Catch-22

Interesting - thanks for the clarification and correction. Cheers

And like clockwork - Neil McKillop (aka Dasherman) has a lovely Tikka 595 in 6mmBR ready to go in the For Sale section. Seems very good value! http://ukvarminting.com/topic/48527-6mm-br-tikka/

Yeah I don’t really bother with the Explosia load data as it’s very mild. I remember reading somewhere that they don’t conduct full pressure testing. This is where Shooters World have been a huge asset because they’ve done the invaluable pressure testing - so it’s their data that I would trust/go by personally. On the point about the Lovex designations, they’re also clearly named at the top of each page of the powder’s load data - just look at the coloured headers. Also written in the last paragraph of each powder’s description page (towards the beginning of that pdf).

The Lovex designation for ‘Tactical Rifle’ is D073-08. It’s a double based ball powder, similar to BLC(2) and H335. Here’s a really useful US resource that shows the Lovex and US Shootersworld designations. Shootersworld did actual pressure testing with the Lovex powders, so they should be very accurate. https://shootersworldpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/shooters-world-manual.pdf Find the Tactical Rifle page (p.26) and you’ll find some reduced .223 loads. Starting load of 17.5gn with a 55gn FMJ bullet will give just 2500fps.

Thanks Baldie. I knew the GB chaps did some work for the Sassen guys but couldn’t recollect what exactly. And I believe the chaps at GB get their barrel bar stock from Sassen? Isn’t it Barmond steel? With regards to the cut rifling machines, do the GB chaps also have a machine from Scotland? Or did they source a completely new machine? Cheers

What would be your choice and why? A Sessen cut or button rifled barrel? Or a GB cut barrel? Both outfits are made up of former Border employees. I believe the GB guys were those who worked on the Border cut barrels as they don’t offer buttoned barrels. And the guys who are with Sassen worked on the Archer barrels are they were button. Though I believe the Sassen chaps offer cut barrels now (though unsure if they’re doing it themselves or having the barrels cut by their friends of GB barrels? Anyone know the deal/partnership between the two outfits?

Yes Warminster is a stable ODRC range. However the issue for most Of us who work is that it’s only on Thursdays. Shame as it’s supposed to be a nice one. Most ODRC ranges are located in the northern part of ‘The South’ or further north. So for those of us based around Bristol and South Wales, I’d certainly welcome the opportunity to shoot at Yoxter and Langport if they were available as Saturday shoots.

Is that not Yoxter, near Wells? That’s a 600m range. That would be a nice option for ODRC I think.

Lovely gun - if I were still rough shooting and busting clays, I’d be all over this. Merry Christmas and good luck with your sale! 🎄👍

Ralph - where exactly is Langford? My Googlefu is $hit today!

Personally I would use N150 for anything 175gn+ N140 is ideal for the 155gn bullets. Interesting, I’ve largely found the same as you but specifically with respect to some of the RS double based powders. N140 was infinitely better (with the components I tested) than RS52 (double based). But RS62 (single based) was very good, though still didn’t have as low ES/SD as N140. But I’m VERY impressed using RS80 (mildly double based) in the big .338 Norma Magnum. Consistently single digits SD and extreme accuracy with that powder. Below examples are 5x groups. It might be that some of the RS double based powders are just a bit different/finicky??

I think you mean the former has higher velocity and is theoretically harder on barrels as RS52 is a double based powder, whereas N140 is a single base. To the OP, both of those powders are very good. I’d also consider adding N150 and RS62 in the options too. Both single base, both readily available and both work well with heavier bullets as they’re slightly slower burning.

Ah ok, though with the extra capacity I’d personally be looking at the 85gn Eld-m or Bergers 85.5gn Hybrid or 90gn VLD. The BC spanks that of the 75gn ELD and is definitely better than the 80gn ELD. With the above in mind, go with a faster twist (1-6.5”) You've got the extra capacity - would be a shame not to fully realise it.

I think if you just get the ‘.223 Wylde’ reamer you’ll be absolutely fine shooting anything up to 80gn. There’s enough freebore to permit the long bullets to seat long enough to maximise internal case volume...but also short enough to allow you to chase the lands as they erode over time. The Wylde reamer is a common reamer and a lot of rifle smiths will have one in their inventory.

