Shooting a Tikka T3 lite, 110gr Barnes TSXT, Remington brass,CCI Magnum Large Rifle, Reloader 19. Measuring chamber OAL with this bullet come up with 2.430 at the ogive tot he lands, max I can load into the magazine is 2.340 so that is what I've run with.
Went out and shot today 90 degrees, no wind, no clouds. Chrony data was hit or miss. I finally fashioned a sunshade over it and got some readings at 12ft that I thought were reliable.
Starting load was 66 grains per Barnes Manual. Moving up in .5 gr increments I peaked around 70 grains. From 69.5 grains/3586fps to 71.5 grains/3604fps I'm not gaining much velocity but the load at 71.5 is slightly compressed. At 150 yds ladder testing these 5 shots were within 1" vertically.
71.0 and 71.5 show a slight mark from the extractor, primer still has a good radius and no crater from the fp. 72.0 grains gave a stiff bolt and nice shiny extractor mark and a bur around the fp strike on the primer. 71.5 is my max.
I have been told that a slightly compressed charge will burn more consistent. Is there any merit to this? Should I go with the 71.5gr or save the powder and load closer to 70 grains?
Went out and shot today 90 degrees, no wind, no clouds. Chrony data was hit or miss. I finally fashioned a sunshade over it and got some readings at 12ft that I thought were reliable.
Starting load was 66 grains per Barnes Manual. Moving up in .5 gr increments I peaked around 70 grains. From 69.5 grains/3586fps to 71.5 grains/3604fps I'm not gaining much velocity but the load at 71.5 is slightly compressed. At 150 yds ladder testing these 5 shots were within 1" vertically.
71.0 and 71.5 show a slight mark from the extractor, primer still has a good radius and no crater from the fp. 72.0 grains gave a stiff bolt and nice shiny extractor mark and a bur around the fp strike on the primer. 71.5 is my max.
I have been told that a slightly compressed charge will burn more consistent. Is there any merit to this? Should I go with the 71.5gr or save the powder and load closer to 70 grains?
