New load development with the miini 30

1583 Views 72 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Tacky, 2 mo ago

Tacky

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago (Edited)

2

Well as stated, I am working up a development load for my mini 30 with the 123 grain nosler varmageddon polymer tip bullet, and H322 powder. I chose that because I didnt have RL7, OR H4198 around. CCI #200 primer,. So starting at bottom 25 grains which yields 1900 up to, well a compressed load. 1 grain increments. Kept them between 2.205" to 2.210" on the top end, 10 round test ammo, 5 bags, so 50 rounds. Gonna test it soon to see the results. Will update when I do.

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Corndog

· #41 · 2 mo ago

How are you getting your velocities @Tacky Load data or a chronograph? I assume load data given the whole number increments.

Sr40ken

· #42 · 2 mo ago

Tacky said:
You I'm actually happy with the results, not bad with an 8" target, and 4 power scope at 100 yard. With a 9 power probably could have been tighter, but that was good enough for its purpose. Now gonna have to mass produce that round particularly for the mini 30.

Hopefully next time will test the new AK brake.

Everyone of those shots could have put venison on the table.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #43 · 2 mo ago

Bepe said:
Tacky, great report. What was the grain weight on the RL7 2300 fps load?

Thanks for the info. The Mini is a good shooter.

Bepe

Load was
nosler #34056
26.6 grains of RL7
Yields 2300
Case trim 1.518"
Coal= 2.205"
CCI # 200 LRP

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #44 · 2 mo ago

Corndog said:
How are you getting your velocities @Tacky Load data or a chronograph? I assume load data given the whole number increments.

yes load data. no chrono tests yet. Soon though.

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Corndog

· #45 · 2 mo ago

@Tacky

Belom comes out at 2350fps and does very well in mine. 123 grain.

The Norma I have comes out at 2430fps. 124 grain.

Just two more data points. Not trying to mess up your project. These are reported not chrono values.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #46 · 2 mo ago

Corndog said:
@Tacky

Belom comes out at 2350fps and does very well in mine. 123 grain.

The Norma I have comes out at 2430fps. 124 grain.

Just two more data points. Not trying to mess up your project. These are reported not chrono values.

I'm always up for new data to try. Thanks.

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Hylander

· #47 · 2 mo ago

Thanks for the report.
I need to get some of those powders

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #48 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Hylander said:
Thanks for the report.
I need to get some of those powders

Luckily I had h322, since I use it for 338 federal, but it's been out of stock locally for sometime. They have RL7, and A1680 but h322 has proven to be my go to now. May work up something with benchmark as well just to see if I can gain a .5 moa.

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Bepe

· #49 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

With a powder weight of 26.6 grains I'd wager you are probably up around 2450 feet per second area. Nosler on line load data only lists three powder charges of 25.....26.....and 27 grains. The 25 grain load is listed at 2301 fps. The 26 grain load is 2394 fps and the 27 grain load is 2488.

Nosler uses a 22" test barrel but extensive testing by Forum member Sandog revealed that the x39mm round usually attains its highest velocities within a 16 to 18 inch barrel. Three guns and chrono tested for the results.

I just checked my Hornady Manual #10 and they list a max load of 26.6 grains @ 2300 fps for their poly tip from a 20" barrel. Different bullet and I think their data is conservative. Another Forum member Imarangemaster has been running a max load of H4198 and a Hornady from his Mini 30 and reports over 2550 fps on his chrono.

Accuracy was excellent. The rifle is a good looker and shoots. It will be interesting to see what the actual velocity numbers are if you get a chrono.

Thanks for the testing. Always good to have data to reference.

Here's a pic of the Nosler poly versus the Hornady poly for a visual comparison.

Bepe

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #50 · 2 mo ago

Bepe said:
With a powder weight of 26.6 grains I'd wager you are probably up around 2450 feet per second area. Nosler on line load data only lists three powder charges of 25.....26.....and 27 grains. The 25 grain load is listed at 2301 fps. The 26 grain load is 2394 fps and the 27 grain load is 2488.

Nosler uses a 22" test barrel but extensive testing by Forum member Sandog revealed that the x39mm round usually attains its highest velocities within a 16 to 18 inch barrel. Three guns and chrono tested for the results.

I just checked my Hornady Manual #10 and they list a max load of 26.6 grains @ 2300 fps for their poly tip from a 20" barrel. Different bullet and I think their data is conservative. Another Forum member Imarangemaster has been running a max load of H4198 and a Hornady from his Mini 30 and reports over 2550 fps on his chrono.

Accuracy was excellent. The rifle is a good looker and shoots. It will be interesting to see what the actual velocity numbers are if you get a chrono.

Thanks for the testing. Always good to have data to reference.

Here's a pic of the Nosler poly versus the Hornady poly for a visual comparison.

