View Full Version : Build#6/18" 6.8 and some load data
The scope, bipod, and mounts are serving double duty w/my .308 at the moment. As soon as funds are allocated, they'll be on and painted as well. I'm aiming on adding Troy front and rear BUIS.
Sabre Defence Lower
RRA LPK
RRA 2 stage NM Trigger
KNS GEN II Pins
Magpul Miad Grip w/bolt
RRA A2 Stock
CMT M4 Upper
LMT carrier and stag bolt w/BCM upgrade
Daniel Defense LITE Rail 12.0
18" WOA 6.8SPC SPCII Chambered 1-11 bbl
Gemtech HVT
Super Sniper 10x42/Larue SPR mount
Larue Bipod mount
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/jlhetrick/DSC00912-1.jpg
Finally got a chance to work up some loads. I still have loads loaded w/BLC-2 & H322 for 110 Pro Hunters and 115 SMK's, but unfortunately I had to cut my range session short as I ran out of time. Hopefully, I'll get a chance either Friday or next Monday to get back out and finish. I'm not sure how accurate my chrony is. It's a Chrony Beta Master that I just got, so some of you others may have more experience w/it. I know there was a couple of loads that seemed to have a pretty big jump from one loading to the next. I also (due to my poor shooting) had a few flyers, so those are noted w/and w/out the flyers. All are 5 shot groups. All were shot suppressed @ 100yrds. 81 degrees. Wind @ 6.4mph when I left for the range. It was anywhere from calm to slightly gusty throughout the session.
The Nosler 130g BT's:
BLC-2-- AVG FPS--ES----Group
28.8g--2181------11------1.406"
29.1---2207-------12------1.630"
29.4---2222-------24------1.248"
29.7---2256-------23------0.806"
30.0---2266-------19------1.269"
30.3---2297-------27-------1.465"
30.6---2315-------23------0.672"
30.9---2339-------09------0.848"
31.2---2353-------15------0.825"
31.5---2386-------21------0.545 w/out flyer and 1.694" w/the flyer
I never had any over pressure signs of any kind w/the BLC-2. I'm going to try to load up another grain in increments, but I just don't know how much more I can fit. I already had about as much powder in it as I think I can fit safely. I was putting a pretty good sized ring around the ogive w/the seater die.
Nosler 130g BT's & H322
25.3---2261------33--------0.917"
25.6---2278------21--------0.672"w/out flyer and 1.507" w/the flyer
25.9---2294------18--------1.269"
26.2---2330------12--------0.709"w/out flyer and 1.525" w/the flyer
26.5---2342------15--------1.191"
26.8---2354------42--------0.847"
27.1---2383------10--------1.091"
27.4---2391------18--------0.843"
27.7---2426------9---------0.836" I started seeing very light ejector swipes on this load.
28.0---2432------14--------1.109"
Nosler 130G BT's and AA#9
9.0----1225----101--------2.004"
9.5----1242-----92---------1.127"
These both seemed to key hole @ 100, but I didn't see any @ 5ft when I was making sure they were ok to mount the suppressor.
90TNT's and RE7
28.5---2801------38----------1.116"
28.8---2849------27----------1.109"
29.1---2855------22----------0.684"
29.4---2911------21----------0.822"
29.7---2947------47----------0.941"
30.0---2979------21----------0.931"w/out flyer and 1.428" w/the flyer, I also started seeing very light ejector swipes @ this load
30.3---3001------32----------1.316"
I think I could cut the groups down a little more and I'm not that great of a shooter to start w/. Some of you guys could probably really make it shine. I had ran about 2-300 rounds thru it before the end of the day as I had done quite a bit of prarie dog hunting and random shooting before I started working these up. I just ran a bore snake thru it a few times w/some solvent between strings. And of course, all were shot suppressed.
I got a chance today to go test out the rest of the loads I loaded up. Actually I've been working half night-half day shifts lately, so I got off at 4a.m. this morning and decided to hit the range at dawn so I wouldnt' be bothered.
Again, all were five shot groups, CCI #41/SSA Virgin Small Rifle/2.280 COAL, shot @ 100yrds suppressed. No wind. 40-50 degrees. Flyers are noted.
