I wanted a 2,800fps 140gr load that allowed dawn and dusk shooting minimal muzzle flash.

139gr Hornady BTSP
RP cases
WLR primers
44.5gr Vihtavuori N150
COL 3.0" (base of cannelure)

MV 2,800fps from 24" barrel
3 shots 0.55" repeatable.

Shows good expansion on deer.

Normal caveats apply.

Great accuracy!! And you say, minimal muzzle blast/flash? Great!!

(I understand that the original Japanese 6.5X50mm Arisaka round, fired in the 31" barrel of the original infantry Arisaka, gave no muzzle flash AT ALL! Apparently all powder was well-burned up before the bullet got near the muzzle! Of course, this round holds a lot less powder than the 7X57mm, and was loaded to a much lower velocity!!)

1894: What kind of rifle do you have? Also, what game do you shoot with that load? Just curious, that's all. Thanks ... Tom Purdom

Tom,

It's an 09 Argentine by TT Proctor. Basicaly a Churchill stock (the absolute last!), 24" shihlen #3.5 profile (#4 with shank turned down to allow lower scope mounting) and mounts hewn from billet that hold a Swarovski 6x42. All up 9lbs due to steel scope and the bomb proof mounts.

It's just come back from 3 days roe stalking in torrential rain - I do love to see water droplets on a barrel as I sit looking down a forest path! The wood loses it's shine but the grain is stable and one coat of oil and it's as good as new.

In the hot summer the above load chrono's 2,900fps and change with no signs of pressure or POI change.

This is the reason I don't intentionaly load hot!

One of my Ruger 77 Mk2s in 7 x 57, fell in love with 42 grains of W 748 and a 140 grain bullet.
Quarter inch groups.

Everything else in this rifle is 3 inch groups or worse.

MV is 2800 in a 22 inch barrel. Factory stock rifle, except with a trigger adjusted at home.
That helped the groups a lot also.

1894: When I was a kid, my dad was stationed in England for 3 yrs at RAF Alconbury as a pilot.
( 1963 to 1966). Remembering England very well, What Is your definition of a HOT DAY over there?
I think in 3 yrs we saw 75 degrees and 81 degrees once each. Stateside, last Saturday here in Southern Oregon it was 106 degrees here in town. Guess Tempature is all relative.

I can tell you that your loads should not have to worry about temperature sensitivity in Britain. I doubt if it would have to worry about Temp Sensitivity even in Northern Scotland.

Stateside, I have been out in temps of 30 below zero in Minnesota and out at 110 degrees in Montana and Oregon, with everything in between.
I may have been lucky, but I have never had problems with major point of impact changes at all, in any caliber with factory loads or handloads. I do hear other people talk about having them, but I don't see it.

Now talk about Rifle Scope Sensitivity in temperature extremes, then I can see that point.
30 below really tells you whether you have a good scope or not. So does Elk Season near coastal Oregon in November, with all the monsoon season starting. I don't carry a Tasco or Cheap Bushnell in those environments.



[ 10-01-2003, 11:55: Message edited by: seafire/ B17G ]

1894:

Last few weeks, I was playing with loads in the 7mm Mauser, and tried some RL 7. I used it in both 140 grain loads and 154 grain loads. Velocity was actually a lot more than I expected, the recoil was less than other powders with similar velocities.

Being a faster powder and using less of it, than mid range powders, I am guessing that it might also burn cleaner or quicker, reducing muzzle flash. Haven't been out at night to check it out. While have to do so, just for the heck of it.

Just thought I would pass it on to you and the other interested folks. Good luck.

1894:

Was up at 3 am on Saturday to go up into the high country to scout for Elk. Even tho it is just 50 miles to where I was going, with the roads it takes about 2.5 hours to get there.

However, remembering your post about low muzzle flash, I did stop and take a shot in the air with the RL 7 load and a 150 grain bullet.

Surprising in a 22 inch barrel, while it did have some flash, I was surprised on how little.

Muzzle flash is not a concern on this side of the atlantic, unless you are hunting illegally after dark ( poaching).

Faster powders, evidently have less muzzle flash, as you use less of it, and they also burn so much quicker.

Hope that is of some use to you. cheers.


[ 10-13-2003, 09:33: Message edited by: seafire/ B17G ]