Shortmag Velocity Numbers

ryanb

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Well I finally ponied up for a chrony to measure the velocity of my handloads in my 7WSM and while I was at it I gave a try measuring some factory ammunition. Here are some numbers I got:

Federal 140 grain ballistic tip: 3260-3340fps (advertised 3310fps)
Winchester super-X 150 grain: 3200-3250fps (advertised 3200fps)

Just goes to show you that the claims made by ammunition manufacturers are NOT excessively exagerated...

How Federal manages to get 3300+ fps out of a 140 grain bullet without pressure signs is beyond me, as I'm only getting max 3150 with my handload 140 grain accubonds.
 
What kind of rifle and what barrel length Ryan?
Very impressive numbers nevertheless!
I have been able to duplicate the advertised velocities with factory fodder for the 270WSM. I can get 3200 out of a 140grain Accubond.... I can even open the bolt after.;)
 
I also have a 270 WSM, some guys still refuse to believe there is a performance gain on the 270 WSM over the 270. Its really the only Short Mag that has a noticable gain over the cartridge is competes with. Eg 300 win mag and 300 WSM. It takes the excellent qualities of the 270 and adds to it.
 
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Savage, 24" barrel. The ballistic tips even grouped within 3/4" at those high velocities, though they seem to like a clean barrel only...
 
Hey BigRedd, what powder are you using to pull that off? I've only just started Handloading- I was shooting my first set of handloads a couple of days ago, shooting 130 grn rem cor-locs over H4831 out of my Savage .270 WSM. One of the guys at the range was nice enough to let me shoot one of my max loads over his chrony - it came in at 3207 - right around where I though it should be based on the book. I went back out today and shot the rest of that powder - fit one group at 67 grains into .7 of an inch - so I think I found my practice load.

Now I'm going to play with some Reloader 19 and Barnes TSXs, and maybe Accubonds. But is RL 19 a good choice for 140 grainers, or should I go with RL22?
 
BBB said:
Now I'm going to play with some Reloader 19 and Barnes TSXs, and maybe Accubonds. But is RL 19 a good choice for 140 grainers, or should I go with RL22?

I've played around a bit with RL 19 with my 270 WSM with 130 gr TSXs and 140 gr AccuBonds, but I wasn't completely happy with the velocity with the 140s. I chrony'd the 130s at 3220 fps and the 140s at 3080 fps. The 130s shoot really good out of my rifle so that's what I've been using the last couple of seasons. I think RL 22 might be better for the 140s, but I haven't had a chance to load some up yet.

Magpro and Retumbo are usually good choices for the short mags.
 
BBB said:
Hey BigRedd, what powder are you using to pull that off?
I went over 3200 using compressed loads of Retumbo and Moly Coated 140Grain Accubonds, Tikka T-3, the bolt handle was a little stiff on opening so I backed off to 71.7 grains and I am just under 3200fps. No overt pressure signs with this load and superb accuracy, Moly lowers the pressure significantly don't try this with regular non coated bullets... it is over Max Load!
 
It's not impossible to duplicate WSM velocities, but you have to lean on the press pretty hard to seat the bullets. I did it with 168 gr TSX's and H4350 in the Browning 300 WSM I had last year, but it's not uncommon not to be abl;e to. The WSM cartridges are loaded to higher pressures than most others beacuse all the rifles are new.
 
what happens when your near max load with moly is shot with a round that some of the moly has wore off of from normal handling??
 
Although I've been able to easily get 3200 FPS with 140 gr Accubonds and TSX in my 270WSM, accuracy is not that great. Seem to keep good accuracy while maintaining decent velocity for hunting purposes at around 3100 FPS.

I've yet to try factory ammo in mt WSM.
 
Factory ammo for my 300WSM has always been slightly +/- claimed velocities.

I find that accuracy improves with velocity up high or right at, maximum levels, with just about all cartridges, in modern rifles.
 
Gatehouse said:
I find that accuracy improves with velocity up high or right at, maximum levels, with just about all cartridges, in modern rifles.

The 140 accubonds in the 7mm actually shoot best at considerably less than maximum loads with 4831 powder. Somewhere around 3025fps. I have had several 1/4" groups from this load. its just obsenely accurate...
 
