One more post then I'm done. Here is more data from my experiments with this Remington Mountain Rifle in '06.

Shot it side by side with a pre-64 Featherweight using Federal Classic with a 165 grain Sierra. Advertised velocity is 2800. The Winchester averaged 2780 and mine averaged 2783. Both have 22" barrels. Interestingly the Winchester printed over 2" groups while mine was in the 1.25" range but that's another post! I decided to follow the Nosler Manual #4 recipe to the letter with Re22 and a 165 grain ballistic tip. The gunstore only had the 168 grain CT bullet but I figured it was close enough. Here are the results.

Powder Vel. E.S. S.D. Group
59g 2626 63.45 32.12 1.632"
60g 2652 52.07 26.00 1.882"
61g 2744 25.99 13.03 2.302"
62g 2760 16.90 8.48 2.572"
63g 2817 9.78 4.89 1.948"
63.5g 2781 17.81 8.54 0.644"

Max from the book is 63 grains. Bullets were not loaded out long. Overall length was 3.360". From these results I conclude 1) my chronograph is working correctly, 2) my barrel is not faster or slower than a comparable rifle, 3)something in my handloading technique is not generating the velocity everybody else seems to get with 165 grain bullets, and 4) I've now found three very accurate loads with good hunting bullets (Sierra, Hornady, and Nosler) that, although they are a bit slower than I wanted will do everything I need them to do. I'm done experimenting!

Thanks everyone for all the help over the past few weeks.

NoCAL

NoCAL -

Welcome to the wacky world of handloading. Sometimes things happen that just do not make sense. The good thing is, you've probably gotten a lot more familiar with your shootin' iron, so, all the elk and mulies are in trouble now AND you've found some combos that will work well for you.

This whole thing has me so intrigued that I'm loading up a batch of R22/165's myself to play around with.

R-WEST

R-West,
Keep me informed on your results. It will be interesting to see if you can get closer to the published velocities. I was very happy with that 0.6" group at 62.5g of Re22 although I'm at a loss to explain why adding more powder suddenly dropped the velocity down. 62.5 grains came to about halfway up the neck, so maybe I'll fool around with seating depth a little. If I seat the bullets out farther and the powder is less compressed there may be a velocity or accuracy effect. Thanks for the welcome. It is a strange science.

NoCAL

NoCal
FWIW my copy of Nosler #4 dosn't list RL22 (in 30-06) with anything below a 180gr.
Some people like to report velicity numbers that have more than a little blue sky in them.
What you are seeing is not unusual, it is a indication that you have gone past the point of max efficeny.
Load 6 rounds each (2 3-shot groups) at 62.7, 63.0, 63.3 and 63.5 than shoot your crony and groups again. I know that the change is slight, but you do want confirmation of your first results anyway, don't you ? (if you ment that 62.5 was your max instead of the 63.5 stated in your first post, reshoot with 61.7, 62.0, 62.3, 62.5 instead)

[This message has been edited by Tailgunner (edited 05-07-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Tailgunner (edited 05-07-2002).]

I'd be willing to bet that the Nosler book you are using reports their velocities using a 24" barrel and not the 22" barrel that you used. That could easily result in velocities of 50 to 70 fps faster just due to the extra 2" of barrel.

Tim

Excellent comment from tgun. 2800 is about the max I can get out of my 22"Kimber 89 with the Sierra 165gr. If I want 3000fs then I upgrade to a 300 mag. This is still a super game getter load with a bullet suited to the velocity range. I do not think we need to make the 06 into something it is not Be happy you have a reliable and accurate load.
I use 58 gr 4350 in mine

BR

Battle,
Good comments. The first load I settled on with this gun was 59 grains H4350 with a Sierra 165 so we are on about the same page. Then I got a chronograph and started questioning everything. Since then I've tried to match loading manual velocities but you are correct, most manuals use barrels longer than 22". I'm now happy with these results.

TG, I've got the Nosler #4 and it does list Re22 for a 165 grain bullet. Maybe you have the newer one? Anyway, I will load up according to your suggestions and see what happens. I also have alot of room to load the bullets out a little longer, I may try some different seating depths. I would prefer not using ballistic tips because they are much more expesive than the Sierra and Hornady's I have been useing. I do use them in my .308 but I don't really hunt with it anymore. Anyway, thanks all.

NoCAL

My mistake, I was looking at the 30-06 AI data, you are correct, 63gr max W/ RL22 165gr Nosler, in Winchester brass

NC,
It appears you have a slow barrel. I would try genuine Nosler 165gr BTs or Part before jumping ship. I will be testing a factory Mod 70 in 06 this summer, I will E-mail you my results. You do not live too far from me so maybe I will come up to your stomping grounds and we will burn some powder! As for the the blue sky theory by one poster, that is pure speculation. sure-shot

[This message has been edited by sure-shot (edited 05-08-2002).]

Ream that booger out to '06 IMP. and have fun.