300 Blackout - 135gr Sierra Varminter
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Today we test the 135gr Sierra Varminter with IMR 4227 and Winchester 296.
UPDATED 09/27/2018 - All links have been removed to comply with TH-cam content policies.
www.patreon.com/reloading
Without a doubt, the best hand loading channel on TH-cam.
Still trying figure out how he got 20,050 fps from that 10.5" bbl. ;-) (28:50) That would definitely rearrange one's face.
I find myself everyday like a kid on Saturday morning waiting for my favorite cartoons to come on. You do excellent work Johnny! Let us know if there is anything we can do. Keep it up.
This my dude right here man..his face ain't all in the camera and he stays on the topic of discussion.. unlike some TH-cam gun owners .. take notes
I use these for my deer hunting! Took about 16 deer with these! Got a couple hogs with them too!
What barrel length and what distances?
You're a smart guy, Johnny. If that had happened to me, I'm not sure I would have found the setback anywhere nearly as fast as you.
One thing that you do that I probably wouldn't, is swap gun parts so much. I don't think I could keep track of all the different receiver parts like you can!
Your videos are very interesting to me.
I would warn everyone that watches your great videos for load data: Resist the temptation to replicate Johnny's loads. Your AR platform may have a shorter throat, chamber dimentions, made from different alloys, etc.. There are many companies making/selling AR parts. START LOW, and work up.
JRB, if you will swirl charge your cases you'll get a more settled charge and increase capacity. A side benefit is often SD goes down and accuracy goes up...learned this from Mic McPherson and it truly works. Rather than pouring the powder charge into the funnel and down the slide, pour it in perpendicular and close to the top...i.e. At a right angle to the funnel slope. It will swirl into the case and settle much better adding capacity and burn much more consistent.
You can get funnels with long feed tubes that help swirl charging. I have one, it says "Bonanza Blue Ribbon" by Forster, with a 6" tube.
i was right. my first initial thoughts were you werent crimping them correctly when you were loading them. soon as i noticed them moving when you were having loading issues gave me all the info i needed.
I have one of those ammo checkers and run fifteen percent of all my ammo through it. The ones that stick like that one did get shot first and have worked one hundred percent of the time. My press is so dialed in along with my process im actually debating removing the ammo check step considering only one of roughly 500 checks snags like that.
Loving these videos Johnny. Good investigative work I like it. Thanks again
296 seems to work well for subsonic loads. But i had good results with both 7.62x 39 an 300 whisper using IMR 4227 in super sonic loads
@25:01 saw that primer fly out
Map Led yep, saw it as well
26:22...good catch!
Definitely your issue is with your BA barrel. I have the same problem with ALL hollow points. But it runs all fmj or ballistic tips. I ended up pitching my barrel and getting a better one. No more problems.
4227 is my best BO powder. I load the 235 Seira and haven't had any issues. I put enough crimp on so that the bullet won't push in on my bench edge. Anything that doesn't have a canelure I crimp.
the hand wave in the beginning made me cackle like an idiot for no reason
This video, as with the crimp test video, you have good groups with a flyer.
That flyer is almost always coming from the first shot. Meaning the flyer occurs when the round is chambered by hand and not by the cycling of the action via firing.
Check out your other target groups, you will see that the first round loaded by hand is almost always The Flyer.
Used the same bullets a while back in my 300 b/o 10.5" and it would not cycle either. I tried and tried but always jammed. Gave up and loaded them for my AR10 and they were very accurate. so they did not go to waste.
I have had good luck with hexmags with 300. Also because of our goofy hunting laws here in IL I am able to use 300 blackout for hunting with a pistol. But I have to use a bobsled. Pistols have to be single shot, or revolver. I'm finding I like the bobsled when I'm single loading. It just gives you a nice shelf to lay the cartridge on before feeding, and the bolt locks back after firing.
Please wear a mask or something dude, those over pressured rounds scared the shit out of me.
Great job. A lot of data in half an hour. This surely helped a lot a reloading guys.
Holy cow, at 25:01 you can literally see the primer flying out of the gun, no where near its case.
I loaded up some 100gr sierra varmenteers last week. Win 296 failed to eject and feed every round. When I was wondering if it was the gas system, the bullet profile, or the mag. The groups were also not that great. Then I switched to the rounds I loaded with CFE Black. Same OAL. They all functioned propey and were much tighter groups. Im still considering getting a 300blk pmag because the MTF I have are hanging up if I load more than 5 rounds.
