.243 65grain Vmax not stabilizing
- Thread starter desjardo
- Start date
Use the powder maker's(Hodgdon) starting load and your issue will likely go away. Key holing is caused by undersized bullets, oversized barrels or too low velocity.
Hodgdon shows 40.0 as the starting load for a 65 grain bullet(just happens to be a V-Max). You do not need to reduce from there. Going too far under minimum can be as dangerous as going too far over max. Causes weird pressures.
Your OAL is to short too. Should be 2.600". You'll find your rifle likes heavier bullets better too. 85's and up. My .243, with the same twist, likes 90's and 105's with IMR4350.
Hornady's data is quite different than Hodgdon's. Doesn't mean their book is unsafe(also means desjardo's isn't either.)
Hodgdon shows 40.0 as the starting load for a 65 grain bullet(just happens to be a V-Max). You do not need to reduce from there. Going too far under minimum can be as dangerous as going too far over max. Causes weird pressures.
Your OAL is to short too. Should be 2.600". You'll find your rifle likes heavier bullets better too. 85's and up. My .243, with the same twist, likes 90's and 105's with IMR4350.
Hornady's data is quite different than Hodgdon's. Doesn't mean their book is unsafe(also means desjardo's isn't either.)
Ten bucks says the response is "huh, that's funny, it always shot sub half moa all day out to 2km for me, in ten mph wind no less" lol
Well talked to hornaday and reloaded with no crimp.
Started @ 37.5 and worked up to 41.2
Also adjusted my length to exatcly what manual said.
No tumbling and great results.
38.5 and 41.0 seem to be the loads it likes.
Both were putting 5 bullets inside of an inch @ 100yds.
The others shot well also.
Seems my crimp may have actually put indent in bullet causing it to tumble.
Started @ 37.5 and worked up to 41.2
Also adjusted my length to exatcly what manual said.
No tumbling and great results.
38.5 and 41.0 seem to be the loads it likes.
Both were putting 5 bullets inside of an inch @ 100yds.
The others shot well also.
Seems my crimp may have actually put indent in bullet causing it to tumble.
Too firm of a crimp may have slightly deformed the slugs and caused a loose fit in the bore and the tumbling. Just a possibility. Glad you got it sorted out.
My rem 700 vls in 243 likes max loads of varget and a 70 nosler ballistic tip.
It is also showing great promise with h4350 and 95 grain sst's
87 grain v-max and h4895 is great as well.
My rem 700 vls in 243 likes max loads of varget and a 70 nosler ballistic tip.
It is also showing great promise with h4350 and 95 grain sst's
87 grain v-max and h4895 is great as well.
