jlbmt
New Member
Posts: 5 
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Post by jlbmt on Jun 2, 2015 14:48:54 GMT -8
I recently purchased a BHW 6x6.8mmSPC barrel for an AR15. I also purchased some CH4D dies and am now attempting to develop loads. My problem is that I cannot get anything that will chamber in the rifle. I have Hornady 87 VMax and 58 VMax and am using once fired federal brass. Everything I load is too short. My resized brass without a bullet drops right into the chamber and falls out when I tip it over. When I test chamber a load the bullet remains in the barrel and the case extracts with a LOT of difficulty. I have a mess of powder everywhere and have to clean the gun up. My loads are 2.25 to 2.26. Not sure if the barrel is bad or if I am doing something wrong. I was really looking forward to spending some time with this rifle.
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Jun 2, 2015 15:54:52 GMT -8
PM SENT
Greg
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Post by gaberelli on Jun 2, 2015 16:54:44 GMT -8
I'm sure Greg will take care of you but what did you trim to after sizing?
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Post by mosigdude on Jun 2, 2015 17:23:32 GMT -8
You probably need to use either the Hornady or Sinclair (preferred) oal gauge to see if you are loading too long with your combination of barrel and bullet. If your bullets are pulling from the case during unloading I'm guessing you are seated into the lands. There are other possibilities to explain difficulty during the extraction of a loaded round but far less likely than the above if you are using standard brass.
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jlb
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Post by jlb on Aug 25, 2015 13:20:29 GMT -8
BHW had a chamber issue with my barrel and it was replaced. Now I have a new barrel and I am having a difficult time finding a load that shoots. I have tried xbr8208 and H335 with Hornady 87 and 58 grain bullets. Best group to date was 1.5 inches. Average around 2 inches. A big disappointment. I have experimented with load lengths and charges to no avail. Shoots groups that are strung all over.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 16:23:11 GMT -8
What loads have you tried? What is your seating depth? We'll need some info to help.
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jlb
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Post by jlb on Aug 26, 2015 5:28:31 GMT -8
My loads were made up with Federal and Remington 6.8mm brass once fired. Formed with CH4D dies. My loads were 58 grain Hornady with xbr8208 from 29 to 31 grains. I also tried H335 from 29.5 to 31 grains. Seating depth was 2.27. I used Remington 7 1/2 primers. Other loads were 87 grain Hornady that I loaded at my other home and do not have the data on me. They shot horribly as well, but were much better than the 58 grain rounds. My barrel is a 1 in 9 twist. I was informed by BHW that this was the twist to use for the bullets I was going to shoot.
An analysis of the holes in the targets indicates that the bullets might be yawing a bit. Some holes are clean and others show indications that they are striking off center.
The sad thing is that I had three other AR platform rifles with me at the range, two that have run of the mill barrels on them and they performed far better than this rifle. All rifles produced 1 moa or better groups on average. I used the same lower on the three AR 15 platforms. The other was a .308 AR.
I have some Nosler 85 grain and some 75 grain Hornady that I would like to load. If anyone has data for them that would be appreciated. |
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Post by gaberelli on Aug 26, 2015 16:15:18 GMT -8
Threaded muzzle? If so, what's on it? Also, how is the fitment of the gas key to gas tube with the bolt out of the carrier? I assume you've ruled out the scope/mount too? Threaded or not, how does the muzzle look? Getting an even pattern of powder residue on the crown?
Even though it's new, I would do a thorough copper removal process, foul the barrel again then try a tried and true recipe like 87 grain Hornady with 29 grains 8208 at COL of 2.290 or some of the 58 grain Hornady loads Ritch and Greg have posted.
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jlb
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by jlb on Sept 8, 2015 7:03:01 GMT -8
Yes, it has threaded muzzle with a standard AR muzzle brake. Bird Cage with a solid bottom. I have switched optics three times. I have not removed the brake to check the crown. My thinking is that BHW should be able to crown a barrel properly. The gas key does not seem to be hanging up on the gas tube.
I have cleaned it and every time I did there has not been much sign of copper fouling.
Since my last post, I have given up completely on 58 grain VMax as it will not shoot them at all. Five shot groups with them are spread all over. I have tried altering depth, different powders and primers. No luck with any of them.
I can once in a great while...more luck than skill...get an inch three shot group. The best five shot groups are more like 2.5 inches. I have tried numerous loads in the 75-87 grain range and that is where the best hope for any success lies. I get the best consistency with Sierra 85 Gk and 29.5 grains of TAC. But even then the groups are not astounding. I use federal brass, Rem 7 1/2 BR or CCI BR4 primers. I have altered seating depth from 2.25 to 2.285. Beginning to think the barrel will be worn out before I find out a load that works. XBR 8208 is also showing some potential. |
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jlb
New Member
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Post by jlb on Sept 9, 2015 10:41:01 GMT -8
RJohnson,
You have a PM regarding my load data.
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jlb
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by jlb on Sept 17, 2015 3:28:58 GMT -8
I finally solved the problem. It was not the barrel or the loads it was the scope mount. I had switched optics before, but left the mount on as it was tight. I was using a QD mount. Decided to change the mounting system to a new solid mount and with that the rifle began to shoot. Just to verify, I put the QD mount on another AR that I know is a solid shooter and after the switch its groups went south. The mount seems solid but there must be just a slight wobble that it causes the scope to move a small amount.
I was able to put four 58 Vmax into one ragged hole.
Thank you Ritch for your call. I enjoyed talking with you! |
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Sept 17, 2015 5:58:26 GMT -8
QD mounts suck. You learned why many sets get left on the shelf once they are used. 0.001 movement on the gun is 1" at 100 yards. Think about that for a while.
I see no viable use for them unless I was in combat and might need my irons because the scope broke.
Greg
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Post by BiggerHammer on Sept 17, 2015 19:27:08 GMT -8
QD mounts have their place but a quality QD mount is needed. I have never had a issue with Larue or American Defense QD mounts. I can shoot a group at 300 yard with my American Defense QD mount at 300 yards. Remove the mount and scope place it back on and shoot another group at 300 yards and very seldom is there even the slightest shift of impact.
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Sept 18, 2015 6:16:59 GMT -8
QD mounts have their place but a quality QD mount is needed. I have never had a issue with Larue or American Defense QD mounts. I can shoot a group at 300 yard with my American Defense QD mount at 300 yards. Remove the mount and scope place it back on and shoot another group at 300 yards and very seldom is there even the slightest shift of impact. And you remove the scope why? Because you must!! The issue is the mount wasn't tight to start with. Only a repeated verification will proof the rig. A simple step but I've seen guys go elk hunting with rifles "sighted in" from the factory. (They missed a 75 yard elk 3 times BTW) I've never had issue removing the ones on my AR's with Weaver bases although I rarely do that. They get close enough for Government work when they go back on. If you get my drift from my old career. Leupold windage bases are a different matter but that they a different animal entirely. Greg |
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Post by BiggerHammer on Sept 18, 2015 9:15:59 GMT -8
Funny how that works, I was witness to a guy standing over a 340+ bull. A guy asked what bullet he used. He said he wasn't sure, reached in his pocket and pulled out 8 or so factory 7mm Magnum cartridges of various weight and manufacture. He also stated he had just purchased the scope two days prior and it had only been bore sighted at the shop the scope was purchased at. That bull was meant to leave the woods on a stretcher!
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