QuietTexan
Well-Known Member
Love this round. Does everything from varmints to deer to 1500 yard steel for me.
My set up: Lapua brass, 7 twist, 30" barrel, 108 Bergers, Fed 215M primers. Remember to knock my speeds down since your barrel is likely shorter. Bergers held up fine at ALL speeds listed below, nothing came apart on me.
My first choice. I didn't have load density problems with H4831, but had significantly more of the SC on hand. To-may-toe/to-may-ter
My second choice.
Also have used VV N565 and RL26.
Fireforming info that I used:
Ramshot Magnum as initial fireforming load - virgin Lapua 243 Win brass, Berger 108s, false shoulder w/ NO bullet jam, 48.5gn. I used a 0.267" bushing after running an LE Wilson 25 cal mandrel though the necks.
2nd shot fireforming load with Berger 108s and H4831SC was 42.5gn. Half-neck sized only, no shoulder bump needed, bolt dropped easily still.
Found pressure at 45.0gn of H4831SC on the 3rd firing, Berger 108, 3172FPS.
Rocket launcher mode engaged at 49.9gn of VV N565, 3328FPS. please don't do this. Trashed the brass immediately and left every bad pressure sign you can think of a whole grain before this point. Best group with N565 was 47.5gn, 3182 FPS.
RL26 I got pressure at 47.5gn, 3294fps, 3rd firing. Never grouped well enough to try again. H4831SC put a charge ladder 3gn wide into a single hole, RL26 was all across the board, multiple inches wide at 100 yards.
Got a nice soft hunting load of 49.5gn H4831SC, Berger 87gn VLD, 3455 fps. Good enough to suck a skunks eyeballs out along with his lungs.
load according to Hornady.
