First off, Happy Easter everyone!! I still have my leg in a cast and can't do a whole lot, But I can still shoot!!
I shot quite a bit yesterday. I'm doing the Spring-Back Testing for my .308 Bellm with the help of Don Shearer. He also had the suggested starting loads of the 110gr. bullets. Yesterday I shot 3 - 5 shot groups with the 110's. They were good but not great. I started at 42gr. of IMR4895, then 43gr. and then 44grs. Everything went fine, no signs of pressure. At 44grs. I was only getting 2450fps. I think I can get some more out of the 110's though. So today I'm loading up a little and see what I can come up with. I'll post the results when I'm done shooting.
I'm loading the bullets .005 off the rifleing for an OAL of 2.801. I think the seating depth will need some adjusting as I only have .184 of the bullet seated in the brass. These are Sierra 110gr. HP's.
I think I'll grap a cup of coffee and head out to my shooting bench.

Bob

Hey Bob
I didn't have any 110's to try out. I went to the local shooting supply & they didn't carry any 110's. I was thinking about ordering a box of Hornady Vmaxs in 110 Grains to try. Did you get the starting load from Don on a post or did you email him? I don't know how I missed it. Do you plan on trying other powders out as well? I keep an eye out as I would like to experiment a little as well.
Rich Jake

Well, I just shot 3 more 5 shot groups with the 110gr Sierra HP's. I'm thinking I could probably go alittle more still. I loaded up to 46.5grs of IMR 4895. This gave me an Average Velocity of 2574fps and also the best group so far. 4 of the 5 were in a small cluster, all touching and the 5th shot was less then a diameter away This is a real sweet barrel!! Excellent job Mike!! Anyway, there is still no sign of pressure, I'm wondering how much higher I should go? Can I expect much more in the way of velocity? Any thoughts?

Bob

Rich, You have a PM

Bob you have a PM.
Rich Jake

I tried the 110 vmax in both, my 308 Bellm and my 309JDJ. Was lucky to get a 2" group at 100. I think that with such a short bullet the bullet jump is way to far in my chambers. I just couldn't seat them out a reasonable ammount and still have enough neck to hold the bullet. I didn't try them in my VVCG 30-30 barrel though.

mranch

Leg in a cast??

Trampled by an elk in the back yard, or did you trip while steelhead fishing in the front yard?

Sorry to hear about a cast no matter what the cause!

LouisB

Did you fill that final elk tag before the injury?

[ 04-21-2003, 00:46: Message edited by: TCLouis ]

LouisB, I wish it was something like that! At least I would have been having fun when it happened.

Thanks Mike,
I'm still showing no sign of pressure! I'll take it easy and be very cautious. I thought I would try a different powder also. And different bullets for that matter!

I'd love to get away for a weekend over east!! As soon as I get a load developed I'll be ready! Maybe we'll make it a week instead of a weekend!!!
I'm sure that would go over good!

Bob

Hey Mike
How ya doing buddy? i lost track of you there for a bit. I shot my 5.6x50r Bellm Mag the other day. I have been using the 35gr Bergers through it using N-130, Through the 20" Barrel im getting 3950 fps. My son Ian killed 3 big coyotes with it this past Fur season. No Pelt damage! It still shoots around a half inch even with all the rounds weve put through it. Can you dig it? - Blaine

Hey, Blaine THE Predator Buster! Looks like you got a puter hook in your mouth, and now you are out here slummin' the forums with the rest of us! GLAD to see you here!

For those that used to get The Custom Contender Chronicle that I published prior to '91, Blaine is the one who did a major portion of the range work with the custom barrels I was making at the time, and it is his mug and his dead critter that was pictured on the cover of one issue.

One of the last official counts I had from Blaine was, I believe, 83 predators from one season with the vast majority having been killed with the 20" 5.6x50 R Bellm barrel he used for developing the loads I published.

He also did the load development work for the .250 Savage Imp. 20" barrel, also published in The Custom Contender Chronicle. So if you have questions about either, he is the man, although a friend ended up with the .250 Imp. barrel quite a few years back.

BTW, Blaine, have you by any chance tried the 5.6x50 R Sellier & Bellott loaded ammo?

Great to see you surface here!

Mike

Hi again Mike
And thanks for the kind words! I learned a hell of alot about rifles and cartridges during the time you were out here thanks to you. And i am very grateful to you for all that you have taught me over the years, Thankyou! I have not tryed the loaded ammo you mentioned, but i damn sure will now! Ian has taken over the 5.6x50r and wont let me have it back, guess i cant blame him as it sure is a dandy little rig, Damn good to hear from you again Mike! Take Care Buddy! - Blaine

Blaine,
Do you have any contact with Lloyd and the .250 Imp. barrel? Curious about how it is doing.

BTW, lots of cougars up here waiting for you to call them. Dee saw one cross the road a couple miles from here in broad daylight.

Mike

[ 04-22-2003, 09:17: Message edited by: Mike Bellm ]

The only 110gr I've tried has been the Hornady SP with Win748 46gr gave sub moa groups, which suprised me because the load density seemed low. I have no chronograph, but from the accuracy I'm guessing it's a fairly consistant load. I've gone up to 47.5gr with no signs of excessive pressure but 46gr was the most accurate.

hope this helps.

Thanks Pinkerton, I'm surprized also at the accuracy I got with the Sierra bullets and H4895! I'd like to try some of the Hornaday's and some other powders as well! I think there is a load to be had somewhere!!!!

Bob

I guess before I get to carried away with the 110gr loads I should finish my Spring-Back Testing for my barrel, Then I'll KNOW the Max load!! Imagine That!!
I've fired all the test loads, all I have to do is measure the diameters of the fired cases and graph them... and find out the Max. diameter of the cases for my barrel. This testing has been alot of fun. Lots of shooting! Don Shearer has been a lot of help in getting me through this process. I'm hopefully getting down to the nitty gritty and getting a pretty good idea of the Max. load for my barrel. Which I might add is a smaller bore then normal. It is a .306 bore and throws things out of the norm!! I'm working through it and having fun! I should have a RED-LINE load for my barrel real soon.

Bob

Hey Rich, Have you got any loads ready to shoot this weekend? I bought some of Hornady's and I bought some of Speer's H.P. Just to try. The Hornady's look pretty good. I don't know how Speer's flat hollow points will do. Will see tomorrow. Let me know how your doing!!!

Bob

Bob
I have not ordered the 110's yet. I had a temperary set back. My tumbler started smoking the other day. Midway said to send it back for repair & I'll get some credit for the postage on the tumbler.

Since I have a couple of items to get I figured that I would wait & put the bullets in with that order. I am definitely interested in giving them a try! I will probably get the 110 vmaxs. They seem to shoot pretty well out of almost anything. Please keep me updated on your results.

Rich Jake