300 Norma Improved. Load testing, info, and builds

[DJ Fergus]

I know that at one point or the other, 230 & 215 Berger's , 225 eld, stated minimum twist of 10 but my thoughts are 9 twist would be optimum for those at my elevation, 700ft. Ive run lots of numbers through jbm stability calculator for my rifles & bullets I shoot or might want to shoot. For my rifles, if I can stay with in a stability factor of 1.7-1.8 and not get much over a factor of 2, those are my rifles that are the least finicky. I'm not saying other combinations I have won't shoot well but those just happen to be the most fault tolerant for me. Possibly just coincidence but I don't think so. I have nothing to base this on other than my observations, some one else may have totally different results.

 

[Quicksilver338]

Ryan, you may have just stumbled upon the answer I've been searching for. I'm starting load development in a 300nmi you built me and have gotten some odd results so far. 215 berger, cci 250 and N570. I've done 3 tests from 91.6-93.4 in .2gr increments seated .030" off and all have proven different in velocities. I believe my first issues were due to letting the powder sit out too long in the dispenser. The most recent test I did today had higher velocities than the previous 2 tests, and the powder was dumped directly from the jug and loaded. Far left was today, otherwise the tests worked left to right. Velocities measured with magnetospeed, all brass is once fired (formed to chamber).

Only other thought is maybe the barrel decided to settle into its stride? 140 rounds down it now.

 

[rpierce]

Ryan, you may have just stumbled upon the answer I've been searching for. I'm starting load development in a 300nmi you built me and have gotten some odd results so far. 215 berger, cci 250 and N570. I've done 3 tests from 91.6-93.4 in .2gr increments seated .030" off and all have proven different in velocities. I believe my first issues were due to letting the powder sit out too long in the dispenser. The most recent test I did today had higher velocities than the previous 2 tests, and the powder was dumped directly from the jug and loaded. Far left was today, otherwise the tests worked left to right. Velocities measured with magnetospeed, all brass is once fired (formed to chamber).

Only other thought is maybe the barrel decided to settle into its stride? 140 rounds down it now.View attachment 156146

The barrel probably sped up. Another possibility is a carbon buildup. I highly suggest customers get a lyman bore scope, $220 roughly. Itll let you see if theres any carbon buildups left over after you clean the barrel. Carbon buildups will mess with accuracy and velocity big time. I try and clean my barrel every 30 rounds or so with Boretech C4 carbon remover. Ill let it set for an hour or so. The hour will let the carbon breakdown and easily be removed. If any is left I will give the barrel a couple strokes with Thoroughclean from Bullet central. Just make sure you flush all the thoroughclean out afterwards. N570 will leave carbon deposits further down the barrel.

 

[Mike 338]

Wow... that's some nice shoot'in.

 

[CA48]

Wow. That's a lot of powder to bring it back up from drying out. Ive been thinking about just opening up all my cans and letting them air out for a week. Then they should be good to go and I won't have to worry about it changing.
The norma improved is a awesome case. Especially now that lapua is making the brass. I have a piece with 28 warm firings on it and the primer pocket is still tight.

I thought it was a little excessive myself even with the larger case capacity. But it's the only thing I could come up with. That powder has been stored in the garage for 7 years,back when I originally developed that load. One of my good friends that does load development for customer rifles had told me a while back he stopped leaving powder out in his Satorious because he to was seeing a slight velocity drop over the LabR. I would think the velocity would drop as its dried out but that's just speculation.

Glad to hear the 300 Norma brass is lasting! I wonder if the case web thickness is the same as their 338 Lapua brass and have you found the need to turn necks?

 

[rpierce]

I thought it was a little excessive myself even with the larger case capacity. But it's the only thing I could come up with. That powder has been stored in the garage for 7 years,back when I originally developed that load. One of my good friends that does load development for customer rifles had told me a while back he stopped leaving powder out in his Satorious because he to was seeing a slight velocity drop over the LabR. I would think the velocity would drop as its dried out but that's just speculation.

Glad to hear the 300 Norma brass is lasting! I wonder if the case web thickness is the same as their 338 Lapua brass and have you found the need to turn necks?

