Sgt_Mike
Well-known member
Last week of May and first part of June is coming up soon....
Almost time for the annual pilgrimage to Montana in the pursuit of gophers and PD. Ed (my Army / Hunting buddy) and I are looking at the trip.
As of right now, I'm trying to work out a "new" load for the 1-12" Twist 26" Satern barreled AR (.223 Rem chambered, so yeah the short throat) that I setup for just such occasions. My normal load is 27.2grs of H335 pushing a 50gr Speer TnT bullet at mag length.
This year I'm exploring a different powder... H322 pushing the same pill (bullet). I did go out and "pressure test" some charges, looks like about 25.5grs of H322 is the upper end.
In the ladder test of pressure test I thought I seen about two nodes that might produce a effective load. One at 23.4 to 23.7grs which is a narrow band, the other is at the upper end at 24.9 to 25.5grs which seems to be worth exploring. Pet loads of that combo welcomed. The other new device for this setup, is the addition of a Otter Creek Polonium 5.56 can.
( why the change in powder?
a. H335 is working well in the 6mm Rem Ackley.
And most importantly b. I was given 2 lbs of H322, which was older but still sealed, so it needs to be used. Never hurts to have a alternate powder work up.
Not to mention the saving of 2ish grs each round yeah, more bullets per Lb.)
The walking rifle will be the Savage MkII (Heavy Barrel 16.5" with a OCL Titanium 22 Can) 22LR, with the usual diet of Standard Velocity. Just need to lay in 400-500 rounds.
Ed wound up with a new to him .222 Rem, which he, and I was on range yesterday, his bolt gun was turning in a respectable .75" 10 shot group at 100 yards. He wanted me to shoot his "new to him" gun, I flat out refused, stating it would lead to me hunting down a .222 Rem. We both laughed at that. When we got done at the range with my limited pressure loads, we stopped at my house. I pulled out the Savage Mk II, he asked you taking that? yep was my response. I pulled the can and placed it in his hands he was like "holy crap that is light, I'll have to take my Win 121, I can use your can". We then discussed "maybe" some stopping in Wyoming, although not sure of where.
Edited to add later:
so, went to the range did some more load work with the .223 AR, 25.5 gr H322 pushing a 50 gr Speer, offered the best group right a 1MOA. Velocity was 3350 Average. Should be able to tweak that in bullet seating depth for minute of gopher. If not back to H335 I go.
Quick and dirty DOPE card of that bullet (Speer 50gr TnT) doing 3350 FPS ( the usual ranch that we go to the terrain limits the shots to 400 yard)
Almost time for the annual pilgrimage to Montana in the pursuit of gophers and PD. Ed (my Army / Hunting buddy) and I are looking at the trip.
As of right now, I'm trying to work out a "new" load for the 1-12" Twist 26" Satern barreled AR (.223 Rem chambered, so yeah the short throat) that I setup for just such occasions. My normal load is 27.2grs of H335 pushing a 50gr Speer TnT bullet at mag length.
This year I'm exploring a different powder... H322 pushing the same pill (bullet). I did go out and "pressure test" some charges, looks like about 25.5grs of H322 is the upper end.
In the ladder test of pressure test I thought I seen about two nodes that might produce a effective load. One at 23.4 to 23.7grs which is a narrow band, the other is at the upper end at 24.9 to 25.5grs which seems to be worth exploring. Pet loads of that combo welcomed. The other new device for this setup, is the addition of a Otter Creek Polonium 5.56 can.
( why the change in powder?
a. H335 is working well in the 6mm Rem Ackley.
And most importantly b. I was given 2 lbs of H322, which was older but still sealed, so it needs to be used. Never hurts to have a alternate powder work up.
Not to mention the saving of 2ish grs each round yeah, more bullets per Lb.)
The walking rifle will be the Savage MkII (Heavy Barrel 16.5" with a OCL Titanium 22 Can) 22LR, with the usual diet of Standard Velocity. Just need to lay in 400-500 rounds.
Ed wound up with a new to him .222 Rem, which he, and I was on range yesterday, his bolt gun was turning in a respectable .75" 10 shot group at 100 yards. He wanted me to shoot his "new to him" gun, I flat out refused, stating it would lead to me hunting down a .222 Rem. We both laughed at that. When we got done at the range with my limited pressure loads, we stopped at my house. I pulled out the Savage Mk II, he asked you taking that? yep was my response. I pulled the can and placed it in his hands he was like "holy crap that is light, I'll have to take my Win 121, I can use your can". We then discussed "maybe" some stopping in Wyoming, although not sure of where.
Edited to add later:
so, went to the range did some more load work with the .223 AR, 25.5 gr H322 pushing a 50 gr Speer, offered the best group right a 1MOA. Velocity was 3350 Average. Should be able to tweak that in bullet seating depth for minute of gopher. If not back to H335 I go.
Quick and dirty DOPE card of that bullet (Speer 50gr TnT) doing 3350 FPS ( the usual ranch that we go to the terrain limits the shots to 400 yard)
| Range | Drop | Drop | Windage | Windage | Velocity | Mach | Energy | Time | Lead | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (yd) | (in) | (MOA) | (in) | (MOA) | (ft/s) | (none) | (ft•lbs) | (s) | (in) | (MOA) |
| 0 | -1.5 | *** | 0.0 | *** | 3366.4 | 3.015 | 1258.0 | 0.000 | 0.0 | *** |
| 100 | -0.0 | -0.0 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2900.4 | 2.598 | 933.8 | 0.096 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 200 | -2.7 | -1.3 | 5.4 | 2.6 | 2480.0 | 2.221 | 682.7 | 0.208 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 300 | -11.0 | -3.5 | 13.2 | 4.2 | 2096.9 | 1.878 | 488.1 | 0.340 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 400 | -27.4 | -6.5 | 25.5 | 6.1 | 1750.8 | 1.568 | 340.3 | 0.496 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
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