110 Pro Hunters and H322
Charge-----AVG FPS-------ES-------Group
27.8--------2513-----------25-------1.104"
28.1--------2524-----------27-------1.105" w/out flyer and 2.212" (ouch) w/flyer
28.4--------2548-----------12-------0.778"
28.7--------2578-----------18-------1.186"
29.0--------2591-----------12-------0.705"
29.3--------2615-----------23-------0.977"
29.6--------2630-----------23-------0.850"
29.9--------2661-----------28-------0.687" w/out flyer and 1.512" w/flyer I had faint ejector swipes on two of the five cases here.
30.2--------2669-----------27-------0.679"
30.5--------2687-----------24-------0.698"
The odd thing is that I never had any flattened or cratered primers at any of the loads. All of the primers looked far better than even factory ammo out of my 223's or 308's. It's been awhile since I've shot any 6.8 factory ammo so I can't comapre. I'm going to keep it back down under the 29.9 and try some ten shot groups at 29.6 and 29.8 to see how those turn out.
Pro Hunters and BLC-2
32.9--------2461-----------37-------0.898"
33.2--------2479-----------29-------0.630" w/out flyer and 1.103" w/the flyer
33.5--------2512-----------41-------0.973"
33.8--------2527-----------31-------0.766"
34.1--------2544-----------21-------0.959"
34.4--------2586-----------38-------1.174"
34.7--------2593-----------29-------1.282"
35.0--------2634-----------25-------0.901"
35.3--------2652-----------45-------0.994"
35.6--------2681-----------31-------0.708"
It looked like there might be very faint ejector swipes on the 35.6gr loads, but I had no flattened primers or craters. It was just barely a little more shiny where the ejector hit if you looked at it in the right light. Nothing really noticable like I've seen on the H322 or RE7 loadings I've worked up.
115 SMK's and BLC-2
30.2--------2293----------32----------0.984"
30.5--------2302----------41----------0.898"
30.8--------2346----------43----------0.802"
31.1--------2368----------55----------1.015"
31.4--------2386----------47----------1.007"
31.7--------2415----------47----------1.280"
32.0--------2429----------43----------1.202"
32.3--------2481----------46----------1.135"
32.6--------2496----------38----------1.014"
32.9--------2520----------49----------0.885"
Again, I had no pressure signs w/the SMK's and the BLC-2. The velocity #'s aren't to bad, I reached higher w/the Pro hunters than I did w/the H322, but accuracy wasn't quite as good. I'm going to go ahead and work up both the SMK and Pro Hunters w/BLC back up another grain in 0.3 increments until I see pressure signs. We'll see. I didn't have enough of the SMk's to load up w/H322 to compare the two.
Here's a 10 shot group I managed to get off at the end, 29.4gr RE7 and 90gr TNT's. It was shot w/ about two seconds between shot. Basically as soon as I could get aligned again:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/jlhetrick/DSC00916.jpg
Avg: 2886fps ES:46 The inner group is 0.822" and the two outer shots open it up to 1.436" I'm going to load up 29.7gr and try a ten shot group of that. Hopefully I'll get a chance soon to take both loads out to 200 and 300 and see which one will hold up the best.
got back out this morning and continued to work up the Pro Hunters and the SMK's w/BLC-2 and H322. The only variation this round is that the brass is once fired, instead of virgin.
Pro Hunters and BLC-2 Cont'd from 32.9-35.6 loadings last week..
Charge-------Avg. FPS-----ES--------Group
35.6----------2648----------54--------0.691"
35.9----------2677----------25--------0.876"
36.2----------2692----------23--------1.143" I had very faint ejector swipes
36.5----------2722----------52--------1.050" The ejector swips on this load were very easy to see.
10-Shot group w/110 Pro Hunter and 29.0gr of H322
Avg:2569 ES: 29.24 Group: 0.774"
10-shot group w/SSA 110gr Pro Hunter Factory Ammo. I can't remember if this is the Combat Loads or not. I've had them loaded in a mag for about a year now...
Average: 2687, ES: 73, Group: 1.018" In all honesty, I pulled two of the shots in this group. If I did my part, it could easily do under an 1", if not under 0.75".
