WARNING: The load data presented below appears to be safe in my rifle and my chamber, using my lots of components and my loading dies. Neither I nor INGO make any claims of safety or suitability for use in any conceivable application.
Update: I was back at the range yesterday, with the goal of getting sighted in @ 100 yards, and trying out the 200gr FTX bullet.
I loaded up a dozen of the 50.5gr BL-C(2), 225gr SGK loads and headed out. By noon the temp was 60 degrees and the wind was fairly steady (I'll have to go back on a calmer day to verify my windage).
I shot a fouling shot, adjusted my scope, then shot a group. The first 3-shot group of the day was 0.50", so that was nice. However I misread the first shot, and moved the knobs the wrong way, so I some time getting back to center and getting adjusted for 3" high at 100 yards. A spotting scope would be nice... however a plastic tote turned upside down over the scale worked to make it stable in the wind.
As my loading block sat out in the weather I noticed a consistent trend. (I was taking my time, taking notes, etc. - 12 shots took me an hour or more) Each shot was slightly slower than the one before. The first shot went ~2380fps, and by the time I was done I was just under 2320fps. The last three shots went into a 0.72" group.
So for anyone developing a load with BL-C(2) note the temperature sensitivity, a max load on a cold day could be well over max on a hot day (it was in the upper 80's when I decided on this max load).
The FTX bullet is designed for the .35 Remington and I thought I would give it a go. I started at 49.0gr of BL-C(2) for just over 2300fps and stopped at 52.0gr. There were no signs of pressure and the velocity was ~2450fps. (I would work this load up again if shooting at higher temperatures!) After An e-mail exchange I had with Hornady I decided not to go above 2300fps on this bullet - and even then I would be hesitant to take a shot under 50 yards as the FTX bullet is designed for 1600 to 2000 fps.
At 2300fps at the muzzle, 2000fps would happen at around 100 yards, and 1600fps would come at ~270 yards. The factory claims 2225fps MV for LeveRevolution in .35 Rem but their load notes only go up to 2050fps. By comparison the 225gr SGK would fall to below 1900fps at ~240 yards, as stated in my previous post... but that's using the velocity numbers when temps are in the 80's.
Anyway I loaded up 3 more with 49.0gr of BL-C(2), just above or just below 2300fps and got a 1.25" group.
My buddy is going to try the Nosler bullets (225gr Accubond and Partition). He showed me one today, and the Accubond is one loooooong bullet, so I tend to believe the claim of a BC of .421. Nosler's web site says it's good down to 1800fps. If so... and if the 1:14" twist can keep it stable... it might be good out to 270 yards or so, depending on the MV he can get out of it. They claim a BC of .430 for the partition... no boat tail or lead tip... I don't know if I can believe that.
Update: I was back at the range yesterday, with the goal of getting sighted in @ 100 yards, and trying out the 200gr FTX bullet.
I loaded up a dozen of the 50.5gr BL-C(2), 225gr SGK loads and headed out. By noon the temp was 60 degrees and the wind was fairly steady (I'll have to go back on a calmer day to verify my windage).
I shot a fouling shot, adjusted my scope, then shot a group. The first 3-shot group of the day was 0.50", so that was nice. However I misread the first shot, and moved the knobs the wrong way, so I some time getting back to center and getting adjusted for 3" high at 100 yards. A spotting scope would be nice... however a plastic tote turned upside down over the scale worked to make it stable in the wind.
As my loading block sat out in the weather I noticed a consistent trend. (I was taking my time, taking notes, etc. - 12 shots took me an hour or more) Each shot was slightly slower than the one before. The first shot went ~2380fps, and by the time I was done I was just under 2320fps. The last three shots went into a 0.72" group.
So for anyone developing a load with BL-C(2) note the temperature sensitivity, a max load on a cold day could be well over max on a hot day (it was in the upper 80's when I decided on this max load).
The FTX bullet is designed for the .35 Remington and I thought I would give it a go. I started at 49.0gr of BL-C(2) for just over 2300fps and stopped at 52.0gr. There were no signs of pressure and the velocity was ~2450fps. (I would work this load up again if shooting at higher temperatures!) After An e-mail exchange I had with Hornady I decided not to go above 2300fps on this bullet - and even then I would be hesitant to take a shot under 50 yards as the FTX bullet is designed for 1600 to 2000 fps.
At 2300fps at the muzzle, 2000fps would happen at around 100 yards, and 1600fps would come at ~270 yards. The factory claims 2225fps MV for LeveRevolution in .35 Rem but their load notes only go up to 2050fps. By comparison the 225gr SGK would fall to below 1900fps at ~240 yards, as stated in my previous post... but that's using the velocity numbers when temps are in the 80's.
Anyway I loaded up 3 more with 49.0gr of BL-C(2), just above or just below 2300fps and got a 1.25" group.
My buddy is going to try the Nosler bullets (225gr Accubond and Partition). He showed me one today, and the Accubond is one loooooong bullet, so I tend to believe the claim of a BC of .421. Nosler's web site says it's good down to 1800fps. If so... and if the 1:14" twist can keep it stable... it might be good out to 270 yards or so, depending on the MV he can get out of it. They claim a BC of .430 for the partition... no boat tail or lead tip... I don't know if I can believe that.
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