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That is a good idea to have it in the suppressor. Talked to the DPT guys and they said you need to put the back of the suppressor on first as it won't clear the adapter...then the adapter and rest of the suppressor... I think 2" off and a suppressor is the way forward...but not rush now.
do you want to swap for a suppressed adirondak
I was looking at them and the mountain ascent but the stocks of them put me off due to their lack of durability.Quote:
Originally Posted by crewe2
Yep, nothing gained going to an Adirondack from a Montana. The stock coating on the mountain ascent and Adirondack is crap.
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18" barrel and A-Tec suppressor. Groups not as good as last time. Might go up/down 0.5gn and see if they tighten back up. Velocity not too bad after a 4" chop.
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Still working on this post chop and A-Tec Forward 45 suppressor. 2 shots touching and 3rd an inch or more flyer.
46.5gn and 47.0gn on a hot afternoon. SD is great. 47gn I would say is at max as one round bolt lift firmed up and QL suggesting near max too. 46.5gn and seating depth change may help.
More mag space would be good...limited to about 2.840 COL.
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Haven't read through your entire thread but one thing I have found with my Montana is it builds pressure early and is one of the only rifles I have owned that will not run certain loads using ADI powders at over their book max. The flip side of that is it still achieves the same or better velocities but using less powder.
@Ryan_Songhurst I'm using CFE223...not sure it is an ADI produced one?? Yes I think it approaches max quite quickly. On QL 47gn at 2.800 COL shoots into the read, while 2.840 COL is under max. Yes it is a bit more complex in the real world but my testing indicates 47gn is at or very close to max. This confirms your experience as it is 2gn below book max and is why you should never treat book max as a conservative figure to start from.
Attachment 153924
Having trouble replicating groups post suppressor. Have made some errors and learnt a bit along the way. I use a Sinclair priming tool...expensive but good kit. Realised I hadn't properly adjusted washers and was putting a slight crush on the primers. Easy fix but ignored it for longer than I should have.
Also got lazy with my hold and realised I could shoot better with the overhand scope hold method. The range practice isn't doing any harm.
Got low on CFE223 so trying RE17 as have plenty. Apparently great with heavy 30 cal bullets so my 168gn LRABs may have been at the lighter end of usability. Started at 47, 47.5 and 48gn with Fed match primers and no pressure signs with speed close to 2600fps.
Today tried 48.5 (2603), 49.0 (2636) and 49.5gn (2640) and again no pressure so will try 50gn and then running out of case to hold it. Groups not there yet...may have to try ELDMs.
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Greetings Tikka 7mm-08,Quote:
Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08
A note of caution. The 168 grain ABLR will develop more pressure than the 165 grain Hornady so you will probably need to cut those loads a grain or two. I would use the Nosler on line data if they give loads for CFE 223. The ABLR projectiles are harder due to their construction and run the pressures up faster.
Regards Grandpamac.
Greetings Again Tikka 7mm - 08,Quote:
Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08
A max of 47 grains looks reasonable for CFE 223 and the 168 grain ABLR as you have found. The 168 grain HPBT Sierra is also is much softer than the ABLR. Nosler does not list either of the powders you have used but its best velocity is about 2,800 with powders I have seen here. Your 2,700 plus with CFE looks about what you would expect. As you have found RL17 is too slow for the .308. CFE 223 is a spherical powder and is not made by ADI. I found that AR2208 and AR2206H worked well in the .308 and Nosler got good results as well.
Regards Grandpamac.
I'll see how the RL17 50gn load goes (if it works great because I have a lot of RL17 that I no longer use for anything). It isn't giving up much to CFE223 and I feel that 46gn is max for that powder in my rifle for brass life. I like the ABLR because it also has a good BC, but to TBH I struggled to get it going in my 260AI and it is a fussy projectile. It is the length of the 168gn ABLR that really drives the pressure up....it is longer than similar bullets.
The weather has not played ball for testing loads but the wind finally dropped this morning.
I thought 50gn RE17 might hit a spike as powder is half way up case neck but no pressure signs in terms of bolt lift etc and pleasing accuracy with a slight breeze in play. This with 168gn LRABs.
