I'm loading Hornady spire points over 44.5 grains of RL15 in Lapua brass and was wondering if anyone knew or could guess at my approx velocity out of a 22.7 inch barrel?

I'm still in the experimental stage but so far this seems the most accurate load in my rifle, max is given as 46.2 in my Lyman manual, and I was wondering if it would make the 2450fps minimum velocity requirement for deer. I'm pretty certain it must but know that there are folks on here who can calculate muzzle velocity and so thought to ask.

If it does make 2450fps then I might load up, zero the rifle and try to take my first deer with one of my reloads. Not a big deal for some but another small step for me.

what are you loading ???

Dooh!!! Sorry, it might just be a little useful to know that it is 308 Win and the bullet weight is 150 grain.

caorach,

My Speer Reloading manual lists a 45grn load as pushing a 150grn bullet at 2683 fps out of a 22" barrel...Thats their starting load...The max listed is 49grn (compressed load) giving 2919fps...

When I tried RL-15, with 155grn Lapua Scenars, there is no way I could get more than 46.5grns in the case and that in itself was *very* compressed!

Regards,

Peter

i am loading 45.0 grs of RL-15 with a 150 nosler bil.tip shot over my chroney at 2840 fps.

Thanks Peter, I've seen a wide range of loads for the 150 grain with RL15 and as you say some go as high as 49 grains and Sierra say max with their bullet is 44.8 grains which is, I think, the lowest I've seen.

My Lyman 48th edition manual gives 41 - 46.2 grains as their range with the velocity of 2521 for the lower load and 2847 for the max load. That was with a 24 inch barrel. I tried loading to 46 grains but the accuracy wasn't as good as with 44.5. Your velocity and Lyman would seem to hint that I'm seeing around 2600fps. At least that keeps me legal.

I agree that I wouldn't fancy fitting 49 grains of RL15 into a case! With the spire point I would say 46 grains is lightly compressed, with 44.5 you can shake the case and feel some movement in the powder.

My NOSLER NUMBER 3 has a listed load from 42.0 - 46.0 max.. 44.0 grs has a listed velocity of 2840 from a 24 in" i am getting a true 2840 from a 22" with 45.0 grs

Thanks for that vines, that is even better than I imagined if I am coming close to the numbers you are getting. I'm seeing no pressure signs at that, nor did I see any at 46 grains. Either way it looks like I'm operating within the law.

caorach:
Ran your numbers thru my copy of Quickload and came up with the following:
Vel. = 2674 fps
Pressure = 44644
Now, I've found QL's numbers can be significantly off from real world numbers in some cases. In this case, however, I think it's pretty close. Hope this helps, I enjoy doing this sort of thing as much for my info as to try & help someone out.
Bear in Fairbanks

That is why i like to shoot my loads over my chrony so i will know.. Sometimes ago l loaded a lot of 30-06 for friends. i was loading the some load in all 3 of the guns. all with 22' barrels, i was getting a little over 100 fps different in the 3.. From the fastest to the slowest the fastest being 2940