I'm loading for a CVA Scout 18" single shot. I get best velocity with H110 and best accuracy with IMR 4227. I'm using Fiochhi brass and cut down TA mil brass, Rem 7 1/2 primers. Tried Speer 130 gr Varmint, Sierra 125 Game King, and 125 gr Match King. The SMK's shot the best by far, not a surprise.
Also have shot the 200 gr Sierra Game King BT with H110 at 9.0 grs. 3 inch group. I don't have a can but they were much more quiet.
Johnny, I found just recently reloading the 300 blk Gem tech, I had primmer blow outs too!. And also seems like softer brass. I'm staying with LC and FC only!. Haven't had a problem since...Oh the lee 300 blk factory crimp die is the cats meow!!!. And I only use the RCBS PN# 22407 die set. As I said before, I have never bought, not one stinking box of factory 300 blk ammo yet!..
Thanks for your effort and great videos!
Bro, I use 18.5 grains of H110 with a 125 grain Speer TNT. That's a pretty hot load with a 125. I'm not surprised at all you ran into pressure with a 135.
Do you have and 300 B/O magazines instead of using 223/556 mags?
Shoot the same bullet with the same loads unsuppressed. If you still have feeding issues then it is likely the cartridge itself. If you do not, the bolt carrier speed may be too high/fast from the additional gas the suppressor gives the gun.
Try polishing the feed ramps. I had some feed issues and polishing helps.
You, being a veteran reloader... having so much trouble with what should be a simple process......I'm just starting on my reloading process, what chance to I have at being successful. Pretty slim I think.
I haven’t looked yet but any chance you already have or would consider repeating this exact same test after swapping presses? Use all the same dies. Of course omitting the danger pressure zones. But it would be interesting from an accuracy standpoint.
I have had horrible issues with crimping. I have yet to find a solution to date. I have had bullets fall out into the the barrel. I don't crimp at all and have gone with the 5.7 motto. Glue.
I think your crimp test doesn't apply the same for 223 as it would for 300 Blackout. 300 Blackout uses the same powders as Magnum handgun Ammunition. The powders are designed for a heavy roll crimp. I don't think you would get the same results compared it to the two cartridges
Would you consider redoing this video but with the 300 pmag? I suspect your accuracy and feed issues are significantly influenced by the clipazine.
and this is where bushing dies come in really handy
www.midwayusa.com/product/518956/le-wilson-bushing-type-full-length-sizer-die-300-aac-blackout
www.pinterest.com/pin/476185360590636046/
Johnny, did you ever use a Q or alternative high twist barrel?
The Honeybadger and a few competitors use 1/5" twist. Supposedly it helps a lot, but it may reduce velocity slightly and the faster loads might be getting overstabilized, which likely doesn't matter at short range, but past 200 yards that might lead to the appearance of yawing nose up past the apogee.
But supposedly, with expanding bullets, high twist aids in expansion slightly. Instead of petals curling back, they pinwheel out in a radial pattern (like a ratchet). At lower velocities it might allow them to perform in some manner instead of ice picking.
I think the over pressure was coming from the bullets being jammed back into the cases..... and not the charges. You had pressure signs on the starting loads.
So i did some checking on Oal movement. My 223 didnt move, my 308 gas gun slightly moved forward but my 300 blackout 125 tnt moved a lot without crimp and with taper crimp. I too have the rcbs sb die, Forrester bench rest seater and rcbs tc
How much did your 300BLK TNT loads move with the crimp?
put down a sick raccoon with one of these out of my blackout last year(from only about 15 yards) and it made a mess of it, very effective bullet but haven't gotten it to shoot as accurately as I would like
I have never been a big fan of RCBS dies, if this truly is a die issue, i doubt I'd ever consider them again with so many quality options on the market.
Hey Johnny, watch Gunblue490. He can teach you to how to discern everything you need to know about your cartridges and chambers without buying all those high$ gadgets and trinkets! I love your perspective and dedication to solving accuracy issues. You have taught me a lot about loading, and it's fun to boot! Thank you for everything.
Old video, but I have been following the 300 blackout series. Did u ever find it necessary to use a small base die before you form the 300 blk ?or do ou just use the Lee set to form ?
