Jimichanga reloading ramblings - mostly bolt guns and 9mm

• 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

• 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