6x6.8 SPC at 300 yards.

[BiggerHammer]

I just took delivery of this barrel several days ago, it currently has 158 rounds on it. Which has been a mix of 87gr Hornady BTHP's, 87gr Berger Hunting VLD's and a few 90gr Nosler Accubonds. I used primarily 8208XBR and a little CFE223 powders. I like to use the 300 yard line for load development.

I stuck with 28gr of 8208 with almost all my loads. Tried a verity of seating depths in Federal, SSA, Hornady and R-P Large primer cases using CCI 200 primers I'm the R-P cases. I used CCI450's with the Federal, SSA and Hornady cases.

The load combo that really shined and was spooky accurate was the Hornady case, CCI 450, 87gr Hornady BTHP on top of 28grs of 8208.

The barrel is a Black Hole Weaponry 6x6.8, standard contour, 22", 9 twist, threaded 1/2-28 with a Fortis RED muzzle brake/comp.

Here is one of the solid 3 shot 300 yard groups it delivered today while getting it zeroed for this years hunting season.

[lerms]

That's some good shooting. Makes me want to build another ar thanks 

Lerms

[BiggerHammer]

I gave some 87gr Berger Hunting VLD's a try today at 200 with different seating depths. 2.265, 2.290 & 2.345 using one of my VLD magazines. Which is just a 10 round ASC mag with a partially cut out front. It's feeds the 2.345 OAL great. The 2.345 load shot the tightest.



My standby load is the 87gr Hornady BTHP on top of 28gr of 8208 with either a CCI 450 or BR4 primer. Either primer shoots the same point of impact out to 300 yards. I usually use Hornady brass but loaded up a few in SSA brass to see how they shot compared to the Hornady brass. The same load in SSA brass instead of my usual Hornady case loads printed just a little low today at 300. The wind was gusting from right to left and I knew I would have a slight horizontal spread, all I cared about was the point of impact with SSA brass as compared to the Hornady and of course my vertical spread in theses conditions would tell the rest. I only had four rounds of the standby load in SSA cases left so I fired them at the 300 yard line. Vertical was exellent, horizontal with the wind conditions was expected. Definitely MOA of Mule Deer heart.




I also shot the exact same load above but in Remington (R-P) large primer cases with CCI-200 primers. These case were once fired 6.8's I had necked down and fired for the first time in my chamber. The load shot really well at 200 yards but upon returning home and sizing them. There was absolutely no neck tension once full length sized with the CH4D FL 6x6.8 die. I knew something was amiss when I sized the first case and on the up stroke I barely felt the sizing button make contact. When seating a bullet, I could move it with my fingers, there was that little neck tension.

[BiggerHammer]

Yesterday I had a chance in the evening to load up some 87gr V-Max and some 95gr SST. Was on the range and ready to shoot by about 9am. It was a comfortable 68 degrees and 15% humidity. I shot 70 or so rounds of different charge weights and seating depths with both bullets. Using CFE223 with the 87gr V-Max's and 8208XBR with the 95gr SST.

I had two rounds loaded with 27gr of 8208, 95gr SST, BR-4 , Hornady cases @ 2.290. These were just to test pressure, I hadn't loaded in the 95gr range with 8208. so I wanted to fire the two and inspect the cases and adjust accordingly powder charge wise. My rifle is zeroed at 200 yards with the 87gr Hornady BTHP, I only have to dial 1 MOA to be on for 300 yards(My 87gr V-Max load shoots almost identical point of impact as my 87gr Hornady BTHP load). Did some quick math and figured I should add about another 1/2 MOA "UP" for the 95 grain SST. I dialed on the 1/2 MOA and launched both the 95's at the 300 yard line. One look through the scope told me I was on to something but two rounds was all I had. I quickly rounded up the cases, slight primer flattening but everything else was great.

Here are the two 95's at 300 yards.




I loaded everything up and headed home in a hurry, the wind was picking up as the day warmed. I loaded up more of the above load for the 95gr SST and also the load I had settled on for the 87gr V-Max's which was 31.2gr CFE223, BR-4, Hornady cases @ 2.290. When I got back the the range the wind was up and switchy in the canyon. Hard from the back/gusting from 9 O'Clock then a lull and then from right to left. I just decided to load up six rounds in a mag, the first three down were the 95gr SST load and the next three were the V-Max load.

I layed down in the prone, said to heck with the bench. It was crap conditions for true accuracy testing anyway. So from the bipod in the prone using my left hand as the rear bag on the toe hook of the MagPul ACS-L stock I dialed my 1 MOA up from 200 yards zero so I would be on for 300 yards and sent the three 87gr V-Max's at the 300 yard line. I then added 1/2 MOA "UP" for the 95gr SST's and launched them at the 300 yard line. Here are the results. Plenty good enough for MOA of Mule Deer heart from a real world shooting position for hunting

The angle I took the picture at makes the top group look smaller but it isn't.

[BiggerHammer]

Tried my same 87gr Hornady BTHP load today with one change, I loaded in SSA brass instead of the Hornady cases I have been using. I was pleased with the results, my zero was for my 95gr SST load that I'm going to hunt with. I used the same dope on my turret for 200 and 300 yards as I use for my 95gr loads. Plenty close enough for MOA of Mule Deer. I have 385 rounds on this barrel and everything has settled down. I still have that nagging "AR" issue of the first round being slightly out but it's hard to ask more than what I'm already getting from a gas rifle.

[grovermn5]

Thanks for  sharng all the great pics.
Couple questions, chrono speeds? Or did I just miss the info in the posts.

And whats  your opinion on the 87vmax vs the hpbt...,do you think one is more accurate then the other?

[riverboss]

Will the 95s fit into mag?

[GLSHOOTER]

Oct 18, 2015 15:39:10 GMT -8 riverboss said:

Will the 95s fit into mag?

95's will fit in the magazines. Remember we aren't shooting 2.260 mags. We can use ASC's running out to about 2.314.

There is no rational reason to stick to the old length. If you really want to get with it you can window a magazine and load five at 2.400+ without any functional issues. You can even load a couple long ones in a standard magazine if you are forced. True a mag dump of three is not impressive but adequate for most big game scenarios.

The advent of the ASC's at a decent price has really opened the doors to some bullets in the 223 line and even in the 6.8 variant areas. Boiler room is boiler room and the less you use the more you have. Some are delusional in their continual grasping at old school lengths believing that a minuscule increase in case capacity, via AI and case blow out methods, will garner huge increases in velocity and by running pressures up in cartridges that are obviously overboard they reinvent and change the laws of physics. We see this in AR's with primer flow, ejector marks and bent rims from extractors. You can cheat somewhat in bolt guns with less signs but the pressures are there.

Using Quick Load, an imperfect tool many times, the numbers are enough to replace your morning cup of coffee. These cartridges have been pressure tested and you won't see the PRO STAFF post up dangerous loadings. Anything posted here is looked at and if it is questionable we deal with it.

Greg

Sorry for the digression..LOL