While the H322 groups great, I just wish that I could get the velocities w/the H322 that I seem to be getting w/the BLC-2. I've need to get some RE10 and give that a try.
Is this roughly the same velocities that you guys are getting using the H322/Pro Hunter Combo?
The BLC-2 just seems to whip the H322 in this barrel all around so far. The drawback is that the BLC-2 loads are so compressed that, you'd have to run it thru a meter w/two throws maybe? Half each throw and compress the load in between maybe? Not sure if that would work, but not being able to meter kinda takes away the main benifit of the BLC-2 in my experience. YMMV.
115 SMK's and BLC-2
Again this is just a couple grains higher added on to what I worked up last week of 30.2-32.9gr loadings
Charge Avg FPS ES Group
33.2--------2521--------19-------0.711"
33.5--------2540--------23-------0.944
33.8--------2588--------34-------0.689
34.1--------2567--------21-------0.687 I'm not sure what happened here, it averaged lower than the last lower charge?
34.4--------2595--------46-------0.931
34.7--------2633--------72-------0.520 w/out flyer and 0.934 w/the flyer
35.0--------2652--------68-------0.879 I had visible ejector swipes on this loading
35.3--------2705--------52-------1.008
Again, while the accuracy wasn't nearly as good as the H322, the velocities were much better w/the BLC-2 again. Did I say I need some RE10 to try?
115 SMK's and H322
Charge Avg FPS ES Group
27.2--------2405-------79-------0.966"
27.5--------2416-------31-------0.794"
27.8--------2461-------47-------0.947"
28.1--------2510-------34-------0.729"
28.4--------2519-------51-------0.524"
28.7--------2530-------31-------0.304" *This is a personal best for me. See Below*
29.0--------2575-------43-------0.609" I had visible ejector swipes w/this loading
29.3--------2592-------73-------1.099"
While it didn't have great velocities, it's accuracy really shined w/the SMK's. The 28.7gr load was a personal best five shot group for me. It measured 0.581" from outside to outside and 0.304" from center to center:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/jlhetrick/DSC00924.jpg
I was really pleased w/the group(to say the least!). I'm sure some of you guys can do this all day, but I'm not that great of a shot. I'm still impressed that I was able to shoot that good today. I've only gotten below a half-inch twice before and both of those were in the 0.4'"s w/my krieger bbl'd .308 WIN and handloaded 168gr SMK's. It just goes to show that John makes some damn fine barrels. I still need to find out what blank he used for this one.
I wanted to see if the BLC-2 might be an option for the lighter bullets, so I loaded up 90 TNT's over 37.0gr of the BLC-2 and tried a five round group of that. While it had good accuracy, it's velocity was lacking to say the least.
Average: 2710, ES: 34, Group: 0.850"
I finished of the session w/both of the SSA factory loads I had on hand. The Pro Hunters, listed above, and the 85gr TSX's. Again, to be honest, I don't think I did my part again.
SSA 85gr TSX Factory Ammo
Average: 3141, ES: 69, Group: 1.114"
I have some of these comming in from Midway this week, so hopefully I'll get a chance to work those up next week or the week after. I also want to try some Accubonds in the near future.
I'm also wanting to get a heavier buffer/spring combo. I think I could increase the charges slightly before seeing the ejector swipes if I did this. I was unable to run an adjustable gas block under the DD rail on this rifle and it is definetely over-gassed. It ejects @ about 1:45-2:00 o'clock. I'm seeing extractor marks before I'm seeing ejector swipes. I swapped out my carrier on my 308 for one of Slash's XHeavy buffers and it did make a difference in the flattening/cratering of primers on that rifle. So I figure I'll give it a shot on this one. No question that it is over-gassed.
If you guys have any advise or suggestions, they're always appreciated.
07/09
I got back out to the range today to work up some more loads. I worked up loads w/the Hornady 110 BTHP’ using H322, H335, RE10x, and BLC-2. I thought some of you guys might find this comparison interesting. These were all shot w/Virgin SSA Brass/CCI #41/COAL: 2.280. Also, all were shot suppressed. Temperature started off around 60 and was at 75 degrees by the time I left. Humidity was 65% at my house. I’m not sure what it was at the range (30 miles into the mountains from where I live), but it did start raining as I left.
