Getting somewhere with 32 gr Nosler BT's
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:43 pm
I was digging through my .204 Ruger components drawer and found some prepped brass primed with CCI 450's. I've switched to Rem 7 1/2 and didn't feel like decapping them so I loaded them with three different powders and 32 grain Nosler BT's. I have not had much success with these bullets so I thought the worst thing that could happen would be I'd get some trigger time while my daughter burned .22's in her pink Ruger. I tried BL-C(2), IMR 8208XBR, and Benchmark. I've tried about every powder that should work but have yet to find a combination that shot under an inch. There were less than 25 bullets left in the first box of 100 with at least one unopened box left. I had high hopes for the BL-C(2) since it shot really well with 32 gr SBK's. Granted I only used one load but it's the same that the Sierra's like, 28.9 grains. I loaded 5 rounds. Next up was two loads of IMR 8208XBR, 28.0 and 28.3 grains. I saw on here where another shooter was using that load and it was within the pressure range that my rifle has handled before. ** I KNOW THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. HODGDON'S STARTING LOAD IS 27.0 GRAINS ** I loaded 3 rounds each. Last was 4 rounds of 27.1 grains of Benchmark. I tried it on a whim since I have 2 1/2 pounds of it.
The target below speaks for itself. I think I have a good starting range with the 8208XBR. COAL, unscientifically measured to the tip with digital calipers, was 2.284". Rifle is my TC PH with the trigger adjusted as light as it will go, just under 2 lbs (measured with a digital Rapala fish scale
The squares are 1/2" Shot at 100 yds on a mostly calm 40 degree morning. Alexandra went through a brick of Winchesters between her 10/22 and the 22/45 Hunter. Nice daughter/father bonding time. The lower target is a few different 5 round loads of IMR 4895 and 40 VMax's on the same type of target but with the center diamond left blank and colored in with fluorescent highlighter. The group sizes are due to the shooter...
The target below speaks for itself. I think I have a good starting range with the 8208XBR. COAL, unscientifically measured to the tip with digital calipers, was 2.284". Rifle is my TC PH with the trigger adjusted as light as it will go, just under 2 lbs (measured with a digital Rapala fish scale
The squares are 1/2" Shot at 100 yds on a mostly calm 40 degree morning. Alexandra went through a brick of Winchesters between her 10/22 and the 22/45 Hunter. Nice daughter/father bonding time.
The lower target is a few different 5 round loads of IMR 4895 and 40 VMax's on the same type of target but with the center diamond left blank and colored in with fluorescent highlighter. The group sizes are due to the shooter...