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Post by westmohunter on Mar 7, 2016 10:27:07 GMT -8
New to the forum and I'm really impressed with the tone of this place, so hopefully you all can tolerate a novice asking novice questions!
I'm waiting on a build to be finished with a BHW 20" match. I have a number of powders, but have been looking at load data and don't have any of the usual suspects that keep popping up. I bought 3 boxes of AA 6.5 w/ 120 Nosler BT (wanted the Lapua brass) so I would be able to start off with rounds that I know should shoot and bullet weight and type that I can use for deer even though I plan to load 123 SSTs which I also now have.
I have H322, Benchmark and Varget. I also have some 335 that I use for my Rem 700 VLS in .223. Admit that I've bought in to the temp-sensitivity hype...? where Hogdon has done a fair job of marketing the advantages of their extreme powders. This gun will shoot critters as much as paper and I like the idea of being good on dog towns when it's 80 and coyotes when it's 18. So, unless someone educates me otherwise I'd like to stick to powders that are less sensitive. So, CFE for example isn't really something I'd prefer to use.
So now that I've gone overboard with the background info, here are my questions:
1. Is Varget too slow for just a 123 gr bullet?
2. Thoughts on Benchmark for 120 BT or Hornady SST?
3. I assume H322 will not work well?
4. I see AA2520 referenced a lot as a good Grendel/LBC powder, but have read it's very temp-sensitive?
5. Lastly, is IMR 8208 XBR THE go-to powder if temp sensitivity is a concern? Also, what about AR-Comp? These are the 2 I'm looking at if none of my 3 are very good.
Thank you!
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Post by westmohunter on Mar 7, 2016 10:29:49 GMT -8
...And the Greenhorn designation is awesome! Love it! LOL.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 14:59:17 GMT -8
New to the forum and I'm really impressed with the tone of this place, so hopefully you all can tolerate a novice asking novice questions!
I'm waiting on a build to be finished with a BHW 20" match. I have a number of powders, but have been looking at load data and don't have any of the usual suspects that keep popping up. I bought 3 boxes of AA 6.5 w/ 120 Nosler BT (wanted the Lapua brass) so I would be able to start off with rounds that I know should shoot and bullet weight and type that I can use for deer even though I plan to load 123 SSTs which I also now have.
I have H322, Benchmark and Varget. I also have some 335 that I use for my Rem 700 VLS in .223. Admit that I've bought in to the temp-sensitivity hype...? where Hogdon has done a fair job of marketing the advantages of their extreme powders. This gun will shoot critters as much as paper and I like the idea of being good on dog towns when it's 80 and coyotes when it's 18. So, unless someone educates me otherwise I'd like to stick to powders that are less sensitive. So, CFE for example isn't really something I'd prefer to use.
So now that I've gone overboard with the background info, here are my questions:
1. Is Varget too slow for just a 123 gr bullet?
2. Thoughts on Benchmark for 120 BT or Hornady SST?
3. I assume H322 will not work well?
4. I see AA2520 referenced a lot as a good Grendel/LBC powder, but have read it's very temp-sensitive?
5. Lastly, is IMR 8208 XBR THE go-to powder if temp sensitivity is a concern? Also, what about AR-Comp? These are the 2 I'm looking at if none of my 3 are very good.
Thank you! Welcome to the forum. I will try and answer your questions. 1 Varget is to slow burning for the Grendel case. It can be used but velocity will suffer. 2-3 Benchmark would be well suited for the lighter weight bullets. Once you go heavy 120 and up it and 322 are to fast of burn rate to give maximum performance 4 I can't give you an answer on the AA2520 as I have never shot it. It would be worth the cost of a pound, to try it. 5 There are really two go to powders for the 6.5 IMR 8208 and CFE 223. In my testing I have not found either to be temperature sensitive. I shoot in some pretty extreme conditions. Temps range from 115 to below zero. These two powders are the ones I use more than all the rest put together. Don't believe everything you read about powder. Some of the testing being done out there is, shall we say less than scientific. The best approach is buy a pound and try it for yourself and make your own observations. By the way if the ammunition you bought from AA is less than a year old it is loaded with Hornady brass. Lapua hasn't made brass for AA in over 2 years.
