Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots #1 RSI velocity????

Have any of you that own a #1 RSI chronographed your loads to see what the velocity actually is out of the 20" barrel. I don't own a chronograph but the loads that I have worked up are hitting the same (trajectory-wise) or a smidge better on average than the listed data in the manuals that are using 22" and 24" barrels. In other words using the load data in the manual my trajectory (according to my targets) is flatter than the test rifle/barrel. I know this is an extremely informal way of judging what my velocity may be compared to another firearm and means squat but it is enough to make me curious as to what others are getting out of their #1 RSI's over a chrony.

3100 in a 243 w/85s. Depending on cartridge, but you are looking at around 25-35 fps per inch loss. On say Deer, I don't think you have much to worry about the difference, using top safe loads to 300-350 yds in POI.

Just curious what caliber is your RSI? Perhaps you have a fast RSI and a slow test mule?

243

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...ger_1_International_Who_has_#Post3091822

I checked the site offered by 65BR's post (above) and found it featured a prior post of mine.

What I failed to mention in that post was that I have a chronograph and have chronographed a good many loads, but didn't bother to chronograph that maximum load of 50.0 grains of H4350 since I had been chronographing all prior loads on previous trips to the rifle range and I was feeling a bit lazy that day, so I left the chronograph at home.

The largest load I chronographed was 49.1 grains of H4350 behind a 140 grain Sierra flat-based ProHunter bullet which yielded a tad over 2700 fps in the 7x57 RSI. As I recall, the muzzle velocity out of my RSI's 20-inch barrel averaged something like 2715 fps or so with that 49.1 grain load.

Based on that and other "steps up" in muzzle velocity as the loads increased at previous load testing sessions, I simply estimated the max. velocity.

I hadn't taken my chronographh to the rifle range that day since it didn't really matter to me what velocity the maximum load yielded since it was a MAXIMUM LOAD which I wouldn't exceed in any case. Therefore, I estimated the muzzle velocity of the 50.0 grain maximum load to be approximately 2785 fps out of my RSI's 20-inch barrel whereas the 22-inch test barrel used by the ballisticians chronographed that same maximum load at a tad over 2800 fps... 2825 fps is the number I seem to remember.

Of course, it could be that the actual muzzle velocity of the maximum load in my RSI may have chronographed a bit higher at, say, 2790 or even 2800 fps, but whatever it is/was simply didn't/doesn't matter to me.

I'm more of an "accuracy nut" than a high-velocity nut anyway... so squeezing the last few fps outta a load really isn't my "cup-of-tea".

I must say that the 50.0 grains of H4350 certainly SEEMS to be a heavy, maximum load. Not only did the RSI recoil considerably more with that load, but the sound level of the report as I fired the rifle was considerbly greater than any previous load I had tested. Normally, as I approach maximum listed loads, I only add an incremental increase of .2 of a grain at a time.

I wasn't concerned about the little Ruger RSI holding together... its action is extremely strong, I was just more interested in the loads accuracy than I was in it's muzzle velocity.

I haven't tested the 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip or Partition bullets with that maximum load of H4350, but I feel relatively sure accuracy will be on par with the kind of accuracy I've been getting with the 140 grain Sierra flat-based ProHunter bullet... and velocity should remain fairly consistent as well.

One thing is for sure... my RSI "loves" H4350 rifle powder and from what I've read at other sites, other RSI owners have found the same thing.

The 50.0 grain load of H4350 behind a 140 grain bullet is the maximum load listed in a well-known and respected Reloading Manual which is sold nationally.

Of course, there's a slight "penalty" to be paid for having a short 20-inch barrel, but the small difference in muzzle velocity vs. a 22-inch or even a 24-inch barrel won't be noticed by the game you shoot and will only shorten your maximum point-blank range by maybe 20 or 30 yards... so that's no "biggie" either and is more than compensated for by the short RSI's quickness and ease of handling in close quarters.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Agree.

My 7MM Mauser RSI seems to favor heavier bullets for accuracy. My chronograph has told me that the average velocity for the loads I've tested are actually a little higher than they should be. Maybe I'm hotter than I should be for this rifle but the cases look fine and I worked up to all loads. Here's an example:

Primer: Winchester LR
Powder: IMR 4064 39.0 Gr. (Measured) *MAX.*
Bullet: Remington SPRN Core Lokt 175 Gr.
OAL: 2.930"
Case Usage: RP Fired Once
Remarks: H #25 P.196 says Max. (Ruger Only)
Book says 2,314 FPS 22" Barrel - Mine is 20" (Actual Avg. is 2,341 FPS) Fairly accurate. Need to test further.

Gun Porn: My scope looks a little big!



Nice wood though.

Mine is chambered in 30-'06... My load manual was an old Speer #13. A friend of mine has said that his Ruger's have a tendency to shoot faster. He has a chrony unfortunately in Wyoming or I would borrow it.

Purdy! My RSI is a bit plain. My scope looked big too so I took it off and put a peep on it (NECG). Now it looks cool as hell

Wish I could shoot a peep a little better brinky. When you get old a lot of parts don't work like they used to. Barrel sights are impossible for me even with glasses. Peep - OK. Scope - 10-4!