Range Report - Looking for feedback

[ducks-and-bucks]

260 Tac chamber - 140gr berger VLD Target - 42.0gr H4350 - Lapua brass - Federal Match Primer

28 inch 1:8 twist Brux barrel

95 degrees F ambient air temp in shade at Point of Fire
28% Humidity
961 ft Altitude

Shot 1 - 2926 fps
Shot 2 - 2985 fps
Shot 3 - 2973 fps
Shot 4 - 2979 fps
Shot 5 - 2977 fps

I gave a good amount of time in between shots and checked the ammo temp and chamber temp with a laser thermometer between shots to only shoot the next shot once everything cooled back down to the same stable temp for "more better" results.

What do yall think? First shot was "cold bore" I let the ammo and rifle sit in the shade there for 30 min or so to adjust to the ambient air temp as well. I wasnt expecting higher 2900's though! I was expecting 2800's but this looks like good news, I am happy if it shoots this speed.

Most people have a 26 inch barrel - Do yall think these 2 extra inches in barrel make that extra 100 fps faster? is that what I am seeing here?

This was the "pet load" that I worked up... it's shooting really really well. It's not a max load, but any faster groups started opening up, then I went to max load around 44gr and started getting a sticky bolt... so this is right about where I stand with this rifle as of now..

[HTDUCK]

Cold bore round, was the barrel clean and dry patched or did it have oil/solvent in it ?

The ES on the last 4 rounds looks pretty good.

As for the velocities, yes the longer tube gains you some however; some barrels are just " faster" than others.
Case in point, my buddy and I both shoot the same load in our 7MM STWs.
Same brass, powder charge, primer and bullet. All the brass is prepped exactly the same way. Both have 26 inch barrels.
My rifle runs a 160 Partition out at 3320. His gun clocks 3150.

[Cajun Blake]

This was the "pet load" that I worked up... it's shooting really really well. It's not a max load, but any faster groups started opening up, then I went to max load around 44gr and started getting a sticky bolt... so this is right about where I stand with this rifle as of now..

find the accuracy node of your barrel and fine tune hand loads for that specific velocity

forget chasing speed and trying to push bullets fast ; you'll be chasing your tail

if your rifles shoots 0's and .1's at 2974 ~ 2985 fps .... don't shoot outside this velocity window

[ducks-and-bucks]

find the accuracy node of your barrel and fine tune hand loads for that specific velocity

forget chasing speed and trying to push bullets fast ; you'll be chasing your tail

if your rifles shoots 0's and .1's at 2974 ~ 2985 fps .... don't shoot outside this velocity window

Cajun, yes that is the load. I dont chrono anything until I find my load... It likes it right here... I just was really suprised at the velocity. its either a fast barrel, or my chrony reads faster than it should haha. I was expecting 2800's not 2900's

[Cajun Blake]

Cajun, yes that is the load. I dont chrono anything until I find my load... It likes it right here... I just was really suprised at the velocity. its either a fast barrel, or my chrony reads faster than it should haha. I was expecting 2800's not 2900's

you should chrono when doing load development ... it's a very valuable tool

it will tell you lots of things including ES, pressure spikes, reloading consistency, powder variance from lot to lot , if you have hot primers, etc...

once you're dialed in and shooting bug holes then put chrono away

[WyoBull]

Yes, that two inches of extra barrel makes a big difference if you are comparing ballistics data from a 26 inch barrel to your 28.

Case in point, one of the loads I shoot out of my 220 Swift should shoot at just over 4400 fps according to the book. That load is based on a 24 inch barrel. My rifle is a 26 inch barrel and that same load, chronographed over 10 shots averages 4550 fps.

While there are a lot of other factors involved as well, that extra 2 inches of barrel makes a big difference.