6mm ARC powder… Leverevolution?

[wilkup]

As is, current set up is 7lbs 4.5 oz. Will be adding a Ti suppressor soon, so another 7 oz.

View attachment 639324

I'm hoping for 5.5lbs scoped Plus whatever 5 rounds of 6mm ARC weigh. No bipod or suppressor for me on this one.

 

[wilkup]

Thanks! Here's the video I followed to modify the trigger. Much better trigger now.

That's a bit more involved than I was expecting! Glad you posted that video

 

[waspocrew]

That's a bit more involved than I was expecting! Glad you posted that video

I watched the video once and gave it a try - honestly wasn't too bad at all! And I don't consider myself very mechanically inclined haha.

 

[waspocrew]

I'm hoping for 5.5lbs scoped Plus whatever 5 rounds of 6mm ARC weigh. No bipod or suppressor for me on this one.

You'll definitely be lighter than me, especially with the thinner barrel profile. My bipod weighs 12 oz, so without, would be about 6.5 lbs. A lighter scope and chopping your 22" barrel another couple of inches would help too.

 

[wilkup]

You'll definitely be lighter than me, especially with the thinner barrel profile. My bipod weighs 12 oz, so without, would be about 6.5 lbs. A lighter scope and chopping your 22" barrel another couple of inches would help too.

I had a chat with my gunsmith and he thinks he can shave 8-10oz off by fluting the barrel for me. I'm also considering cutting the barrel down to 20 or 21" and having him add a recessed target crown. I've got no intention of adding a muzzle brake or suppressor to this one so I'm cutting the muzzle threads off either way.
I'm picking up quite a bit of weight with my 23oz scope splurge though - Trijicon Credio 2-10x36. I had to make this one sacrifice on weight to get peace of mind when it comes to repeatable dialing and the generally bulletproof nature of Trijicon products. Would've loved a NF NXS 2.5-10 (19oz) but that price point was just a bit out of my reach.
Mark with Apex just sent me some load data on powders to try with his 89gr Afterburner. The top performer in the velocity department was W748. I've got Starline Brass and CCIBR4 primers coming. Just need to go grab some powder from the reloading store in town and when my rifle arrives I'll be in business.

 

[jeremy.b]

Update on shooting today:

Howa Mini 20" heavy bbl, Stockys hunter stock, Diligent Defense S-Ti

Got on paper with rounds 1-3 (used some fmjs I had laying around and what I thought was a mild load of Varget)

5 rounds of 87gr Absolute Hammer
Alpha brass
CCI 450s
30 gr Leverevolution
2.325 COAL
2658 fps avg
~1 moa group, maybe a touch under.
Was getting a swipe on the extractor, but not the ejector. This also happened on the Varget loads.

Did pressure tests with 30.5 (2713fps) & 31.0 (2834fps) and had both ejector and extractor swipes.

Seems odd to get (seemingly) pronounced pressure signs already

Polished the edges of the extractor cut, they seemed not as clean as they should have been, possibly leading to the swipes. Still doesn't explain the ejector swipes though.

Lots of options for different powders to try, or different bullets.

 

[Sdvldog1371]

I had a chat with my gunsmith and he thinks he can shave 8-10oz off by fluting the barrel for me. I'm also considering cutting the barrel down to 20 or 21" and having him add a recessed target crown. I've got no intention of adding a muzzle brake or suppressor to this one so I'm cutting the muzzle threads off either way.
I'm picking up quite a bit of weight with my 23oz scope splurge though - Trijicon Credio 2-10x36. I had to make this one sacrifice on weight to get peace of mind when it comes to repeatable dialing and the generally bulletproof nature of Trijicon products. Would've loved a NF NXS 2.5-10 (19oz) but that price point was just a bit out of my reach.
Mark with Apex just sent me some load data on powders to try with his 89gr Afterburner. The top performer in the velocity department was W748. I've got Starline Brass and CCIBR4 primers coming. Just need to go grab some powder from the reloading store in town and when my rifle arrives I'll be in business.

Your gunsmith isn't worried about the bore getting all wonky? Factory barrels often are button rifled and not stress relieved. Sometimes when fluting them after the fact, the bore can open a bit in spots and go from decent to crap. I don't know how Howa does their barrels, but fluting is taking a chance.

 

[Sdvldog1371]

Update on shooting today:

Howa Mini 20" heavy bbl, Stockys hunter stock, Diligent Defense S-Ti

Got on paper with rounds 1-3 (used some fmjs I had laying around and what I thought was a mild load of Varget)

5 rounds of 87gr Absolute Hammer
Alpha brass
CCI 450s
30 gr Leverevolution
2.325 COAL
2658 fps avg
~1 moa group, maybe a touch under.
Was getting a swipe on the extractor, but not the ejector. This also happened on the Varget loads.

Did pressure tests with 30.5 (2713fps) & 31.0 (2834fps) and had both ejector and extractor swipes.

Seems odd to get (seemingly) pronounced pressure signs already

Polished the edges of the extractor cut, they seemed not as clean as they should have been, possibly leading to the swipes. Still doesn't explain the ejector swipes though.

Lots of options for different powders to try, or different bullets.

monolithics tend to be a bit more difficult to engrave than cup and core bullets. The extra force required results in a lot more friction and earlier pressure.

 

[jeremy.b]

Indeed, but these are absolute hammers, which taper to less than caliber diameter before the first pdr band, usually resulting in reduced engraving pressure. I have some 90gr TGK I'll probably try out as this adventure progresses.

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

Ej

Update on shooting today:

Howa Mini 20" heavy bbl, Stockys hunter stock, Diligent Defense S-Ti

Got on paper with rounds 1-3 (used some fmjs I had laying around and what I thought was a mild load of Varget)

5 rounds of 87gr Absolute Hammer
Alpha brass
CCI 450s
30 gr Leverevolution
2.325 COAL
2658 fps avg
~1 moa group, maybe a touch under.
Was getting a swipe on the extractor, but not the ejector. This also happened on the Varget loads.

Did pressure tests with 30.5 (2713fps) & 31.0 (2834fps) and had both ejector and extractor swipes.

Seems odd to get (seemingly) pronounced pressure signs already

Polished the edges of the extractor cut, they seemed not as clean as they should have been, possibly leading to the swipes. Still doesn't explain the ejector swipes though.

Lots of options for different powders to try, or different bullets.

Ejector hole have a burr? Mine did! Also on the ectractor slot, but slighter. Took me toi long to figure it out n fix it ad it had been handful of years since i seen that and i had forgotten.
Mine was doing it with starting loads but i didnt get true swipes till near the top of book (bolt action)loads.