Hornady 110gr BTHP & H322
Charge-------AVG FPS-------E.S.------S.D.--------Group
28.4-----------2524----------35.86----16.21------1.321”
28.7-----------2539----------22.33----10.67------1.077”
29.0-----------2591----------17.75----8.3---------0.857”
29.3-----------2620----------24.81----9.55--------0.528” w/out flyer and 0.998” w/flyer; 3 of 5 had swipes
W/ BLC-2 (All Compressed)
35.0-----------2658----------16.52----7.07--------1.250”
35.3-----------2677----------60.83----25.27-------1.005”
35.6-----------2713----------28.56----19.59-------1.110”
35.9-----------2745----------19.59----8.6----------0.912”
36.2-----------2766----------48.99----22.53-------0.709” w/out and 1.675” w/flyer; 3 of 5 had swipes
36.5-----------2813----------17.77----8.24---------0.910” I had visible Ejector Swipes w/this load.
W/ RL10x
28.4-----------2739----------31.6------11.61--------0.925”
28.7-----------2749----------27.55----13.07--------1.797” I’m not sure why such a big increase in group? Poor shooting I guess.
29.0-----------2764----------41.12----17.37--------1.127”
29.3-----------2777----------27.54----10.9----------0.988” 3 of 5 had visible Ejector Swipes
29.6-----------2792----------40.27----15.45--------0.844” All cases had Ejector swipes w/this load.
W/ H335
31.7-----------2655----------23.29----11.00---------1.408”
32.0-----------2688----------34.08----12.28---------0.985”
32.3-----------2726----------42.58----20.97---------0.883”
32.6-----------2738----------30.97----11.00---------1.184” I had very light ejector swipes on these cases
32.9-----------2755----------93.12----39.48---------0.690” w/out flyer and 1.360” w/the flyer. I’m not sure whether or not my chrony messed up or what, but I had one round read 2825fps. That could definitely count for the flyer anyways.
The BLC-2 really held its own w/these bullets. It had the highest fps and the groups were all right around an MOA, w/three loadings under an inch. This was the first time I had ever used any RE10x or H335. I thought I would be more impressed w/the H335 than I was. After reading several posts from members here who had not gotten good accuracy w/the Hornady 110 BTHP’s I was expecting a lot worse accuracy. But, they weren’t too bad. Nothing compared to the SMK’s, however.
85gr Barnes TSX and RL7
29.3-----------2904-----------37.61----14.38---------1.682”
29.6-----------2923-----------38.11----15.32---------0.833”
29.9-----------2954-----------34.55----8.64-----------0.835”
30.2-----------2978-----------34.8------15.81---------0.848”
30.5-----------3024-----------43.57----16.39---------0.710” 4 of 5 had Ejector Swipes.
While I didn’t get near the velocities of the SSA factory ammo, I did get much better groups. Here’s a comparison from earlier in this thread w/the SSA 85gr TSX Factory Ammo. Temps were a little higher today, but not much:
SSA 85gr TSX Factory Ammo
Average: 3141, ES: 69, Group: 1.114"
I had also worked up loads w/115 SMK’s w/RE10x and H335 and 110gr Accubonds w/H322 and RE10x. Unfortunately however, the clouds started messing w/the chrony and I don’t believe most of the results I got were accurate. Which got me frustrated and that turned into some pretty lousy shooting. So in short, I don’t trust the results from either the chrony or my groups w/these two loadings. Leave it for everything to go wrong once I got to the expensive bullets, of course. So I will be re-loading most of those and trying to get back out in the near future.
I was overgassed w/the suppressor, so I put all of the tungsten weights from an old H2 buffer I had laying around into the rifle buffer on this rifle. It's ejecting at about 2:45 now, so I think one of the flat wire springs is next on the list. I was hoping that by increasing the unlock time I might be able to squeeze a little more into the loadings, but that didn't seem to be the case. I'll see if changing out the buffer spring makes any difference in loadings or not.
Just wondering if you have worked anything up on the factory SSA Accubonds yet?
They are on sale at SSA.