I haven't compared the web thickness. I know I had my chargemaster drift 3 gr over a warm load and for some stupid reason I didn't verify on the sartorious. Had to hit the bolt to open it. Primer pocket was still tight. I couldn't believe it. I checked the next round to verify it was a overcharge. The necks are pretty much a waste of time to neck turn. The ones ive measured have been like a half thou or less. And I run a mandrel from 21st century shooting supply through it after a bushing. Therefore I don't need to neck turn.

 

[DJ Fergus]

I shot the 208 eld's again this morning, .020 from the lands in my 300 NM. Non-improve. Sill shooting much better than 230otm, 225 eld or the 215. Those didn't shoot bad. I could stay 1/2 moa or less with those out to 300yds. The 208s will hold 1/4 moa and less out to 300, some 300yds groups were within 1/2 inch of each other with the 208s. Ive run them up close to 3100 and as low as 3040fps. I really wanted to run 215s, 225s or 230s. I feel like whatever I'm giving up in wind drift with the 208s should make up the difference in their grouping. I'm just skeptical about what their terminal performance on an elk sized animal would be like @ 3040 - 3100 fps?

 

[rpierce]

Mess with seating depth on the 215 bergers. .003 change can make a huge difference.

 

[rpierce]

Here's a 300 Norma Improved I shipped out to Aaron Cothren. It has the following:

Kelbly Atlas Timed to a Triggertech Special
Manners EH1 scorched earth camo w Elite Cheek Piece
Proof Research Carbon Sendero Contour
Titanium Self Timing 5 Port "Muscle" Brake
APA bottom metal and 3 round accurate mag
ZCO 420 bedded into a set of Spuhr mounts

Rifles are instock and ready to ship.

 

[rpierce]

Heres a 300 Norma Improved I just built for one of the greatest shooters on the planet, Derek Rodgers, and his father Stanley. I was extremely excited when they asked me to build it for them. The rifle has the following:

Kelbly Atlas action timed to a Bix'n Andy Tacsport trigger
McMillan Stock
Proof Research Carbon Sendero Contour
Titanium Self Timing 5 Port "Muscle" Brake
APA bottom metal and 3 round mag
Nightforce NX8 4-32 bedded into NF Rings

Rifles are on the shelf.

 

[rpierce]

Heres a 300 Norma Improved I shipped out to Jared Rastetter. It has the following:

Kelbly Atlas Timed to a Triggertech Special
Manners EH1
Proof Research Sendero contour
Titanium Self Timing 5 Port "Muscle" brake
Hawkins BDL bottom metal w Wyatts CFE-12 box
Swarovski Z5 bedded into a set of Nightforce Rings

Rifles are on the shelf.

 

[rpierce]

Heres a 300 Norma Improved I just shipped out to Bob Nichols. It has the following:

Kelbly Atlas timed to a Triggertech Diamond
Manners eh1 painted by Custom Gun Coatings
Proof Research sendero contour
Self Timing 5 Port "Muscle" Brake
Hawkins BDL Bottom metal
Wyatts CFE 12 box
Nightforce ATACR bedded into a set of Hawkins 6 screw rings

Rifles are on the shelf.

 

[rpierce]

Heres a 300 Norma Improved I shipped out to Erwin Clark. It has the following:

Kelbly Atlas timed to a Bixn Andy Tacsport
XLR Element 3.0 magnesium folding chassis
Proof Research sendero contour
Titanium Self Timing 5 Port "Muscle" brake
3 round Accurate Mag
Nightforce NXS 5.5-22 bedded into a set of NF Rings
Flatline Ops Level

300 Norma Improved and 300 PRC Rifles are instock ready to ship.

 

[rpierce]

Heres a 300 Norma Improved that shipped out to Alan Colsden. It has the following:

Kelbly Atlas timed to a Bix'n Andy Tacsport
XLR Element 3.0 folding magnesium chassis
Proof Research carbon sendero contour
Titanium Self Timing 5 Port "Muscle" brake
March 2.5-25x52 scope
ARC rings
3 round Accurate Mag
Modular Evolution Bipod

300 Norma Improved and 300 PRC Rifles are on the shelf ready to ship.