I get great results with my Savage 11FL in 300WSM, the factory fodder I chronied when I got it was only 50fps off of published .
I yeild anywhere from 3120fps to 3150fps with handloads driving 165gr. Interbond's that's with either IMR or H4350, or a couple more grains of IMR4831.
And the accuracy is down right scary for a rifle that tips the scales at a hair under 8 lbs.
IMG_0666.jpg

That's at 100yds(7/8") at the top and at 350yds(3.5") on the bottom.
 
todbartell said:
what happens when your near max load with moly is shot with a round that some of the moly has wore off of from normal handling??
I generally shoot them off before the Moly gets worn off.... ;)
And my hunting/accuracy load is a Max load anyway.... I wuz just saying it could be done is all. Many of the premium factory loads that achieve these velocities are coated bullets as well.
 
And the accuracy is down right scary for a rifle that tips the scales at a hair under 8 lbs.

That's at 100yds(7/8") at the top and at 350yds(3.5") on the bottom.

That certainly is good accuracy for a lighter weight factory rifle,but I would stop short of calling it scary.:D
 
ryanb said:
The 140 accubonds in the 7mm actually shoot best at considerably less than maximum loads with 4831 powder. Somewhere around 3025fps. I have had several 1/4" groups from this load. its just obsenely accurate...

Here are the maximum loads and velocities form Hodgon Powder (maker of H4831) and IMR (maker of IMR 4831)

140 GR. SFT SP (Maximum Loads)
DIA. .277
COL: 2.800"

RETUMBO 71.0C 3165 61,300 PSI

H1000 70.0C 3137 63,500 PSI

H4831 62.5 3085 63,000 PSI

H4350 58.0 3087 63,100 PSI

H414 58.0 3068 62,600 PSI

H380 56.5 3005 62,700 PSI

140 GR. SFT SP IMR 7828 .277" 2.800" 61.0 2922 54,100 PSI 64.5 3081 61,900 PSI

140 GR. SFT SP IMR 4831 .277" 2.800" 57.0 2860 53,100 PSI 61.5 3059 62,600 PSI

140 GR. SFT SP IMR 4350 .277" 2.800" 56.0 2876 52,300 PSI 60.5 3081 62,200 PSI


At 3025 fps, you are barely off the maximum velocities of 3085 and 3059 according to these powder manufacturers, and the pressures for these loads are right up there.

You may be looking for velocites form anothe rmanual, that is using a longer barrel. This data uses a 24" barrel.
 
Gatehouse said:
Here are the maximum loads and velocities form Hodgon Powder (maker of H4831) and IMR (maker of IMR 4831)

140 GR. SFT SP (Maximum Loads)
DIA. .277
COL: 2.800"

RETUMBO 71.0C 3165 61,300 PSI

H1000 70.0C 3137 63,500 PSI

H4831 62.5 3085 63,000 PSI

H4350 58.0 3087 63,100 PSI

H414 58.0 3068 62,600 PSI

H380 56.5 3005 62,700 PSI

140 GR. SFT SP IMR 7828 .277" 2.800" 61.0 2922 54,100 PSI 64.5 3081 61,900 PSI

140 GR. SFT SP IMR 4831 .277" 2.800" 57.0 2860 53,100 PSI 61.5 3059 62,600 PSI

140 GR. SFT SP IMR 4350 .277" 2.800" 56.0 2876 52,300 PSI 60.5 3081 62,200 PSI


At 3025 fps, you are barely off the maximum velocities of 3085 and 3059 according to these powder manufacturers, and the pressures for these loads are right up there.

You may be looking for velocites form anothe rmanual, that is using a longer barrel. This data uses a 24" barrel.

Ahh but I'm shooting a 7mm, not a 270...max loads are up around 3200 in the manuals I have.
 
ryanb said:
Ahh but I'm shooting a 7mm, not a 270...max loads are up around 3200 in the manuals I have.

I thougth you were using a 270WSM for some reason:confused:

Wel, then you hqave the option of using an accurate load that is lower velocity than what your cartridge is capable of, which woudl n't be horrible)

Or

Changing up powders and/or other components to achieve the velocity/accuracy you want.

accuracy isn't everythign, niether is velocity...

any hunting rifle that wil give you 1" at 100 yards is probbaly good to go. It just depends what you want. How to achieve it depends on your handloading skills;)
 
With mid-weight for caliber bullets, RL19 has been the "go to" for the 2 WSM's I load for. (270 & 300)

The 270 aint' mine.
 
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