Williamtell
Member
In my opinion, you'll need to do a few more than just 2 loads to see if it will have benefits. Never mind. Just saw your previous ladder test
Ramshot Grand
- Thread starter quigley257
- Start date
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I wonder how it would do in a 257 Weatherby Mag?
Curious - perhaps the powder is too slow for the 175gr LRX in the 300WM. It may be better with the heavier bullets. At this point, it's just a WAG on my part.
tylerthorson95
Member
*Load Dev was completed at 100 yards*
Alright, I needed to finish the test before posting. I think this is a good powder that didn't quite work with the 175 LRX in my rifle. I will say, I haven't had any powder with the 175 LRX, in my factory Tikka 300 win mag, that has consistently produced 0.5 MOA groups, and I've tried 3 different powders (H4831SC, N565, and Grand). I find the best I can usually do is about 0.75 MOA (on a good day) to 1 MOA with the 175 LRX. I think I'm going to try the 190 LRX with this powder because I have a high affinity for the copper bullets. I haven't tried a different grain size in this rifle, I've only ever shot the 175 LRX in it, so hopefully changing my grain weight can positively impact my accuracy/precision.
I have attached two PDFs of my grouping and velocity data. If you look at the 74.5 grain, group and data, that is why I thought the results were very strange in my previous comment. I think what happened is that I seated the bullets too deep in that group of three, which resulted in overpressure and a significant jump in velocity. After that day, I ended up performing 5 shot groups on the 75.0 grain and 75.5 grain groups. I also moved the seating depth out by about 0.020" (still factory mag length) to prevent any possible overpressure from excessive seating depth. I think moving from a 3 shot group to a 5 shot group shows the importance of larger sample sizes, because you can see 3 shots form 75.5 grs put together a nice little hole, but there were two flyers.
You can see the SD and ES was pretty good with 75.0 grains and 75.5 grains. However, they did not shoot well, so I'm kinda stumped on that, too. I'm not sure what to make of the rest of this data.
Do I think the powder is good? Yeah, I think so and it meters wonderfully.
Do I think this combo worked well in my rifle? Not really.
I also put this and some H4831SC powder right next to each other and burned it. To my eye, it appeared to burn at nearly the exact same intensity for almost the exact same duration.
Hopefully this helps some of you. If any of you have any input on how you conduct load development, let me know. I can always improve on my methods/techniques. It is a learning game and I am still relatively new to this.
Alright, I needed to finish the test before posting. I think this is a good powder that didn't quite work with the 175 LRX in my rifle. I will say, I haven't had any powder with the 175 LRX, in my factory Tikka 300 win mag, that has consistently produced 0.5 MOA groups, and I've tried 3 different powders (H4831SC, N565, and Grand). I find the best I can usually do is about 0.75 MOA (on a good day) to 1 MOA with the 175 LRX. I think I'm going to try the 190 LRX with this powder because I have a high affinity for the copper bullets. I haven't tried a different grain size in this rifle, I've only ever shot the 175 LRX in it, so hopefully changing my grain weight can positively impact my accuracy/precision.
I have attached two PDFs of my grouping and velocity data. If you look at the 74.5 grain, group and data, that is why I thought the results were very strange in my previous comment. I think what happened is that I seated the bullets too deep in that group of three, which resulted in overpressure and a significant jump in velocity. After that day, I ended up performing 5 shot groups on the 75.0 grain and 75.5 grain groups. I also moved the seating depth out by about 0.020" (still factory mag length) to prevent any possible overpressure from excessive seating depth. I think moving from a 3 shot group to a 5 shot group shows the importance of larger sample sizes, because you can see 3 shots form 75.5 grs put together a nice little hole, but there were two flyers.
You can see the SD and ES was pretty good with 75.0 grains and 75.5 grains. However, they did not shoot well, so I'm kinda stumped on that, too. I'm not sure what to make of the rest of this data.
Do I think the powder is good? Yeah, I think so and it meters wonderfully.
Do I think this combo worked well in my rifle? Not really.
I also put this and some H4831SC powder right next to each other and burned it. To my eye, it appeared to burn at nearly the exact same intensity for almost the exact same duration.
Hopefully this helps some of you. If any of you have any input on how you conduct load development, let me know. I can always improve on my methods/techniques. It is a learning game and I am still relatively new to this.
Last edited:
Thanks for this - I appreciate your willingness to share.
tylerthorson95
Member
You're welcome. I'd love to know how it works out for you.
tylerthorson95
Member
Ultimate Reloader just put out a video on Grand, and it seems they're doing another soon.
Williamtell
Member
Loaded 5 each 300 PRC rounds with Grand (78 -80 gr in 0.5 gr increments), 203 gr Hammer HHT, once fired Lapua brass and Federal 215M primers. Brass was not filled to capacity but close to shoulder with 80 gr.
Case trim length 2.565
Shoulder bumped .002
Neck inner diameter .305
COL 3.667
0.033 from lands
Will post numbers and groups after range day.
Case trim length 2.565
Shoulder bumped .002
Neck inner diameter .305
COL 3.667
0.033 from lands
Will post numbers and groups after range day.
Williamtell
Member
Grains/Avg FPS/SD/Spread
78/3008.2/6.1/17
78.5/3047.4/9.1/22.7
79/3057.5/2.6/6.9
79.5/3093.8/5.9/16.7
80/3114.1/10.8/32.0
78/3008.2/6.1/17
78.5/3047.4/9.1/22.7
79/3057.5/2.6/6.9
79.5/3093.8/5.9/16.7
80/3114.1/10.8/32.0
tylerthorson95
Member
How'd they group? Any pressure signs?
Williamtell
Member
The 1st & 4th group was about 2 inches. The 2nd was 1.1", third was 0.82", 5th was 1.2". Faint ejector marks on 3rd group, 4th group slightly more pronounced ejector marks and primer a little flattened, 5th round more pronounced ejector marks and bolt marks, flattened primer. (My rifle has always had ejector marks with factory ammo since the first day I shot it. The 5th group was definite pressure signs. I don't plan to load 80 grains again.
As for the grouping, I believe I could've done better but was pressed for time. I'd also like to have my trigger adjusted down to 1.5lbs.
Thinking I'll work some more loads of the 79 grains and vary the crimp. Today's load had the standard Lee crimp, press contact the die then a half turn further. I'll go back to 1/4 turn, then 3/8.
I like Grand. 2.6 standard deviation and 6.9 spread is impressive in my book, and accuracy isn't bad either. I'll keep tinkering and post my results.
