This Could Have Been Ugly

Squaregrouper · Oct 16, 2019

I'm going to Peacemaker with ToolAA again on Sunday to shoot past 1000yds. I had worked up a bunch of 6.5 Grendel loads and still had a few tweakings to do. From my hand written notes...

100gr MM- still need increase charge/no pressure signs and velocity could be quite higher.
8208XBR- 29.6gr, 2.220" (~2640fps)
AR Comp- 28.5gr, 2.220 (~2600fps)

Try higher ladder:
8208- 29.8, 30.0, 30.2
AR Comp- 29.8, 30.0, 30.2

I loaded these new charges last night and (thankfully) caught my mistake an hour ago.

ToolAA · Oct 16, 2019

squaregrouper said:
I'm going to Peacemaker with ToolAA again on Sunday to shoot past 1000yds. I had worked up a bunch of 6.5 Grendel loads and still had a few tweakings to do. From my hand written notes...

100gr MM- still need increase charge/no pressure signs and velocity could be quite higher.
8208XBR- 29.6gr, 2.220" (~2640fps)
AR Comp- 28.5gr, 2.220 (~2600fps)

Try higher ladder:
8208- 29.8, 30.0, 30.2
AR Comp- 29.8, 30.0, 30.2

I loaded these new charges last night and (thankfully) caught my mistake an hour ago.

Dude! Don’t blow us up.....

Squaregrouper · Oct 16, 2019

ToolAA said:
Dude! Don’t blow us up.....

Warming up the bullet puller right now.
FWIW- I would have made the "discovery" at AGC tomorrow after work. I plan on loading up 200rds of the winning load on Friday.

Pinecone · Oct 17, 2019

Why are you going up 1.5% on the 8208 load?

1.5% will take your accurate load and put is square in the inaccurate category.

Squaregrouper · Oct 17, 2019

Pinecone said:
Why are you going up 1.5% on the 8208 load?

1.5% will take your accurate load and put is square in the inaccurate category.

Please elaborate.
I was taught to work a charge in 0.2gr increments until I find an accuracy node with velocity for the application. Then fine tune that by 0.1gr and OAL.
What is unique about 8208?

Pinecone · Oct 17, 2019

Optimum Charge Weight.

OCW Here - http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

Dan found that loads are cyclical, based on 3% charge weight increments. So if you have an accurate load, increasing or decreasing the charge weight by 3% will result in an accurate load. A change of 1.5% on an accurate load, will result in an inaccurate load.

For pressure purposes, the charge weight increments should be 0.7 - 1.0%. That way, if one increment is not showing pressure signs, the next one will not be dangerous. STOP at the first pressure signs.

inkd · Oct 17, 2019

squaregrouper said:
Please elaborate.
I was taught to work a charge in 0.2gr increments until I find an accuracy node with velocity for the application. Then fine tune that by 0.1gr and OAL.
What is unique about 8208?

C'mon man. It's always 3% here

Squaregrouper · Oct 17, 2019

squaregrouper said:
I'm going to Peacemaker with ToolAA again on Sunday to shoot past 1000yds. I had worked up a bunch of 6.5 Grendel loads and still had a few tweakings to do. From my hand written notes...

100gr MM- still need increase charge/no pressure signs and velocity could be quite higher.
8208XBR- 29.6gr, 2.220" (~2640fps)
AR Comp- 28.5gr, 2.220 (~2600fps)

Try higher ladder:
8208- 29.8, 30.0, 30.2
AR Comp- 29.8, 30.0, 30.2

I loaded these new charges last night and (thankfully) caught my mistake an hour ago.

Pinecone said:
Optimum Charge Weight.

OCW Here - http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

Dan found that loads are cyclical, based on 3% charge weight increments. So if you have an accurate load, increasing or decreasing the charge weight by 3% will result in an accurate load. A change of 1.5% on an accurate load, will result in an inaccurate load.

For pressure purposes, the charge weight increments should be 0.7 - 1.0%. That way, if one increment is not showing pressure signs, the next one will not be dangerous. STOP at the first pressure signs.

I am adding a 30.4gr charge for the 8208XBR. This will be an ~3% increase over the 29.6gr good load.
I'm still going to fire the lower charges first, as I'm very apprehensive jumping ~0.9gr above max "published" load for the projectile. (It is a Midsouth 100gr Match Monster with no data. I am basing the charge on published data for other 100gr BTHP rounds.)

Pinecone · Oct 18, 2019

ABSOLUTELY work the load up in smaller increments. As I said, 0.7 - 1.0% increments.

So you might not be able to get to the next highest accuracy node.

Just remember, if you do make it up to the next higher accuracy node, those rounds are only safe in THAT rifle, until you work up the load for pressure reasons in the other rifle.

erwos · Oct 18, 2019

Unlikely that it would have actually blown up your gun, but definitely not recommended to roll over max like that. Very curious how well you find the 100gr MMs to perform; I have a growing pile of 6.5 Grendel brass I will eventually be reloading with something.

Squaregrouper · Oct 18, 2019

erwos said:
Unlikely that it would have actually blown up your gun, but definitely not recommended to roll over max like that. Very curious how well you find the 100gr MMs to perform; I have a growing pile of 6.5 Grendel brass I will eventually be reloading with something.

I'm getting a 1/2" group at 100yds. On Sunday, I will be taking them out to 800+ yards. I will let you know the outcome.
The 100gr shoot about 2" higher than my 4 other tested projectiles in 120gr/123gr, so interchanging them isn't in my plans. If I can get 2700fps and remain sub MOA at 500yds, the 100gr MM will be my official Grendel load. Otherwise, the 123gr ELD-M will be my likely load, as I get a ragged hole @ 100yds. (200yds is my norm, Peacemaker is a once a year event for me)

There are 20rd sample packs in 100gr and 123gr with your name on them for when we meet up.

Squaregrouper · Oct 18, 2019

squaregrouper said:
I'm going to Peacemaker with ToolAA again on Sunday to shoot past 1000yds. I had worked up a bunch of 6.5 Grendel loads and still had a few tweakings to do. From my hand written notes...

100gr MM- still need increase charge/no pressure signs and velocity could be quite higher.
8208XBR- 29.6gr, 2.220" (~2640fps)
AR Comp- 28.5gr, 2.220 (~2600fps)

Try higher ladder:
8208- 29.8, 30.0, 30.2
AR Comp- 29.8, 30.0, 30.2

I loaded these new charges last night and (thankfully) caught my mistake an hour ago.

squaregrouper said:
I am adding a 30.4gr charge for the 8208XBR. This will be an ~3% increase over the 29.6gr good load.
I'm still going to fire the lower charges first, as I'm very apprehensive jumping ~0.9gr above max "published" load for the projectile. (It is a Midsouth 100gr Match Monster with no data. I am basing the charge on published data for other 100gr BTHP rounds.)

I just got back from AGC Barnes range. In my 20" Grendel, I found the best distance load to be:
100gr Match Monsters, CCI 450, Hornady brass, 30.2gr 8208XBR, 2.220" OAL
I'm getting MOA groups (horizontal issues- windy today) and ~2720fps. I'm going to load a bunch of these today and zero the rifle @ 200yds first thing tomorrow morning.
FWIW- Adding 0.6gr to the AR Comp loads only gave me another ~40fps. CFE223 is fast, but filthy- I gave it to Daemon Assassin. 8208XBR is the clear winning powder for my 6.5 Grendel.

This Could Have Been Ugly

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