Have you considered the sharp bullet profile might have been the issue with some of the feeding problems. As always very informative and looking forward to the next video.
PS I would like a video on your powder throwing and weighing procedures.
Thanks,
This is why I don't load my own fearing to deal with these issues
Comparing bullet weight to powder charge of w296, it seems to me like 300 blk is basically a 357 magnum. 125gr up to 22gr and 158gr up to 16.7gr is what my books show.
I think that goofy looking hollow point is causing your feeding issues. Never seen one like that before. Maybe that's the problem.
MrPaco1013 not the problem. Been shooting that good bullet in two different 300AAC barrels for a while. Shoots sub 1" groups at 2100fps+. Great bullet
I thing so too, I get hang ups feeding hollow points in my 221 fireball Remington bolt action too! Different gun, different bullet, but I suspect it's same problem.
What about the 115gr Varminter?
Just getting started in hand loads. Any reason to NOT use cci #400 primers for .300 blk? I see load data with wsr and #450's. but a sm rifle magnum primer? Is it really needed?
that intro killed me 😂😂 keep up the good work!
Watching your 300 BO videos really makes me want to build a new upper. Maybe I'll build it for a future hog gun.
Gel test?
JRB ... How well are the feed ramps blending between the upper receiver and barrel extension? Is there a ledge or something that the tip of that bullet is catching on that a typical tipped or even hp tip wouldn't catch on?
Hey Johny, can you turn off autofocus in your camera when you shoot? It constantly hunts for focus when you move your hand around.
I like Your videos. You speak my language.
Hey Johnny Thanks for the Videos.
It has been my experience with reloading that the last round with the bolt open always veers off away from normal impact. I suspect the way the barrel harmonics is being affected by the bolt not cycling forward. (Similar results with M1A and AR type guns)
Try pulling the magazine out on the last round or have another extra round and see if it helps. Thanks and keep reloading.
Firegrunt03 the bullet should be well out of the barrel before the bolt is finishing it’s backwards travel,so I do not see how harmonics would have any affect on it.
Eagle View HD everything that contacts the barrel affects it.
But I understand the skepticism so I try it for yourself. stay safe bro
What gas block are you running ?
*I would not choose a bullet that does not feed well. Barnes makes 30 caliber bullets called TAC-TX FB 110 grain and TAC-TX BT 120 grain. Those should well to 300 yards from 16" barrel.... We should expect reduced effective range from 10" barrels.*
Why don’t we try minimum load testing?Especially with 300blk ?!
Maybe a heavy Bullet also?
how about a accuracy test with 357 henery keep up all the good work!
Hey johnny, would you recommend lil gun for these and if so what grain or have you made a video on this before. Thank you for any advice
My psa 300 blk hand loads shoot one hole groups with hand loads!
I had to turn down my lee collet die a lot to get my RARR to group. I shoot the TNTS, but I'll move to Hornady SST with the cannelure and crimp in the future.
Does this barrel have 300 feed ramps Johnny?
Wow, no need for me to start messing with a SBR in 300 blk out. I will leave that to you guys that have patience
These are $31.49 per box on Midway. They have gotten quite expensive.
Have you found any more data for the Barnes 120 tac tx
Great data, i have had my eye on this bullet for my 7.62x39. I have an ar upper with 16inch barrel 1:8 twist barrel with a bore diameter of.308. Can't decide the powder or a safe starting load. Reloader 7 or cfe blk. Anyone have any ideas?
They make single feed magizines or you can put in a single feed mag followers make your life easier
Lol I don't think half a grain is considered rounding off
Lastly Sensei... now you know the case is supposed to be 1.368" (ok 1.367"), but you've been off the rails running LakeCity brass at 1.360" for a while. There is a new wrinkle with new brass. Out of the box it is 1.358". Even when you resize, it won't change - you have to fire it once to get it to about 1.370" or more. DO NOT TRIM IT DOWN TO 1.358" again or it will never be proper length again. Did I mention neck tension and balls?... Length matters too (that's what she said...)
