Jimichanga reloading ramblings - mostly bolt guns and 9mm

[Jimichanga]

Reloading press used (list modifications if relevant): Forster Co-Ax
Caliber: 22BR
Bullet (Weight, Coating, Profile, Manufacturer): 88.5 Berger Hybrid
Powder manufacturer, type and charge; volume, type (ball, stick, flake): Hodgdon Varget
Dies used: Redding 6BR
Primers used: CCI 450
Cartridge Overall Length (COAL): Lands @1.754 load @ 1.734
Chronograph data (if possible): magnetospeed v3
Goals intended with this load: Developing new load for 2024 precision rifle matches bc cannot find sierra 95 smk
Results - accuracy, smokiness, clean burning, flash, temperature, smell, brass deformation, etc.:
Problems encountered and fixes applied:
Anything of interest: action: Zermat SA origin bbl: 26 in 7 twist krieger

Going to document process here as I keep losing my notes
500 pieces of Lapua 6BR brass
Size necks down from 243 to 224 first with redding nitride .256 bushing then .248 bushing. total PIA

Headspace
Fired case 1.151 with Whidden 35 gage -- sizing die set to 1.149

initial ladder test to find pressure:
grains / fps
27.6 /2922
27.8 /2951
28 /2962
28.2 /2977
28.4 /2986
28.6 /3001
28.8 /3026
29 /3040
29.2 /3052
29.4 /3071 sticky bolt lift stopped
29.6 /not shot

load 10 @ 29
x=3043 SD 6,5 remarkable accuracy

True bc predicted by Kestrel for distance yards/mils
conditions: 42F 25.82hg 40RH 3920DA 4300 actual elevation clear sunny minimal wind
initial velocity check: x=3020 SD of 6.7
yards /kestrel /actual
600 /3 /3.1
700 /3.9 /4
800 /4.8 /5
900 /5.9 /6
1000 /7.1 /7.2
1100 /8.4 /8.5
1200 /9.9 /10

[Jimichanga]

Reloading press used (list modifications if relevant): Forster Co-Ax
Cartridge: 6.5 Grendel
Bullet (Weight, Coating, Profile, Manufacturer): Hornady 120 ELDM
Powder manufacturer, type and charge; volume, type (ball, stick, flake): 8208 xbr and cfe223
Dies used: Hornady 6.5 grendel
Primers used: CCI 400
Cartridge Overall Length (COAL): magazine limit is 2.3 Lands @1.756 load @ 1.736
Chronograph data (if possible): garmin xero
Goals intended with this load: Developing new load for shooting critters suppressed without irritating neighbors
Results - accuracy, smokiness, clean burning, flash, temperature, smell, brass deformation, etc.:
Problems encountered and fixes applied: firearm needs some love. see below
Anything of interest: 6.5 Grendel Ruger American Ranch 16 bbl


Initial issues with rifle
1 Running the bolt is rough and sounded like a zipper from tool marks. fix: Covered bolt and back of lugs with JB bore past and cycled a few hundred times. No more zipper sound and runs much smoother
2 trigger at 4lbs at lowest setting. fix: removed trigger return spring cut 2 coils off and sanded and deburred. reinserted spring now breaks at 2 lbs
3. stock too flexible touches bbl and limited to OAL of stanag mags. fix: ordered KRG Bravo stock that cost as much as the rifle and MDT AICS 6ARC mag that allows OAL to 2.3

Reloaders this is for a BOLT GUN so this will be too hot for your AR

load development with virgin starline brass

Initial test 10 ea hornady black ammo 123 eldm commercially loaded: x=2353 SD 17

Not a lot of data for 6.5 Grendel in bolt guns so I loaded up a couple of ladders for powder that I had on hand.

initial ladder test with 8208xbr to find pressure:
grains / fps
26.2 /2183
26.4 /2175
26.6 /2193
26.8 /2232
27 /2243
27.2 /2281
27.4 /2305
27.6 /2330
27.8 /2350
28 /2373

initial ladder test with cfe223 to find pressure:
29.6 /2256
29.8 /2237
30 /2245
30.2 /2289
30.4 /2284
30.6 /2304
30.8 /2315
31 /2370
31.2 /2339
31.4 /2355

no flattened primers or ejector swipes visible in either ladder

[Jimichanga]

• Reloading press used (list modifications if relevant): Forster Co-Ax
• Cartridge: 7.62x39
• Bullet (Weight, Coating, Profile, Manufacturer): Hornady 123 SST and 255 SUBX (.310)
• Powder manufacturer, type and charge; volume, type (ball, stick, flake): CFE Black
• Dies used: Hornady 7.62x39
• Primers used: CCI 200 large rifle
• Cartridge Overall Length (COAL): magazine limit is 2.20 for AK mags so 2.190
• Chronograph data (if possible): garmin xero
• Goals intended with this load: Developing accurate load for super and subsonics
• Results - accuracy, smokiness, clean burning, flash, temperature, smell, brass deformation, etc.: pretty easy to load for and suppresses well
• Problems encountered and fixes applied: comments below
• Anything of interest: 7.62x39 Ruger American Ranch Gen 2 16 bbl, 9.5 twist, with Occam Defense Solutions RUK AK Magwell

Initial observations with rifle
1 Bolt was much smoother than Gen 1. No zipper sound. Bolt handle is also larger and does not need replacement.
2 Trigger at 5lbs at lowest setting. fix: removed trigger return spring cut 2 coils off and sanded and deburred. reinserted spring now breaks at 2ish lbs
3. Stock is much better than Gen 1. Much less flex but still cheapish. I added picatiny rail and GrovTec flush cups to the stock.

Reloaders this is for a BOLT GUN so this will be too hot for your AK


Shot 100ea cheap steel cased Russian ammo before load dev

load development with once fired PPU brass

Not a lot of data for 7.62x39 in bolt guns so I loaded up a ladder with CFE Black. First time working with it. Meters like a dream
Hodgdon online says 26.3-27.3 for 123 grain bullet and 13.2 grains for 255 SubX (20 inch bbl tested) rifle not specified but must be for auto loader

Shot a ladder looking for pressure, inspecting brass after each firing. Ran out of case volume before pressure.

123 SST
grains - fps
28.0 - 2370
28.2 - 2380
28.4 - 2386
28.6 - 2427
28.8 - 2436
29 - 2443

255 SubX to ogive 1.670
the 255 subx's are massive toads and take up most of the case.
grains - fps
12.5 - 893
12.7 - 863
12.9 - 963
13.1 - 965
13.3 - 1024
13.5 - 1033
13.7 - 1062** 37ish F at sea level

Loaded up 5 at 13.7 grains and tested at 100 to make sure they were not key-holing. Nice round holes, no issues.
Mounted suppressor, subsonic zero was approximately 5 mils low from supersonic zero at 100. Suppressed nice

Switched to virgin Starline brass ogive 1.620
shoot 5 ea

grains - fps
28.2 - 2474 SD 14 ES 44
28.4 – 2470 SD 10 ES 31 – best accuracy
28.6 – 2493 SD 8 ES 22
28.8 – 2497 SD 10 ES 25

I was going to sbr this thing and cut the bbl to 12 inches but I'm happy with it for now.

[LittleLebowski]

This is a GOOD thread! Thank you.