Thanks Bill, I plan to do some additional loading & testing this afternoon & tomorrow morning. I have the 18" barrel so maybe I just need to move up a couple of tenths with the powder. Daniel

Also what X scope are you using and do you have a good trigger on your rifle? Are you chronographing the loads?

What powder lot of CFEBLK are you using? I have a lot of data on lot #2 and #3 which are very close to each other.

You need to be around 2520fps out of a 18" for best accuracy.

If you need help feel free to come over tomorrow am or Fri.. I have all the crew coming out to shoot pistols at 2pm and do a cookout after.

I would love to but we will have a house full of company starting this PM, with more to come the 4th. If I can't get it done, I may well call on you for some additional help later next week. Thanks Daniel

I do apologize Bill. My intent wasn't to mislead or put anybody in danger. You're absolutely right. Stick with published data.

I loaded up some additional loads yesterday and went to the range this AM. I found a load that my gun likes. The load is a little out of WC data but showed no signs of over pressure. I was loading 4 rds in each powder load with the last load of 28.2 providing a 4 shot group of .875 inches. I plan to give the load another try to see if it was luck or the real thing. I did lengthen the COAL to 2.180 so I committed a cardinal sin in the reloading world I changed 2 things at the same time. I was lucky but it worked.

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Daniel, .875" is about as good as it gets with this bullet, it's normally a 1-1.2" bullet. I'd back the OAL down to 2.175" max and I really doubt you will see and accuracy loss.

If you want to shoot sub inch groups the following bullets will typically do it:

Speer 125gr TNT
Sierra 125gr SPT PH
Hornady 110gr V-MAX
Lehigh 110gr CC

I had a chance to make it to the range the other day. I got 2513 FPS average with 28.0 grains of CFE BLK behind the 130 grain HotCor. I also did a small workup with the 150 grain Pro Hunters. I got up to 25.0 grains of CFE BLK and hit 2260. I'll make a lot of 5 of the 150 grainers for the next range trip. I think we're calling it good on the 130 HotCot's. The goal there was to match factory velocities. The goal with the 150's is to hit 2250 average. So we'll see what we get with the next range trip.

We also messed with an adjustable gas block. It's a Syrac Ordnance. With the adjustable gas block recoil was noticeably softer. At two full turns open the HotCor loads ran flawlessly. The 150 grain loads would eject but not lock the bolt open on the same settings. That's what I expected with 3.0 grains less powder.

Looking forward to more range time soon.

Bill, I would do that if I knew how. With even 28.0 gr of powder, the load is compressed. I'm open for suggestions. I might be able to get to 2.175 if I dropped the load down to 28.0. Bill, which of the 4 bullets you listed would make the best hog hunting bullet? Daniel

28.2gr and a OAL of 2.170" for the 130HHC isn't too compressed, with lot #2 that's the load our factory ammo was loaded with for 2520fps from our 18" control barrel

Of the really accurate bullet choices, I'd probably go with the 125gr Sierra PH for hogs, but personally I'm sticking with the proven Speer 130gr HHC. The hogs I've killed don't know the difference if my rifle is shooting a .75" or a 1.25" group

Bill, I will try the 28.2 gr and a COAL of 2.170-2.175. Thanks Daniel

BTW, You do know that we (as shooters) are never satisfied with our groups, get 1 inch, want 3/4, get 3/4 want 1/2 inch and so it goes. LOL

Daniel, now your sounding like Greycard

Just in from the range testing a new 95gr Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos bullet. I was able to push them to over 2850fps from a 18" bbl with no signs of pressure using Shooters World SOCOM powder and five 3 shot 100yd groups at 2835fps averaged .67" with the largest .76" and the smallest .57"

Isn't 2850fps faster than you can push a 77gr 5.56 bullet ??? Federal lists their 77gr Gold Medal Match load at 2720fps

I resemble that remark! But I'm really not that bad. Once I get between .50 and .75 I'm normally happy. I'll even settle for .75 to 1.00 IF it does that for EVERY group.
But right now I'm still trying to come up with a reason for this cartridge being as accurate as it is, Everyone talks about MOA rifles as if they grew on trees, but they are really not that common.

I suspect barrel quality and build quality have something to do with accuracy being reported

Kmon, I agree with that statement 100%!!!!

I took another approach. 125gr TNT loaded to 2.270-75 with CFEBLK gives me a 10 shot group 1" group. D&H magazines and the tips are touching the end of the mag. Lands are 2.371 so I feel safe about not bumping them. Yes, it's a varmint bullet but I'm not interested in the meat so I don't care about jacket fragments. I will not mention how much powder I use so don't ask. With my crono its over 2525 but with no pressure signs.

You're 100% correct! I 've shot so many of their rifles I forget about the effort those guys put into everyone. I have remembered to compliment their crew making barrels, but it is the entire shop that should take a bow.

Wow! That was a long read, but worth it. Not sure if I'm ready to jump in, but very interesting round.

Come on in!! You will like the water (round &Gun).

Took my 300 Hamr out this weekend for a hog hunt. First time actually behind the rifle. Put around 15 rounds downrange to check it out. Loved it. Shooting Bill's Protector carbine pushing factory 125gr ProHunters I was getting easily .75-1" groups @ 100yds.

Didn't get a chance to take a pig but did nail a few corn thieves. Great rifle and great round that I'm loving so far.

mr OinK... have you ever actually shot anything with the hammah? got any pics?

it's ok to compress 28.2gr of cfeblk. if you don't want to see so much powder in the neck, trickle it in slowly and it will settle into the case better.

Loaded up 10 rds each of 28.1 & 28.2 at 2.175 +/- and shot it today. Have not done any measuring the groups yet but they don't look as good as the 2.180 +/- loads. Will get them measured later today.