SmallCaliberCentral

39 gr bullets in their .204? Not the "green" bullets, but standard TNT varmint 39 gr hollow points? Just picked up a box of bullets at Sportsman's Warehouse to try. The Speer b/c (.202) doesn't look to be that great compared to the Sierra 39 gr Blitzking (.270) that I'm shooting. But for the cost difference, I'll have to try them for accuracy, and maybe take a few to Montana. I'll try them in the Cooper and give a report.

I'll give an "early" report on some loads I tried today. I loaded three powder charges with the 39 gr TNT and shot them at 100 & 200 yds. Three shot groups, first cold and clean shot group went into .699 at 100. Next load was increased .3 gr and three shots into .456. Last load .3 more grs and avg was .673. Two hundred yard groups were .456, .953 and 1.476. The hotter the load, the worse it shot! I really doubt if they will shoot with 39 gr Blitzkings, but there needs to be more experimenting. Just don't have the time now!

I tried the 39 Speer(mollied) over 27.3grs of XBR-8208 in my Savage LRPV just changing the OAL. 2.315" and 2.325" shot sub half-inch groups, but anything longer just opened up the groups. Velocity was in the 3750 fps range. Nothing to write home about.

Tom