Bepe
View attachment 192907

You may be correct, it will be interesting to see what the chrono results are for this round. Hopefully soon. Have some mass producing to do now.

I'm still bumfuzzled why the higher powder charge of RL7 hit lower on the target. That makes no sense compared to the others. Not consuming all the powder? I mean everything else was the same except the increased powder. Never seen that before, why it has me stumped as the cause. Thoughts?

Bepe

· #51 · 2 mo ago

Possibly the lower powder charge and velocity round had more dwell time in the barrel. Just enough recoil movement with the round still traveling down the barrel for the round to hit higher.

As I mentioned above......the Nosler on line data has the starting load at 25 grains and max load at 27 grains for the RL7. If you had some loaded at 23 grains.....they have to be pretty anemic.

That is my guess.

Bepe

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #52 · 2 mo ago

Bepe said:
Possibly the lower powder charge and velocity round had more dwell time in the barrel. Just enough recoil movement with the round still traveling down the barrel for the round to hit higher.

As I mentioned above......the Nosler on line data has the starting load at 25 grains and max load at 27 grains for the RL7. If you had some loaded at 23 grains.....they have to be pretty anemic.

That is my guess.

Bepe

But the highest charges were hitting lower, lower left, lower right than the slower speed charges. The top charges are the starting charges working up. That's why I'm baffled.

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Corndog

· #53 · 2 mo ago

@Tacky

It’s a Soviet cartridge. I suggest wearing a big, old, dark brown fur hat at the reloading bench.

If it were me, I would start bracketing (up and down) from a powder charge that gives 2400fps. Maybe with smaller increments.

You have spent way more time behind a loading bench than I. I’m looking at it purely from a statistical standpoint.

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Bepe

· #54 · 2 mo ago

Correct.....the higher charge will be faster and exit the barrel quicker. Before the barrel begins to rise from recoil. A common condition in handguns. I'd think it would apply to rifles also.

I have found that I have attained the best accuracy out of the x39mm with a load that is about half a grain below max. This would be consistent with your 26.6 load of RL7. My Ruger American x39mm loved the poly tip Hornady and 25 grains of H4198. 25.7 is listed max in the Hornady books.

Bepe

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #55 · 2 mo ago

Corndog said:
@Tacky

It’s a Soviet cartridge. I suggest wearing a big, old, dark brown fur hat at the reloading bench.

If it were me, I would start bracketing (up and down) from a powder charge that gives 2400fps. Maybe with smaller increments.

You have spent way more time behind a loading bench than I. I’m looking at it purely from a statistical standpoint.

I'm gonna try that next. Smaller increments. Maybe I should have carried the AK and SKS so it could bond with a firearm that eats the same ammo. 🤣 Statistics may be with you on that, a good suggestion.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #56 · 2 mo ago

Bepe said:
Correct.....the higher charge will be faster and exit the barrel quicker. Before the barrel begins to rise from recoil. A common condition in handguns. I'd think it would apply to rifles also.

I have found that I have attained the best accuracy out of the x39mm with a load that is about half a grain below max. This would be consistent with your 26.6 load of RL7. My Ruger American x39mm loved the poly tip Hornady and 25 grains of H4198. 25.7 is listed max in the Hornady books.

Bepe

Ah, I catch what your putting down, never considered that. Makes sense to me, but without high speed photography, I guess we cannot be sure. Would love to compare.

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Bepe

· #57 · 2 mo ago

Last range trip I was setting up and saw 4 empty boxes of Belom x39mm laying in the trash. Prior to the range going hot I went on the hunt. A pile of empties about 20 feet in front of the line. They were mangled. Too mangled to even bother salvaging. Primer had the signature AK indent. Must have been one overgassed gun doing the shooting.

Bepe

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Bepe

· #58 · 2 mo ago

It doesn't take much movement to throw off a POI 6 inches at 100 yards. Just the wiggle in my AR9 upper spread the impact zone out over 5 inches at 50 yards. I wouldn't worry about the impact. Find a load that shoots good and then zero.

Bepe

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #59 · 2 mo ago

Bepe said:
Last range trip I was setting up and saw 4 empty boxes of Belom x39mm laying in the trash. Prior to the range going hot I went on the hunt. A pile of empties about 20 feet in front of the line. They were mangled. Too mangled to even bother salvaging. Primer had the signature AK indent. Must have been one overgassed gun doing the shooting.

Bepe

I found one on the ground when I was policing brass, its gonna get reloaded too.

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Bepe

· #60 · 2 mo ago

I've got a ton of brass cases and loaded brass ammo for the x39mm. Me being a curmudgeon and a scavenger I actually picked them up and brought them home. After a close inspection I figured it wasn't worth the effort. They went into the circular file.

Bepe

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