faster velocity for it to offer a real advantage. The powders I have on hand currently:
H 4895
Varget
IMR 4350
H 380
Big Game
RL 17
The last two seem to be big velocity-getters, but I had rotten luck loading other bullets with each of them. I have a suspicion that my rifle might just not like fast loads, period. (It's a WInchester M-70FW with a 22" barrel and it is picky, but I've generally been able to get 3/4" groups with it using accubonds, or BT's (before you suggest a really simple solution, know that I'd like to be shooting lead-free at this point). The secret seems to be getting the bullet to right around 2700...
Ok, which powder would you choose to test these 12 bullets?