Agrippa 2K he needs to chamber cast his oal is too short to match any of his barrel chamber lengths this is critical in any of the .300 series guns( whisper) 300 black; 300 black out ; who ever bought what reamer there is no consistent lenght in mfg or die sets for the .300
Looks like the gun is SHORT STROKING to me. You've got a way short barrel and if you don't make enough pressure soon enough you're lacking gas. It isn't going to "work itself out". Could be a lack of gas or it could be a slightly mis-aligned gas port or a "too small" gas port or maybe you're running your gun too dry and you're losing too much gas past the gas rings. Whatever it is, the bolt obviously isn't traveling back far enough to catch the next round. Your first shot is "dropping low" because the successive shots are HITTING HIGHER because the POWDER AND CASE are HOTTER.
I'm curious to see how your dies measure out and the neck tension youre getting. I'm considering converting some brass for 300 blk but I haven't don't any research yet and I don't even have a rifle right now so I have plenty of time. Thanks for these videos. They're extremely well done! If you have time could you check out some of my videos and please criticize. Your videos are by far the best as far as planning, execution, and information. Everyone else that has done a coffee chat also makes good videos but yours are by far the most in depth. If you find time to make it over to my channel please keep in mind I'm a newer reloader and I don't edit any of my videos because I don't know where to start. But please if you have any pointers let me know. I know youre a busy person especially this month so I don't expect anything, aside from you making these good videos!
i got the same bullet, w/18 gr of 4227
And now time to order the Lee crimp die! Lol and the Lyman ammo checker. Great idea!
So, who is going to make/post that nurse/clinic video when blow your face?
I learned to clean ultrasonic, powder leftovers gave marks on my resize dies first. I allways measure my necksize.
Crimping atleast 0.01" differents, ultracleaning. Use oneshot,5 bullets a time because oil gets to sticky. And i ultrasonic clean after to remove oil,bullet may not glide that easy. And i crimp-test first,by pushing it into the case (not primed or loaded).
Good that you use enough powder to hold the bullet outside. We have seen blown up weapons with the bullet left totallly in the case. So don't mythbust.
I have all 3 ammo checkers would not reload without them. I want to know my pills will work every time.
if it can't not reach out to 300 yards then its just 30 carbine .
Worried about the RCBS Die? Then measure (using a micrometer, NOT calipers) the expander button in each of the dies and compare. Easy. This is an old video so no one will see this comment. So no problem. Bullet design seems to prohibit use in an AR style rifle. The tip is not pointed...wont ride the feed ramps. ?
When they get stuck in the bullet checker. All you have to do is take a punch and hammer and give it a good whack on the primer and it will form into the case ;)
0:00 - 0:00
Take that junk barrel and polish the crap out of the feed ramps to a mirror finish,,, i do that to all my AR
barrels
I Think your suppressor is your problem. The load data probly not for suppessor use. They create a lot of back pressure. That's your pressure problem.
Your groups indicate a crimping issue.
As always, great data thanks. Also, I would pay for a "don't blow your face off" bench mat. Maybe Johnny's Reloading Bench at the top and Don't Blow Your Face Off on the bottom with the channel thumbnail in the center
They are coming soon! I've got the supplier all worked out and I just need to sit down and finish the design. I just haven't had the time to do that properly here in August. Mats, shirts, gigantic foam fingers...the whole deal is coming soon.
RedlegFA I'd like to buy one as well.
And T-shirts too! Great idea!
Johnny's Reloading Bench any update on these mats?
Johnny's Reloading Bench is this still in the works?
NOOOOO!!, now every fan boy gonna buy up my favorite defense round!
The last rounds of Winchester 296 at 19.0 you can actually see the primer ejecting out after the 2nd round you shot. At first I asked myself what the hell was that, but at the end of the video when you showed the brass having aome primers missing I went back and watched the last set of rounds and sure enough it was a primer coming out as the bolt locked back. I really enjoy your content and plan to mention you when I finally get to start doing my own reloading videos so please be safe! I don't want to be mentioning you in my videos referring to to you in past tense if you know I mean. Keep up the aweaome work man.
"This is a really bad idea." Keeps shooting. :-)
Bring back the 16-inch AR stoner Barrel back into testing that was a good shooter
I had read lots about lead-out (stretching) problems. happens with both my guns, that's why I always crimp. It gets more problematic the heaver the bullets. It's seems to me, very predictable, and can be compensated for. Maybe a die issue for me, (doubt it) but I only have the lee set. Kinda looks as though those funky hollow point must be hitting right where the feed ramps meet at the receiver and extension. maybe ones a bit off. never had any problems with pmags. would have thought if it was a gas issue it would have shown itself already.
