WampusCat Report post Posted June 24, 2016 Any plans to try a different bullet? I have read nothing but guys having trouble find a good load for the ABLRs. All flavors of AMAX and Berger VLD Hybrids seem to shoot with a broad range of recipes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cell4soul Report post Posted June 24, 2016 Any plans to try a different bullet? I have read nothing but guys having trouble find a good load for the ABLRs. All flavors of AMAX and Berger VLD Hybrids seem to shoot with a broad range of recipes. I've already purchased 300 of these bullets, so I am going to see if I can't find a consistently accurate load. I was really hoping for a bullet around 130 grains with a fairly high BC. My best five shot group measured around .67" center hole to center hole, so I am hopeful that seating depths and better shooting on my part will shrink that group. I haven't done any work to the gun but I do have a Bell and Carlson Medalist stock I will be putting on the rifle and have it bedded. My goal is consistent 1/2" groups. The good news is, I enjoy both reloading and shooting, so if I can't reach my goal of .5 MOA, then I get to start all over again with a new bullet. Thanks for the feedback. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WampusCat Report post Posted June 24, 2016 .67" isn't terrible at all and not far from your goal of 1/2" at all. Let us know what you end up squeezing out of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roninflag Report post Posted June 24, 2016 what rifle? scope?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cell4soul Report post Posted June 25, 2016 The gun is a stock Savage Model 10 Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor and topped with a Leuopold VX-6 3x18-44 with fire dot reticle. It will do its' job if I do on deer and antelope this year. I drew 3 deer tags and 1 antelope tag in Wyoming. Still waiting for my draw results in 36B. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke-BE Report post Posted June 25, 2016 I would really look into the 140 grain accurbond. For the lands I don't single round shoot. I like to know I have a second shot. So I adjust it to barley fit in the magazine. But I believe I was only .040 off the lands. Last week up in flagstaff it seemed like I got some good pressure for only .040 off the lands. I' only got half way through my ladder test and I'm already hitting 2900 fps for a 300 win mag 208 EDL match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cell4soul Report post Posted June 25, 2016 I loaded up some rounds for seating depth tests. I am starting to teach my step son to reload. We loaded 10 rounds each starting at .02 off the lands and jumped .02 from there. I will shoot 2 five shot groups with each. If I find an accurate seating depth from there, I will work up or down in .005 increments. That is the plan at this point. Tomorrow I will test the loads. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bustedknuckleinc Report post Posted June 26, 2016 Left is 308 Winchester turned into 6.5 Creedmoor using Lapua Brass and the right is Hornady brass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azhuntnut Report post Posted June 27, 2016 I would try the 41.8 again, but play with the coal. 3 shots in a line and than 2 in line below the others show promise. One way to know if it's a good load is to take it to 200 yards. I have seen tight groups shot at 100 yards open up, but the inline group close messing with the coal. David 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted June 27, 2016 I am going to try the 142 NABLRs one more time. I know my .260 can shoot sub .250" with 140 HVLDs. I have done a ladder test, and gotten a node for the 142 NABLRs. Then loaded up for groups, and could not get under 1". Going to try seating depth changes in .0400" increments to see if that brings them in. If not, I will save the rest for fire forming loads in other wildcat rounds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cell4soul Report post Posted June 28, 2016 Left is 308 Winchester turned into 6.5 Creedmoor using Lapua Brass and the right is Hornady brass. I've heard Lapua Brass is the best. I went with the Norma brass. The last time at the range when I was testing, I shot some rounds of factory Hornady 140 grain ELD Match because I didn't want to start my tests on a cold bore. The 140 ELD Match had primers blow out of the brass on 3 separate rounds. I am not sure if it is the brass or not, but it definitely makes me glad I didn't stick with Hornady factory. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cell4soul Report post Posted June 28, 2016 I am going to try the 142 NABLRs one more time. I know my .260 can shoot sub .250" with 140 HVLDs.I have done a ladder test, and gotten a node for the 142 NABLRs. Then loaded up for groups, and could not get under 1".Going to try seating depth changes in .0400" increments to see if that brings them in. If not, I will save the rest for fire forming loads in other wildcat rounds. I will be curious to see how they do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cell4soul Report post Posted June 28, 2016 Note to self: don't plan on going to the range to test loads at 6:00 am on a Sunday when you are at a buddy's house on Saturday smoking brisket and consuming enormous quantities of adult beverages. Sunday was a bad day at the range. Pics below with the COAL that I think will be promising. The 5 shot groups were not good, but I know I was shooting horribly. Minus the fliers, which I am confident are my fault, the 2.797 and 2.817 each had 4 of the 5 shots in a pretty small group. This is fairly consistent with my charge weight tests where I had a group at .67" with a case length of 2.793 with 43 grains of RL-17. I think I am going to run the tests again and jump in .002 or .003 increments from 2.790 to 2.820. I dropped the gun off to put the Bell and Carlson stock on and have the action bedded. Thanks for your feedback. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted June 28, 2016 I have found a flier a very common occurrence with every NABLR I have tried. .264 142gr, .277 150gr, .284 175gr, .308 210gr. Even when I am shooting well. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cell4soul Report post Posted July 24, 2016 Went to the range again today. After trying different powder charges and seating depths, I have to say that I agree the 129 grain ABLR's just don't shoot consistent. I shot all 5 shot groups. Every group had a "flier", so nothing grouped under and inch, several were right at an inch. Before I shot my test loads, I made 3 shots with Winchester 140 grain match grade factory ammo so I wouldn't be firing my test loads from a cold bore. The 3 shot group measured just over 1/2". When I finished with all my test loads, I decided to shoot a 5 shot group using the Winchester ammo. The 5 shot group measured just over .8". So, I know both the rifle and I can shoot. I finally found some H4350 powder. I went to Sportsmans today and they had a box of Berger 140 grain VLD-H in stock. I think I am gonna go back to the drawing board and work up a load with the Bergers and H4350. I also picked up a box of Swift Scirocco II in 130 grain. The 2 pictures below are the 3 shot group out of the cold bore and a 5 shot group at the end of my testing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
