After a failed start with 6 data points and chrono errors I went back to the bench and ended with 10 data points, and still chrono errors, but have enough data to extrapolate a roadmap going forward. The Range SquirrelI owned a Marlin 60 since 1987, but never really got ‘into’ guns until 2011 when […]

6.5 Grendel, from rifle completion, to reloading, to first range results using 8208 XBR and H335 with Barnes 140gr Match bullets - completed just before the Indiana Covid-19 Stay at Home Order :(

Just shooting two of my favorite bolt action military surplus rifles. The M1903 Springfield manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal and the Mauser K98k ( s/243 mfg 1937) refurbished by Yugoslavia. I was shooting Greek HXP in 30-06 and some different 8mm Mauser ammo that I had. The 8mm Mauser handloads were Hornady 8mm (323) 150gr. […]

In this video I revisited some load development using H335 and a 62gr Hornady FMJ bullet. The load data I had originally used to determine my charge weights gave me very low velocities. I discovered that the data I had gathered was from sources that had used 24 and 26 inch barrels to test their […]

I let myself run out of powder on New Years weekend after my mom and pop shop had closed, so I went to Academy, only to find they do not stock Varget. My plans to do some reloading over the long weekend turn to doing load development with yet another powder. The results are mediocre, but the exercise is good.

At my last posting I had put together some ladder loads for BLC(2), CFE223 and Varget powders for the 223 62gr Everglades FMJs. With the hot weather behind me I set in cranking out rounds until I was out of powder. No problem, I'll just stop by the new Academy and pickup a pound of Varget which had produced my most accurate load to date. Except Academy did not have Varget, they didn't have an empty bin location for Varget either. Let the mental gymnastics begin. Let's see, what else is popular for 223 that I haven't experimented with?