I have a CZ 527 in 221 Fireball with a 22inch barrel. I am loading 40gr Vmax and BT's with 2400. Alliant lists 15.5gr as Max. Hornady with 24in barrel 15.4 @3300fps. Sierra with 20in barrel 15.1 @3200fps.

I worked up to 15.5gr with 7 1/2 primers with no signs of high pressure except velocity. The avg. velocity of this load was 3463fps 15ft from muzzle. That's more than 150fps with a 2in shorter barrel. I wasn't comfortable with that so I set my load at 14.8gr with a velocity of 3300fps. It's still faster than the book.

Yesterday I worked up a bunch of loads with 14.8gr 2400, 40gr BT's and Vmax with 4 different primers. WSR, 7 1/2, 6 1/2 and Fed 205Ms 15 rounds each. Here is what I came up with at 100 yards three sets of 5.

Fed 205M NBT's avg velocity 3284fps, .786in group. Vmax, 3291fps, .544in group.

Rem 7 1/2 NBT's 3311fps, .643in group, Vmax 3322fps .507in group.

WSR NBT's 3404fps, .332 in group. Vmax 3398fps .298in group.

I see no signs of high pressure with any of these loads except the high velocity. I really like the way the WSR primers shoot, both speed and accuracy. What do you think, too hot?

Steve,

your worry too much my friend..

I'd be smiling and spending some range and field time with it.. instead of sitting at home and worrying about it...

if it is a little faster and the load is accurate... go have fun....

I am sure there is a counterpart to your problem.. some guy somewhere with the same rifle, fretting because his loads are 150 fps, slower than the reload manuals.....

like the song said, 'faster horses, younger women and older whiskey'...

Amen : I love it. Doccash

looks like you go your self a shooter.
Have you tried tweekin that .298" load. I would have to go up or down a couple tenth of a grain and maybe vary the seating depth a little to see if I could improve it more.
Afriend of mine has a 221 remington that shoots one holers.
Dave

quote:

WSR NBT's 3404fps, .332 in group. Vmax 3398fps .298in group.

I would work on this load.