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Post by westmohunter on Mar 7, 2016 15:27:31 GMT -8
Thanks a lot for the info. I will definitely give the CFE a go. I have a buddy that has some 8208 so I'll buy some CFE and we'll share.
Bummer on the AA brass. I actually thought I read on this forum one of you guys suggesting buying some AA ammo for the Lapua brass. I'd bet it was either an old thread or I'm wrong about where I saw it. Either way, I'm glad I know now as I may have bought more. I got it on sale, and if it was actually Lapua brass it wouldn't be a bad way to get brass.
Thanks again, Chris
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Post by threefeathers on Aug 27, 2016 20:03:06 GMT -8
Hi, I'm a very experienced reloader but new to the 6.5 G. I have loaded several thousand 6.5X55 though. I've used RE15, TAC, and 4064 to great effect with 5.56 through 6.5X55. Will any of these be safe in the Grendle?
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Aug 27, 2016 20:36:14 GMT -8
Hi, I'm a very experienced reloader but new to the 6.5 G. I have loaded several thousand 6.5X55 though. I've used RE15, TAC, and 4064 to great effect with 5.56 through 6.5X55. Will any of these be safe in the Grendle? TAC and RE15 will do. I haven't used 4064. So much data out there on the Grendel the choices are unreal. 8208 is a great one. Greg
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Post by threefeathers on Aug 28, 2016 20:17:51 GMT -8
Thank you Greg, I have a lb of 8208 and will load 10 rounds, then 10 with RE15, and 10 with TAC and see where I am at.
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Post by chenault on Sept 5, 2016 12:02:05 GMT -8
I'm not sure that 10 rounds will tell you what you want to know. Normally you do a latter test to find where the sweet spot is, then you hone that in. 10 shots using someone else recipe isn't the way I would do that. Also, RE15 is very temperature sensitive, so if you use it be aware of that.
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Sept 5, 2016 12:56:47 GMT -8
I'm not sure that 10 rounds will tell you what you want to know. Normally you do a latter test to find where the sweet spot is, then you hone that in. 10 shots using someone else recipe isn't the way I would do that. Also, RE15 is very temperature sensitive, so if you use it be aware of that. I tend to load around 25-30 rounds with new powders on a new cartridge. I've been shooting RL15 for several years here in PHX and had no issues with the hot/cold days. Of course I'm working up loads in 105-110 many times so that is a pretty good top end challenge. Greg
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Post by threefeathers on Dec 16, 2016 23:25:11 GMT -8
Well this caliber is fun to reload for. You are correct, 10 rounds gave me a good ball park figure but there are at least four more bullets I want to try. So far I've used Nosler 123, driven by 8208, great result. Berger 130 grain tactical driven by CFE, a decent result but needs more testing., Sierra 123 bthp driven by 8208 with great results, sub one inch group but I believe it will do better. And Sierra tipped 130 grain driven by CFE. This one gave me 2 shots that touched the third was an inch and a half off. This did this for ten rounds so it looks like I have two groups. However I think this baby can be twinked. .
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Dec 17, 2016 8:04:36 GMT -8
Sounds like a good start. I would tweak those not twink them..lol
Greg
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Post by roybell70 on Oct 22, 2017 5:29:18 GMT -8
Rl10x and lapua 100gr bullets are cats pass in my 20" 264Lbc.start 24.5 gr.mine with 450 primers 25.5 gr.
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Post by threefeathers on Nov 10, 2017 12:59:32 GMT -8
Hi. Thank you for the advice. Oh, I'm a retired 19D we've been accused of twinking but I will try tweaking.
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Post by ltdan on Oct 23, 2018 13:53:24 GMT -8
I have had good luck with 8208, Power Pro Varmint, Reloader 15, and AR Comp. I have currently 2 Grendel AR's 24 Inch Satern Bull and a 22" JSE barrel.
Both barrels really like the 107 Sierra Match Kings and 100 gr ELD Hornaday and the 123 ELD's I an old fart that likes to sit at a bench at the 100 yard line and see how close I can make the holes appear in the target. If interested I do often use a Chrono to test loads.
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