Steve D. Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 OK Gang, It's time to put up your money and predict which load from the following ladder of 53 g. V-MAX rounds will shoot the tightest group... All brass was u-sonic cleaned, sized, lathe-trimmed to 1.745, Wilson gage checked for uniform headspace, Federal "Match-AR" primed, individually digital-scale filled with H-Benchmark, and Seated with Forster Benchrest die to spec. With No Crimp the Neck Tension was enough the have me bare-down on a few test rounds with about 50 lbs. of force and not move bullet at all, I think that's safe. Ladder Is 10 Rounds of Each (every charge weighed to exact 1/10th g.): 23.2 g. 23.6 g. 24.0 g. 24.3 g. 24.6 g. 24.9 g. 25.2 g. The gun is an 18" home cooked machine with Shillen stainless rfl.-length gass & hand-lapped "ratchet-rifled" tube, Viltor-MUR upper, Mega Billet lower, Spikes NiB BCG & Timney 3 Lb. as well as a Magpul PRS stock and JP Floated foerend. It has been generating good groups with Blackhills Blue Box so far but this will be the first set of home-brewed precision ammo. Only about 250 down the bore so far. SO...what's your pick for the most accurate load and a chance to win absolutely nothing. If you're a real hot-shot you might even hazard a guess at the respective velocities as all shot strings will be chonographed (and Shared her later).. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3gungeezer Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 (edited) 24.9 grains will do it. 3175fps. Please send my winnings to the current President's reelection campaign Edited August 18, 2012 by 3gungeezer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbauer67 Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Which ever of the loads is right around 3000 FPS mark, please send any winnings to BE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outerlimits Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 24.9 grains will do it. 3175fps. Please send my winnings to the current President's reelection campaign too hot-those pills will be spinning. i go with the 24.0 at around 3,030 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 24.3 !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickpony Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 No mention of OAL but I'll go with the 25.2 gr load. I load my 55gr V-Max's with 25.4 gr of Benchmark and they're super. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve D. Posted August 19, 2012 Author Share Posted August 19, 2012 WE HAVE A WINNER!! STEVE RA, where would you like me to forward the "big-dollar purse" to? At least in my 1-8 twist 18" rifle, the 24.3 grain load was noticably better than any others. See pictures below for best group on a target at 100 yds. showing the two best 5-shot groups bottom and two at 24.0 grains-even above it. The target for two groups of 24.6 grains show exactly the same opening up again from 24.3 so I have to believe it's validity as the most accurate load in this gun, bullet, powder combo. The two lighter loads BELOW and heavier ABOVE the 3 Charges mentioned here (Total of 7 loads in Ladder) also show the same progression away from the 24.3 best in each direction. OAL on the ammo was set at 2.240 and was within 1-3 thousandths either-way for all the rounds. The "sweet spot" in Velocity (accordiing to ProCrono Digital)seems to be in the lower third of 2900+ fps. The shot string is shown below. I am sure some of the shot spread is me but even with that in the mix I am pretty happy with the two groups of 24.3 for my first ever .223 reloads. The gun was rested on a wood / towel block in the front with stock and grip off the bench in the "left hand holding the heel under your arm" position (whatever the hell you call it ha, ha). Next ladder will be with X-Terminator and same bullet and then VARGET and same bullet. After those we move to 60 g. VMAX's 24.3 g. Bechmark / 53 V-MAX String: 2956 2911 2911 2886 2930 2956 2929 2923 2911 2923 QUESTION for STEVE RA: Why the 3 "!" and a Smiley Face? This load has obviously worked for you too in the past, yes? Stay Tuned, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Please donate the "Big Dollar Purse" to the Brian Enos web site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Just lucky, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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