another powder worthwhile?

F

fat but funky

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Hi Folks,

Can switching powder but keeping the same bullet change a load from mediocre to really good accuracy wise?

I was thinking about trying to develop another load for the 30-06. No, I don't need another one, I just want another one.

So far I have a nice accurate load with 180 gn sierra pro hunters (well under an inch) and a sorta ok load with 150 gn nosler accubonds (about an inch).

I have a pile of hornady 180 gn SST's and 150 gn interbonds, and would like to make some good loads out of them. I tried both with RL-17, and was disappointed with acccuracy. Both were often over the 1.5 inch mark (yeah, I know, ok for hunting, but it irritates me in an obsessive/compulsive kinda way).

Was thinking about trying some H4350 - but how much improvement might I expect from just changing powder? Or does it make more sense to just write off the hornady bullets in this gun?

Thanks

Fat
 
fat but funky said:
Hi Folks,

Can switching powder but keeping the same bullet change a load from mediocre to really good accuracy wise?

I was thinking about trying to develop another load for the 30-06. No, I don't need another one, I just want another one.

So far I have a nice accurate load with 180 gn sierra pro hunters (well under an inch) and a sorta ok load with 150 gn nosler accubonds (about an inch).

I have a pile of hornady 180 gn SST's and 150 gn interbonds, and would like to make some good loads out of them. I tried both with RL-17, and was disappointed with acccuracy. Both were often over the 1.5 inch mark (yeah, I know, ok for hunting, but it irritates me in an obsessive/compulsive kinda way).

Was thinking about trying some H4350 - but how much improvement might I expect from just changing powder? Or does it make more sense to just write off the hornady bullets in this gun?

Thanks

Fat
Click to expand...

Remember that most Hornady bullets have a secant ogive and are therefore very sensitive to seating depth.
Most Sierra and Nosler bullets have a tangent ogive and are fall less sensitive to seating depth.
Also, flat based bullets are more accurate at short/medium range than boat tailed bullets.
As for powders, H4895 is the most versatile powder for 30-06 while H4350 is the most versatile powder for 270 Win.

In short, you might get better result with H4895 powder but your main problem is probably related to seating depth.

Alex
 
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AlexF said:
Also, flat based bullets are more accurate at short/medium range than boat tailed bullets.
Click to expand...

Flat based bullets are easier to stabilize and get good groups at shorter ranges, but aren't more accurate.

A lot of people just assume that boat tail bullets are the best because they have less drag, but they don't realize that there's less bullet surface area exposed to the rifling.

One bullet that I find gets no love is the round nose flat based. The .312 174g Hornady RN bullet shoots like a dream out of Enfields and Mosins, and I'm guessing it would perform well on game as it hits around 2100-2300'ish @ 100y. These bullets I find are the easiest to get grouping well.
 
fat but funky said:
Hi Folks,

Can switching powder but keeping the same bullet change a load from mediocre to really good accuracy wise?

Fat
Click to expand...

Absolutely!!

Every gun is diff.
One gun may not be to powder sensative as long as velocity is close, just yesterday I tried a diff powder at my range. The only thing I changed was powder, same velocity but groups went from 3/8" to 1 1/4 average, strangely enough groups went from centre bullseye to 1" low & 1 1/2" to the left:cool:
 
IMR 4831 is awesome with 165 +180gr in the 30-06 usually clover leafs at 100 yards off the bench................Harold
 
Rocket Surgery said:
Flat based bullets are easier to stabilize and get good groups at shorter ranges, but aren't more accurate.
Click to expand...

One reason that flat based bullets can show an accuracy advantage in factory rifles over boattail bullets, is that flat-based bullets are much less sensitive to minor imperfections in the muzzle crown.

As to the original question, "Can switching powder but keeping the same bullet change a load from mediocre to really good accuracy wise?" it is quite unlikely that a powder change will make much if any difference (good or bad) to accuracy.
 
rnbra-shooter said:
As to the original question, "Can switching powder but keeping the same bullet change a load from mediocre to really good accuracy wise?" it is quite unlikely that a powder change will make much if any difference (good or bad) to accuracy.
Click to expand...

I disagree completely.
My observation is the thinner the barrel the more sensative a rifle is to any change in components.
You may not see a huge diff in an average hunting rifle but only because the accuracy may not be there to see it.
 
AlexF said:
Remember that most Hornady bullets have a secant ogive and are therefore very sensitive to seating depth.
Most Sierra and Nosler bullets have a tangent ogive and are fall less sensitive to seating depth.
Also, flat based bullets are more accurate at short/medium range than boat tailed bullets.
As for powders, H4895 is the "go to" powder for 30-06 while H4350 is the "go to" powder for 270 Win.

In short, you might get better result with H4895 powder but your main problem is probably related to seating depth.

Alex
Click to expand...

4895 might be the ticket for the lighter bullets but 4350 is best for the heavies for sure.

I also think h-4831 to be the go to powder for 270 win.
 
Pathfinder said:
4895 might be the ticket for the lighter bullets but 4350 is best for the heavies for sure.

I also think h-4831 to be the go to powder for 270 win.
Click to expand...

Okay, changed "go to" to "most versatile" to better reflect reality!
My diagnostic still is finding optimal seating depth with secant ogive bullets!

Alex
 
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