Just an interesting look at how different bullet weights perform out of the same barrel. This is obviously not an exhaustive list, I was just playing around with some loads. 3 bullets: Hornady 55gr VMAX, Hornady 60gr VMAX, and the Nosler 77gr Custom Competition HPBT. All are loaded in once fired NATO brass, loaded to 2.26 OAL with Remington 7 1/2 primers and Hodgdons H335. I haven't tested the powder charge or tried to perfect the jump to rifling. I just chose a "middle of the road" charge and shot. I also have a box of Berger 70gr VLDs that I wanted to include, but I haven't quite figured out the details on that load, so I didn't shoot them.
Rifles used were a 16in, 1/7 stainless FN barrel (ST), and a 20in, 1/8 heavy match barrel (RG). It was drizzling a bit, and right at 55 degrees. 100yds.
ST, 55gr VMAX, 25.5gr H335. 1 3/4 inch.
ST, 60gr VMAX, 25gr H335, 1 3/4 inch.
ST, 77gr N-CC-HPBT, 23.5gr H335. Less than 1/2 inch (!!)
RG, 55gr VMAX, 25.5gr H335. Just a hair under 1 inch. Ignore the holes to the far right, just the holes bracketed by the marker.
RG, 60gr VMAX, 25gr H335. Over 2 inches.
I shot the 77gr N-CC-HPBT out of the 20 inch 1/8 barrel, but my groups were too big to get a decent picture. My groups were in the neighborhood of 6-8 inches. You can see that the rifle really liked the 55gr bullet, and then really started opening up on the 60gr. This confused me as a tighter twist like the 1/8 should love heavier bullets, and over stabilize something as light as 55gr. But clearly, it really likes the 55gr. I will take out some 50gr VMAX next time and see what happens.
Rifles used were a 16in, 1/7 stainless FN barrel (ST), and a 20in, 1/8 heavy match barrel (RG). It was drizzling a bit, and right at 55 degrees. 100yds.
ST, 55gr VMAX, 25.5gr H335. 1 3/4 inch.
ST, 60gr VMAX, 25gr H335, 1 3/4 inch.
ST, 77gr N-CC-HPBT, 23.5gr H335. Less than 1/2 inch (!!)
RG, 55gr VMAX, 25.5gr H335. Just a hair under 1 inch. Ignore the holes to the far right, just the holes bracketed by the marker.
RG, 60gr VMAX, 25gr H335. Over 2 inches.
I shot the 77gr N-CC-HPBT out of the 20 inch 1/8 barrel, but my groups were too big to get a decent picture. My groups were in the neighborhood of 6-8 inches. You can see that the rifle really liked the 55gr bullet, and then really started opening up on the 60gr. This confused me as a tighter twist like the 1/8 should love heavier bullets, and over stabilize something as light as 55gr. But clearly, it really likes the 55gr. I will take out some 50gr VMAX next time and see what happens.