I typically ran 2920 ish with 36.X gr H4350 from 28in barrels. Just keep adding powder to get the speed you want. It'll do just fine at your current velocity.
6gt
- Thread starter Dthomas3523
- Start date
Yeah I’ve been thinking of tossing more powder in there. I’ve heard around 2900 is a sweet spot.
I think the proverbial "sweet spot" depends on what one is going for...
I've been shooting my current barrel at ~2800fps its whole life, and initially I was more about going "slow" and going after seeing how soft shooting I could get it (to help with seeing more and spotting more impacts/splash). But if I'm honest, I've also been toying with the idea of adding powder and going faster that whole time too (knowing that it seems most PRS guys are running closer to ~2900fps with the GT).
That said, I've got something like ~2200rds on the barrel now, and while I know I'll be pulling it soon, it's still hammering and shooting lights out just like new with the first ~300rds, just like it always has. Single-digit SDs the whole time (~5-6 over 20 shots). So every time I go to tweak my load, I end up reminding myself how dumb it could potentially be to ruin a good thing, and then don't end up doing it lol.
I guess my point is, if one's load is hammering out far and printing small groups, the speed doesn't matter and there's no reason to try to keep up with the Joneses as far as speed for no good reason.
I could see trying to push a little harder to produce more smack/feedback off plates (and possibly more splash), but if already running 109-115s, I don't know if pushing it would even matter and be worth trading the brass/barrel life?
FWIW, my brass (Alpha Gay Tiger headstamp) has 15 firings on it over 2 barrels now, and I plan on using the same brass with my next barrel too (the pockets are still tight and the only cases I've lost were to matches/props, I anneal every firing on an AMP and the rest is still about same as new).
I’m not real keen on working for max velocity in a target rifle. Myself, I shoot what proves most accurate as determined by testing actual results on paper and steel. When I establish the accuracy I want, i let the scope dials do the rest of the work. Pushing that barrel for that last 25 to 50 fps just to say I got that last 25 to 50 fps, means very little on the range, but it’s tough on the barrel. (Shooting Varget in one rifle with 105’s gives me just over 2900 in one rifle and 2850 in the second rifle, identical loads, go figure)
Caveat. Since I limit the distance I take while hunting (it’s an age thing) and my favorite hunting rifle has a markedly slow barrel, I do push its velocity. But I don’t dial, i only take shots at known distances below my max and can use point of aim at all distances. It’s accurate for what it is, and when actively hunting, I rarely shoot it more than 20 to 25 shots a year.
Caveat. Since I limit the distance I take while hunting (it’s an age thing) and my favorite hunting rifle has a markedly slow barrel, I do push its velocity. But I don’t dial, i only take shots at known distances below my max and can use point of aim at all distances. It’s accurate for what it is, and when actively hunting, I rarely shoot it more than 20 to 25 shots a year.
Almost exactly what I ran in my last barrel, which was a 26" 7.5tw Bart, from Stuteville, except I was running the 108 Berger (velocities between the two bullets for same charge weight are pretty similar in my experience)
