Single base spherical powders like Winchester 748 or Accurate Arms 2520 will give me lots of velocity, but their downside is that they're temperature sensitive; the double base extruded powders are generally insensitive to temperature, though not as much of it fits in the case, lowering velocity. Fish or cut bait?
I've decided to stay with Hodgdon's Extreme lineup of powder, but I can't quite commit to a choice just yet. My options are H322, Benchmark, or H4895, all of which are made of awesome. Consulting with burn charts is about as accurate as talking to the dead, and despite there being a forum dedicated to the 6.5 Grendel, there's not much real data using any of these powders. Most folks are using IMR 8208 XBR like I am, but I came to the conclusion that though it's not temperature sensitive, it's sensitive to something, I'm guessing humidity.
There's no reason at all to not try a different powder with the new bullets, if only for the sake of science. I've already primed the once fired AA brass with (gasp!!) Federal Match primers, instead of the voodoo CCI Magnum primers that everybody and their brother uses. I've yet to see an adequate explanation for them, but that's what's recommended on every gun board. People sure can be fickle, or maybe I'm just a dumb-ass. We will soon see.
From the picture there, you can see the Nosler looks a touch shorter than the 123 grain Hornady AMAX and 123 grain Lapua Scenar, but that does come with its advantages: the super steep boattail and shorter length makes for more room in the case, which the .264 LBC is in need of. So that's the trade off -- a little more powder in exchange for a little less aerodynamics. So, fish or cut bait? The B.C. (ballistic coefficient) of the Custom Competition and AMAX is advertised at .510, while the Scenar comes in at .527, but those are for much higher velocities than the .264 LBC can give, making those numbers not as realistic as one would think.
Are you bored yet? If you haven't noticed, I'm the kind of guy who has ballistics charts just lying around. Just sitting there, all over the place. I'll find some coffee stained drop/drift table that I printed out 8 years ago for a caliber I no longer have, and after reading it over and over for a month, I realize that acquiring a firearm in that caliber will settle the problem that I've manufactured in my head. How much do I have in savings right now? Hmmmmm.
When I decide on a powder and start some load development, of course I'll take pictures and walk you through all the fun! Stay tuned!
3 comments:
Well, if you are trying to compare bullet to bullet or powder to powder, change only one variable at a time. So since you have new bullets, don't change the powder. Or am I not understanding what you are trying to achieve.
Actually, you're understanding quite well: I'm not sure what I'm trying to achieve. Logically, yes, I should only change one variable at a time, which is what's going to happen with the AMAX diagnosis. I'm getting one-hole four-shot groups with a flyer using the rounds we fired the other day, and I have to find out what's causing the flyers.
With the Noslers, I guess I'm looking for similar accuracy with better velocity? I don't know. With the Grendel crowd, everyone uses three powders: AA2520, TAC, or 8208 XBR. Kinda stagnant if you ask me. I like pushing things in a different direction by testing new things, and there's not any data points for H322 or Benchmark, and very few for H4895. Maybe I'll break some new ground.
Ive used vv n135 with the nosler cc.. i havent maxed the loads yet.. started with 25.3 vv n135 and got half inch 3 shot groups at 100 meters.. I quit developing that load when the xbr shot a 1 jagged hole 3 shot group.. that was 25.8 grains xbr.. all of that using wolf brass and rem 99 1/2 lrp..ive got some 123internet ncc loaded with 26.1 xbr ive yet to shoot.. I also used blc 2is with these loads but found it shot the sierra match kings better.. and the extruded powders n135 and xbr shot the nosler cc better.. the mk was longer than the ncc..
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