Attachment 157774
Attachment 157775
Attachment 157776
I then tried some 168gn NosBTs over 46.5gn CFE223. These shot much better than the 168gn LRABs over the same powder:
Attachment 157777
Attachment 157778
I also tried some Sierra 165 gamechangers but these did not group so well.
So LRABs with RE17 and BTs with CFE223 seem to be a good landing point.
Comparing the loads there is not much between them: at 600y the BT needs 15.24 MOA and the LRAB 14.76 MOA. The energy respectively is 1110 ft/lbs vs 1187 ft/lbs. The BT minimum speed for expansion is 1800fps and it is just below this at 600y while the LRAB only requires 1300fps (these are manufacturer claims).
Pity I forgot to arm the chrony for one of the BT loads but I suspect it is pretty low SD same as RE17.
400y group then a couple of spares shot at 600y off the spartan...not adjusted for crosswind. Scope is 2-10x. 168BTs.
Attachment 158156
Attachment 158157
Final check in low light on range. BTs are devasting.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...61874b2d30.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5407fd32e8.jpg
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Similar size to a whitetail, so a good yest
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Haha, check was on the range...Mr Hare just happened to hop into sight.
Managed to bag a buck on Stewart Is. trip. The 168gn went straight through and would probably try a much lighter bullet next time. It was an unexpected 'long range' shot too at 350ish yards.
Attachment 159601
Nice mateQuote:
Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08
Greetings Tikka 7mm08,Quote:
Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08
Looks like you have your load for the big stuff sorted. Perhaps an understudy load with one of the excellent 125 or 130 grains projectiles available these days may be in order for the smaller stuff. Any difference with point of aim could be adjusted with the scope you have. Nice deer by the way.
Regards Grandpamac.
Thank you...yes I'm thinking 130gn next time.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3da87eb4b6.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08
I have some 125’s that I would kindly donate...
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155 eldms?
Might be good option compared to different loads.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stocky
Windy NW but tried 155 ELDMs and 168ELDMs both over 50gn RE17 2.800" COAL. The 168gn load shot very well. Ordered a new box and will leave it there until I do a 130gn load. 155gn ELDMs will give another go.
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Attachment 164468
Keep going with the 168s. You should be able to get single ragged holes out of a kimber with them
They like to jump
That's at 2.8" COL, could try 2.785" COL as that is quite a bit of jump...but really this is ok for 500 yards.
Update. Rifle bedded. Not apples and apples before and after as I got a QD A-Tec brake (68gm) to try. It made the rifle shoot like a 223.
@Phil_H the 168gn amaxes shot the best! The 168 BTs were the worst and not sure about the 168 LRABs as 2nd shot looks pulled leaving a good 3 shot group (4 total). LRABs and Amax shot over 50gn RE17.
Lovely compact 600y rifle.
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QD brake
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LRABs were 2.805 COAL and without adjusting the seating dies the Amaxs were 2.795 COAL.
you could do a LOT worse than try some 125grn ballistic tips....... they worked very well in the BLR and Zastava..... didnt have to muck around to get 1"ish group at all just picked book load,dropped back couple of grains and bingo job done. for smaller animals they work great,slightly less recoil is great too.your ballistic tip oad may have been better option for bush,but then there are literally dozens of projectile choices I would use before LRAB for that task.
duel loading just makes sense to me......a heavy hitter for bush and your super sleak super accurate load for out further 99.99999999% of times you WILL HAVE TIME to put that load into chamber out of top pocket for the longer shot....your bush load,lets take 180grn hornady round nose, with medium velocity load ,for grins n giggles, will take care of anything sub 150 with ease....at 50 yards you wont regret that choice at all.
Yes 125bts go great. Will have to try some down on Rakiura. But the amax should cover me well.
I’ve got some nosler 125 BT that you can have
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Yes that would be good.
Sight in today with 168gn amaxs. Same load as yesterday. Pretty happy now. @Phil_H @MSL
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Nice and still this arvo.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ba4f92b103.jpg
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Do you eat any of those targets?
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What powder did you end up using?