I’m having a .223ai barrel spun up for my impending Impact Precision/MPA comp chassis rifle. The reamer is throated for 77gn-80gn bullets and has a 0.60” freebore (very similar to a .223 Wylde freebore) and a .255” neck diameter. Barrel will also be a 1-8” twist. Im likely to shoot the 77gn TMK or 80gn SMK with it.

Na, it’s been like that for years. I think they simply don’t have a policy for shipping outside the EU - possibly a German firearms export control thing which makes it hard for retailers to export to non EU countries ?? To your other point, I bet ballisticservice24 sells more Lapua products than all the UK retailers combined...they wouldn’t be threatened with being cut off. Lapua are likely to see sales fall in the UK as prices go up and availability goes down. Bad for them and bad for us.

I too don’t know why Ballisticservice24 don’t export. I’ve noticed a few other companies don’t either (a very good one in Luxembourg springs to mind). I guess it’s just way easier for them to ship to other European neighbours without the hassle/paperwork?? I shall miss them though. I got 4000x .338 bullets, 6000x 6.5mm bullets and some brass off them for a very good price.

Yep, which is why I had a huge order completed before the 1st proposed Brexit deadline passed.

What stock/chassis do you have? If you’ve a stock, what bottom metal are you using? Is it designed for normal AICS long action (.300wm) or CIP length? And when you say “...the AI mag isn’t the slickest feeder and is rattley” what do you mean exactly? The round is hard to strip from the mag? And the mag to bottom metal is rattley, or that when stripping a round, the spring is rattley? I would say if the mag is rattling in the bottom metal itself, then there’s a poor fit somewhere. Sure Mags will move a bit, they’re never going to be completely stiff, but it shouldn’t be flopping about (that’s what she said!). If your stock/chassis is AICS, do you have the correct model/length of AICS magazine? The long action come in several sizes, including standard and CIP length. There’s even a wider AX type cut, which is a wider mag well opening for double stack, double feed.Could you by chance be using a shorter standard length mag in a stock/chassis/bottom metal that’s designed for CIP length or even AX mags? If the round is hard to strip from the mag, you can always carefully adjust the feed lips just a bit, opening them outward to let the round sit a little higher in the mag and with less tension, this permitting a smooth bolt cycle. Go gentle here if you do open the feed lips a bit, a little goes a long way and you need to keep the lips straight. Otherwise, I think I’d be speaking to the person who built you the rifle for clarity on what’s going on. And in terms of alternate mags, you can look at Accurate Mags or American Rifle Company (ARC) but tbh, you’ll be hard pressed to beat a genuine AI mag!

Per the V-V website, using N140 (which you have) it suggests a starting load of 46gn and max of 49.0gn with a 110gn Hornady VMax. I would say that should duplicate the recoil felt of a 6.5 Creedmoor with 130-140gn bullets. Id suggest you move her up from the .220 Swift to the 6.5. Then transition to the mild .308w load...then slowly work her up to mid .308w loads. The .308 is great for learning to read the wind whilst rapidly chucking lead down range.

Hausken - says on the side.

Yeah absolutely - it was a real shame the recent Sennybridge J3a was cancelled because they’d seemingly lifted the .30cal only ban, so was looking forward to taking the .338NM out again. ☹️ Next time.

Ok no probs - thank you!

Yeah that’s right. If you have some graphite (or similar) just swab a little on the internal plastics of the thrower. I believe Adam puts some details in his instruction manual. I used HbN because I coat my bullets with it. But I could have also used just a dab from the Redding Dry Lube (graphite) I use for sizing brass. Neither graphite nor HbN will affect powder in a case. I believe most powders have a slight graphite coating (or similar) applied to them anyway. Coating the internals may help (it did for me) but may not. Worth giving a go. If it doesn’t work and loosening the screw doesn’t work either, no matter how much you loosen it, then it might be worth getting the v3. For me it worked well enough to not need to upgrade to v3.

Could I have 2nd dibs on the Seb Mini w. Blake top please, if Elwood doesn’t take it?!? Cheers