I usually don't write comments but that was extremely informative process. I never realized that bullets can grow or shrink. Pat yourself on the back for really good content.
How crazy if the rcbs ar sizing die had loose neck sizing issues - worst of both worlds - over resize on case (as ar sizing dies do purposefully) and under resize neck - kinda defeats the whole purpose of an ar sizing die - LOL - loose case body loose bullet - kinda a crap shoot on whether the bullet slides in or out - wonder what pressure you get with ar sizing case to smaller spec and then jam the bullet back into the case - lots of room to go boom - I think I might have a few words for the rcbs guys - maybe time for recall
Looks like it may be a bullet design issue that's picky with feeding, although I'm sure you will be able to get it to feed finding a magazine it likes (300 Pmag probably) and or playing with the OAL. I don't think Sierra would release a bullet that won't feed, I'm sure you will work that out.
Will be interesting to find out your results from the neck tension of each brand sizing die. I have only used one RCBS AR series sizing die and that's in .223 and I have found if anything that die produces tight neck tension. I haven't found a need to crimp anything with that die. See if maybe you can measure the expanded ball on that die compared to the expander ball on your other 300 blackout dies?
Good shooting JRB.
A Lee Factory Crimp Die is a welcome addition to just about any die set IMHO.
I am just starting to load for my 300 blackout. I have a lot of good data from you. I'm using winchester 296 for now.
Please don't blow your face off. I'll be to find another channel to watch. Lol. Great videos. Keep them coming.
Cool man this is a great video, so many questions to be answered! I hope you have found the issue. A 300 blk bolt gun would be super cool! For absolute quiet. Good stuff JRB!
I know this is 3 years late haha but I have just been messing with 110g varminters. The projectile is actually too short and they start to tilt up in the mag when shot. So when the bolt goes forward it jams the bullet above the chamber. I’ve tried every type of mag and it is all the same.
For my subsonic stuff I settled on a pistol length gas system, and ended up building a mid-length gas system upper for my supersonic 300AAC work. These are both 16 inch barrels. This gave me the most accuracy without violent extractions on the supers. My system was over gassed and I didn't want to put an adjustable gas block and fuss back and forth over supers vs subs. I also want to plug Faxon barrels in 300 AAC. I would recommend them highly. Keep up the good work Johnny. Can you try a Faxon barrel sometime?
also I had issues with the 245gr Missouri cast bullets in my blackout with normal mags having feed issues, got a 300BLK pmag and problem solved
Have you had any luck with d&h metal mags with a 300 Blackout round?
I have to say, I loaded some Hornady 150gr. SST in my blackout (brass was cut down 5.56) I loaded 16 gr. of 296 and blew a couple primers! Make sure you weigh every charge because 296 is one hot powder!!!
Try the 296 loads without the magnum primer, it will help lower the pressures in those loads by a good margin, and the magnum primer isn't needed to set off 296 if you use a non-CCI primer.
I'm glad to see your video including using a case gauge tool for ammo, hopefully this step will be shown more in the videos where you focus on a specific reloading subject or focus on reloading quality control steps.
Unfortunately much of the reloading video content seems to gloss over that this important step isn't necessary.
Then people suddenly run into ammunition issues out in the field and sweep the problem under the rug or complain about how they can't get their ammunition to feed right and they don't know why.
I have never had neck tension issues for any 300 blackout round using the RCBS 300 Blackout Small Base AR set when using it to just set the seating depth (without using seating die's taper crimp) using a proper crimp on the Lee Factory Crimp die.
I regularly check using calipers on bullet OAL change when I load a new or unknown bullet to check the proper OAL/OGive for my gun's chamber using a dummy test round when the specifications for the bullet are not published. (bulk mixed bullets, etc.)
If you were using pmags which it sounds like you said you are and you notice the issue. This is old and I'm sure you know some 300blk bullet are too long and rub weird so they made 300blk specific mags.
I reloaded 300 blkout with Hornady 110gr Varmint Rounds and found I had to seat them at 1.940 or they hit the feed ramp and cause tip deformation, fill up a mag, shoot one then pull the bullet and look at the tip of the chambered round. See if you get the crushed mark on the side of the tip of the Bullet.