Sorry, I have not. I haven't purchased any factory ammo in quite some time. I think the new 100gr Accubonds that SSA are making now should be some excellent ammo from what I've read. They should be able to push them up into the high 2800's if not the 2900's easily enough.
For Handloads w/the 110gr Accubonds, 27.2gr of RE10x is @ 2546fps/28.7gr of RE10x @ 2653fps and both group just under an inch. For some reason this barrel doesn't like the Accubonds. I can't get nearly as good as groups as most people do. It will shoot them plenty well enough for hunting, which at thier price, is all they will be shot for anyways.
Check over on 68forums. I'm sure someone there can help you find what you're after. Plus Art from SSA is a regular poster over there.
I am on 68 quite a bit. I ordered some of the 110 Accu with the Tac Loads. Just seeing if anyone local as done anything with them.
Thanks for the write ups on the SSA 85 gr TSX. Now if I could find some. Great work and info on all your loads.
If you ever make it up to the Longmont/Lyons area, send me a PM. I'd be happy to let you run some loads thru my chrony if you're wanting some info for your own rifle. I'm the only person I know shooting this round, so a fellow 6.8 shooter locally would be great to bounce things off of. Hope you find the info you're after and good luck.
I'm the only person I know shooting this round, so a fellow 6.8 shooter locally would be great to bounce things off of.
I see that. I have a LWRC, but looking into either a XT or MK68 upper from AR Performance, so all your work has helped me quite a bit.
Did you end up with the flat wire buffer spring? I was looking into one as well.
I will try and take you up on your offer, I think I would learn a lot. Need more 68 shooters.
I'm the only person I know shooting this round, so a fellow 6.8 shooter locally would be great to bounce things off of.
I see that. I have a LWRC, but looking into either a XT or MK68 upper from AR Performance, so all your work has helped me quite a bit.
Did you end up with the flat wire buffer spring? I was looking into one as well.
I will try and take you up on your offer, I think I would learn a lot. Need more 68 shooters.
While I (IMO) purchased a very accurate barrel, I wished that I would have paid a little more $ and bought one of the MK68 bbl's. I think they would be a 100fps faster AND still very accurate. If I keep going at this rate, I'll have this barrel shot up soon enough tho.
I haven't tried the spring yet. I just swapped the steel weights for tungsten in my buffer so far. The spring is next on my list. i would probably learn just as much, and yes we need more 68 shooters. I try to get a couple people to play w/my SBR every time I'm at the range if I see them eyeing it. I gave a couple pieces of brass out today, so hopefully we can slowly get a couple more at a time...
Good luck w/your build.
I broke down and orderd some PRI mags finally awhle back. Increasing the COAL of the accubonds to 2.295" from 2.280" seemed to do the trick. I had much better accuracy than my previous attempts and I didn't have nearly as many pressure signs.
110gr Accubonds:
RE10x----Avg-----ES-----Group
28.1-----2582-----14----0.766"
28.4-----2610-----11----1.061"
28.7-----2638-----27----0.846" 3/5 had Ejector swipes
29.0-----2652-----30----0.968"
H322-----AVG-----ES-----Group
28.1-----2495-----21-----0.921"
28.4-----2518-----12-----1.124"
28.7-----2539-----17-----1.028"
29.0-----2594-----27-----0.724" Ejector Swipes
I also loaded up some 130gr Nosler BT's @ 2.285" COAL w/RE10x to compare w/the H322 & BLC-2 loads that I had already tried. These and the 115SMK's are easily the most accurate bullets out of this rifle.
RE10x----AVG-----ES-----Group
26.8-----2411-----25-----0.640"
27.1-----2429-----24-----0.932"
27.4-----2444-----27-----0.564"
27.7-----2468-----19-----0.854" 3/5 had Ejector swipes
28.0-----2481-----23-----0.789"
MichiganMilitia
08-31-2009, 11:18
I'm the only person I know shooting this round, so a fellow 6.8 shooter locally would be great to bounce things off of.
Don't forget about me! I'll be picking up my 6.8 XT from ARPerformance sometime this weekend.
Haven't forgotten. I'm still trying to figure out when I can take that trip I was telling you about. I'll PM you when I get that done.
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