9.3x62 Conumdrum.....fixed! - 08/25/19
About a decade back, I had Redneck, here on the CF, do all the metal work and Charley Santoni, finish a custom 9.2x62 for me. The parts are a pre '64 M70 action, 24" #3 Pacnor barrel, D'Arcy Echols Legend stock topped with a VX3 1.75-6 with CDS turrets in Leupold QR base/rings.
Both the 250 Accubond/Varget and 286 Partition/Big Game loads I put together were stupid accurate. I'm talking one hole, 3-shot groups.
After several years, I decided I wanted to develop a 250 gr flat nose cast bullet load with one of Veral Smith's molds. With Varget it was giving me 3-shot, sub .8 moa groups running 2200 fps......and zero leading!
The issue with the cast bullets was the throat was too short so I ended up taking a PTG hand throating reamer to it, allowing the cast bullets to fit properly but giving so much free bore with the Nosler's, it ruined their accuracy. I'm talking 3-4" groups with the same loads. I tried the 250 E-tips and it helped giving "hunting" accuracy I'd feel comfortable taking a shot at an elks broadside at no more than 200 yds. I believe the E-tips and their monometal characteristics of wanting to be off the throat helped. With that, I decided to try the Barnes 250 TTSX, since Barnes suggest seating their bullets off the lands aways as well. Well, it worked. My conundrum is fixed. I tried numerous powders, Varget, H4895, IMR 4895, Rel 15, AA 4064, IMR 4350 and H380. All the powder gave great, sub moa 3-shot groups. IMR 4895 and IMR 4350 gave very low velocities so I stuck with Varget, H4895 and Rel 15, settling, so far with Rel 15 for 2550 fps. I'm not divulging my powder charges since my, Weatherby plus, free bore calls for exceeding any book max published charge.
Now, my only issue is testing the 3 different CDS turrets, set up with the .494 BC Accubond at 2600 fps with the .440 BC TTSX at 2550 fps. Glad the rifle range is only 1 mile from my house.
Alan
Both the 250 Accubond/Varget and 286 Partition/Big Game loads I put together were stupid accurate. I'm talking one hole, 3-shot groups.
After several years, I decided I wanted to develop a 250 gr flat nose cast bullet load with one of Veral Smith's molds. With Varget it was giving me 3-shot, sub .8 moa groups running 2200 fps......and zero leading!
The issue with the cast bullets was the throat was too short so I ended up taking a PTG hand throating reamer to it, allowing the cast bullets to fit properly but giving so much free bore with the Nosler's, it ruined their accuracy. I'm talking 3-4" groups with the same loads. I tried the 250 E-tips and it helped giving "hunting" accuracy I'd feel comfortable taking a shot at an elks broadside at no more than 200 yds. I believe the E-tips and their monometal characteristics of wanting to be off the throat helped. With that, I decided to try the Barnes 250 TTSX, since Barnes suggest seating their bullets off the lands aways as well. Well, it worked. My conundrum is fixed. I tried numerous powders, Varget, H4895, IMR 4895, Rel 15, AA 4064, IMR 4350 and H380. All the powder gave great, sub moa 3-shot groups. IMR 4895 and IMR 4350 gave very low velocities so I stuck with Varget, H4895 and Rel 15, settling, so far with Rel 15 for 2550 fps. I'm not divulging my powder charges since my, Weatherby plus, free bore calls for exceeding any book max published charge.
Now, my only issue is testing the 3 different CDS turrets, set up with the .494 BC Accubond at 2600 fps with the .440 BC TTSX at 2550 fps. Glad the rifle range is only 1 mile from my house.
Alan