Jim Boyd
Senior Member
Next group.
Same cleaning procedure.
29.0 CFE223
Same cleaning procedure.
29.0 CFE223
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Howa 1500 Mini in 6.5G (continued as Project “Coyote 264” - FULL CIRCLE NOW!)
- Thread starter Jim Boyd
- Start date
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
Cleaned chamber and bore again.
30.5 CFE223
I am starting to think I have a chrono issue or I don’t have it aligned properly.
30.5 CFE223
I am starting to think I have a chrono issue or I don’t have it aligned properly.
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
Cleaned all again.
Commercial ammo - Hornady 123 SST.
Commercial ammo - Hornady 123 SST.
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
With this experience, I am gonna load 28.6, 28.8, 29.0, 29.2 and 29.4 and see what happens.
May repeat this entire procedure and use a non-Barnes bullet.
If someone has a bullet that has shown good accuracy in 6.5G and is a good deer projectile, I will be glad to try it.
@Dub ?
Rifle shoots well and is soft.
Scope may not be a great hunting scope. Reticle is very fine and may he hard to pick up quickly. The glass is good, however and even on higher powers, it retains clarity.
My brothers are coming next week to hunt and I may use this rifle.
?!
May repeat this entire procedure and use a non-Barnes bullet.
If someone has a bullet that has shown good accuracy in 6.5G and is a good deer projectile, I will be glad to try it.
@Dub ?
Rifle shoots well and is soft.
Scope may not be a great hunting scope. Reticle is very fine and may he hard to pick up quickly. The glass is good, however and even on higher powers, it retains clarity.
My brothers are coming next week to hunt and I may use this rifle.
?!
menhadenman
Senior Member
Jim, here are some notes from my Howa 6.5G. I’ve got a mag length of 2.340” and “jam” is 1.768 base to ogive (CBTO). Loads that have done well for me that I would hunt whitetail to 200 yds without batting an eye:
- 100 gr Nosler Partition over 32.6 gr CFE 223, 1.755” CBTO
- 105 gr Cavity Back MKZ over 28.5-29.0 gr Benchmark, 1.743” CBTO
- 118 gr Cavity Back MKZ over 29.5 BLC-2, 1.726” CBTO
- 120 gr Hornady ELD-M over 31.0 gr CFE 223, 1.730” CBTO
I found a sneaky accurate load with some discontinued 85 gr Sierra bullets over IMR 4198 but I wouldn’t hunt deer with those (flat base varmint bullets).
Check your manual before messing with my recipes of course, but a few other thoughts: (1) loading a little longer will reduce pressure and give you some breathing room so long as you’re off the lands; (2) my Howa seems to like 120 gr loads that are around 2,540 fps, though I haven’t pushed further to see the next node; (3) for the monos I’d be inclined to try a lighter bullet with better speed to make sure they open up.
The 120 ELD-M and 105 MKZ are killers. Both my kids have their first kills with those two bullets, one well placed shot each did the trick. Don’t let the “match” bullet label fool you. I learned that myself last year after hearing others say it.
menhadenman
Senior Member
I’d believe the 2400s with 30.5 gr CFE… but would chalk up the 1900 fps as bunkum. The factory ammo speeds seem right to me and SST will surely get the job done. Looks like your rig is coming along and a dang fine setup. Thanks for sharing.
Railroader
Billy’s Security Guard.
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
Nice!!!
Appreciate all the info - and am shopping.
The Barnes looks great and at 0-125 yards, I believe will open reliably enough.
However, I want additional accuracy testing projects.
I am not done testing the ttsx - but will work through at least 1 other projectile.
I am early in this entire experiment so enthusiasm remains high.
Much appreciated.
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
great advice RR but I can’t quite quit right there.
I have the 29 gr baseline so I will do 28.6 28.8 29.0 29.2 29.4 to see if there is some refinement to be found there, sir.
May be we can squeeze some variation out of the groups.
I also just HAVE to try a non copper bullet and see how that plays out.
Starting to get my bench processes down now and it is therapeutic!
Appreciate ya!!!!!
Railroader
Billy’s Security Guard.
I totally get it! And that rabbit hole you are diggin' in is exactly why I never took up reloading...
But you keep going, I am enjoying your journey with a rifle I want, but don't yet have!!!
While the rest are blinding you with opinion and information, I'll continue to be the voice of oversimplification!!!
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
One thought to add, I rushed home and loaded my last ten 120 barnes ttsx at 29.0 gr cfe223 for this weekends hunt!!!!!
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
I totally get it! And that rabbit hole you are diggin' in is exactly why I never took up reloading...
But you keep going, I am enjoying your journey with a rifle I want, but don't yet have!!!
While the rest are blinding you with opinion and information, I'll continue to be the voice of oversimplification!!!
Come visit me and you will have all the rounds you can shoot!
Dub
Senior Member
Gator89
Senior Member
weagle
Senior Member
I'm shooting a max load of IMR 8208 under a 123 SST and getting right at 2400 from my 16 1/4" Howa mini. I cut and crowned the barrel myself, shortened the forend, and painted the stock. Also swapped the plastic for a metal, hinged floor plate from Oregunsmithing. The 123 SSTs have worked perfect on 3 deer, high shoulder shots, golf ball size exit, dead like lighting hit them.
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
Rifle and reload Barnes worked just fine!
weagle
Senior Member
Nice Deer and Rifle.
Big7
The Oracle
Look at the mounting points and see if they are being misaligned when torqued down to the stock. It might need a shim in one area. Probably the back strap screw.
One way to find out for sure is to fire a few rounds into a back stop just holding on to it without it being screwed down to the stock. If they are not hard to open- there's your problem.
I'm not personally familiar with that particular rifle but I've seen it happen, especially with aftermarket stocks.
A one piece scope mount could give similar symptoms especially if it straddles the action.
That's a long shot and the last thing to check.
One way to find out for sure is to fire a few rounds into a back stop just holding on to it without it being screwed down to the stock. If they are not hard to open- there's your problem.
I'm not personally familiar with that particular rifle but I've seen it happen, especially with aftermarket stocks.
A one piece scope mount could give similar symptoms especially if it straddles the action.
That's a long shot and the last thing to check.
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
I'm shooting a max load of IMR 8208 under a 123 SST and getting right at 2400 from my 16 1/4" Howa mini. I cut and crowned the barrel myself, shortened the forend, and painted the stock. Also swapped the plastic for a metal, hinged floor plate from Oregunsmithing. The 123 SSTs have worked perfect on 3 deer, high shoulder shots, golf ball size exit, dead like lighting hit them.
Love the project and the results!!!!!!
