Soliciting feedback: charge range for H4350 ladder w/ 140gr ELDs

[EchoDeltaSierra]

As I bring my new 6.5 Creedmoor online, and try to waste as few trigger pulls possible working up a load, I wanted to solicit some advice. I would like to run a 5-steps with 5-rounds each ladder and am looking for guidance on a good charge range.

I've run two ladders with 143gr ELD-X pills from the 22" barrel (suppressor not installed) with two the two easily obtained powders; Hybrid 100V and IMR 4350. Each of these ladders were 5-step, 5-shot ladders with each step being 0.5 grains apart.

The ladder with Hybrid 100V was pretty hot though I was able to run up to 2804 fps (avg) using 43.4 grains. It made nice primer craters, but no other over pressure signs.

The ladder with IMR 4350 was quite a bit slower though did produce some nice groups in the 2600 fps range using 41.8 grains.

Now, for my question... I was able to locally source an 8lb jug of H4350 and got a good deal on 1000 140gr ELD pills. Considering what I'm seeing above from the accuracy node and charge weights, were might a good starting point and range be? Hodgdon Reloading says 40gr will push a 140gr A-Max to 2660 from a 24" barrel. Finally, I rather not pull down bullets and I don't want to shoot paper at 100 yards any more than necessary.

As always, thanks for any time you waste reading or replying to my blathering.

 

[b6graham]

As I bring my new 6.5 online, and try to waste as few trigger pulls possible working up a load, I wanted to solicit some advice. I would like to run a 5-steps with 5-rounds each ladder and am looking for guidance on a good charge range.

I've run two ladders with 143gr ELD-X pills from the 22" barrel (suppressor not installed) with two the two easily obtained powders; Hybrid 100V and IMR 4350. Each of these ladders were 5-step, 5-shot ladders with each step being 0.5 grains apart.

The ladder with Hybrid 100V was pretty hot though I was able to run up to 2804 fps (avg) using 43.4 grains. It made nice primer craters, but no other over pressure signs.

The ladder with IMR 4350 was quite a bit slower though did produce some nice groups in the 2600 fps range using 41.8 grains.

Now, for my question... I was able to locally source an 8lb jug of H4350 and got a good deal on 1000 140gr ELD pills. Considering what I'm seeing above from the accuracy node and charge weights, were might a good starting point and range be? Hodgdon Reloading says 40gr will push a 140gr A-Max to 2660 from a 24" barrel. Finally, I rather not pull down bullets and I don't want to shoot paper at 100 yards any more than necessary.

As always, thanks for any time you waste reading or replying to my blathering.

there are more than a few dozen posts on this in the reloading depot. probably the most popular combo is a140 with h4350

 

[canezach]

Here's my charge weights, albeit from a 26" barrel and suppressor. You didn't mention your brass, so take this with a grain of salt unless it matches what you'll be using:

Hornady brass: 41.9 grains of H4350 put me at just over 2800 fps (2804, if I remember correctly)
Prime brass: 41.0 grains gives me 2820ish
Alpha: 40.0 grains yields MV in the 2750s. This was on a different 26" barrel, since the previous one was shot out.

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

there are more than a few dozen posts on this in the reloading depot. probably the most popular combo is a140 with h4350

Plan the work, work the plan. Just trying to get some ideas while I’m traveling for business so my time at the bench is most effective. Not new to reloading, though new to this caliber.

 

[kthomas]

What cartridge are you shooting? I can't seem to see any mention of it in your post...

If it's a 6.5 Creedmoor, all my barrels so far (24 & 26") seem to like the velocity node of ~2780 with 140 grain Bergers. Depending on what brass and primer you are using, as well as your barrel and chambering, will dictate what charge will get you there. But that's the velocity I would be aiming for based on my prior experience.

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

What cartridge are you shooting?

I edited that into the original. 6.5 Creedmoor, 22" 5R barrel that'll be suppressed 95% on the time.

That's helpful info. Hodgdon load data stops at 40.0 grains but... I think based on what I saw with Hybrid 100V, I'm going to run a ladder maybe from 38-42 grains in 1/2 grain steps.

 

[b6graham]

I edited that into the original. 6.5 Creedmoor, 22" 5R barrel that'll be suppressed 95% on the time.

That's helpful info. Hodgdon load data stops at 40.0 grains but... I think based on what I saw with Hybrid 100V, I'm going to run a ladder maybe from 38-42 grains in 1/2 grain steps.

I wouldn't be afraid to push it to 44ish. Worst case you pull a few once you hit pressure

 

[Supersubes]

I edited that into the original. 6.5 Creedmoor, 22" 5R barrel that'll be suppressed 95% on the time.

That's helpful info. Hodgdon load data stops at 40.0 grains but... I think based on what I saw with Hybrid 100V, I'm going to run a ladder maybe from 38-42 grains in 1/2 grain steps.

The Hogdon’s data on the 140 is messed up. It was a compressed load at 40 grains, it pressured out at that charge, and was going really slowly. Basically it’s a really bad data point. Look at the 142 smk and the recently added 143 eld data, compare them, and pick a range.

No need to start at 38. I’d start at 40.5 or thereabouts, and go to 42.5.

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

Made it to the range* with a H4350 workup and yeah, what everyone is saying: H4350 seems to be made with unicorn tears. Wow, did that powder group nicely.

I did two comparative 5 rung 1/2 grain step ladders using 140gr ELDs, one with H4350 and the other with Hybrid 100V. H4350 produced a nice accuracy nodes at 2497fps with 40gr and at 2618fps with 42 grains. Also of interest, Hybrid 100V made a couple of nice groups at 2565fps with 40.0gr and in the 2700 range with 401.5gr and 42gr.

I have another ladder loaded today exploring H4350 and will be running loads at 41.6, 41.8, 42.0, 42.2, and 42.4 out to 200m for group testing.

By the end of my experimentation, I want to have have data using H4350, IMR 4350, Hybrid 100V, and probably RL-17.

Thanks again for the above feedback and I wanted to followup to contribute a bit back.

* shot from a 22" 5R barrel with SilencerCo Omega and measured with a Magneto Speed (because we can't seem to get our damn Lab Radar working with any reliability, but that's another rant).

 

[Kadams1563]

I’m running a 26” Bartlien with Omega suppressor. Lapua brass and 42.2 H4350.

It runs about 2820.

 

[nexusfire]

Go +/- 42.4 grains