Where to go from here?

[gds]

Locked by accident

[Augenblick]

So here are my most recent results with the Hornady 190 gr Sub-x blems and AA #9. All used xtreme brass, used both CCI 400 and CCI #41 primers. Fired from Sig MCX Rattler. Normal gas setting. Omega36M suppressor. Holosun 510 green site.

Overall really happy with function. Zero issues. Gun no longer full of gritty unburnt powder. Sound is completely hearing safe.

I clearly have some issues to work on. A little tweaking for velocity. But I would say my biggest challenge now getting uniform seating depth. I have a Hornady L&L AP and a Forster Ultra Micrometer seating dye but having issues with indexing that Hornady has not been able to help with. Have sent it back and they recommend using their dies due to "longer run out". Maybe it will get better with non blem bullets but when I have sorted prepped brass by length and weight I shouldn't have to adjust seating depth so much I would think.

My shooting isn't going to get a lot better I don't think. I'm old, fat and shake more than I used to. But this shoot was with a 102.3 fever and forgot my glasses. But hey it gave me something to do waiting for my Doctor's appointment.






Ok only 10 rounds is a stretch to call a mag dump I know but just checking for cycling issues.

[Roadrunner1969]

I know the problem with seating Sub-Xs. I found that the thickness of the plastic tips varies, so checking for COAL is a waste of time, and can get frustrating. The measurement from the cannelure to the meplat is consistent though. I did some measurement and calculations and arrived at a target depth, set my standard seating stem (Lee) for that depth and started loading. They came out pretty consistent, except every once in a while one would be off by as much as .010", and I couldn't figure out why. I talked with Hornady and they do not have a seating stem for that bullet currently. He said that he would be doing the same things as I am.
Anyway, I am going to use the cannelure as the target for seating.
My most accurate load so far is 12 grains CFEBLK, 2.070" COAL, 5 rounds into 1/2" at 50 yds.
I just started working with some Unique that I recovered from some 38 specials that I loaded a few years ago. It is much quieter, but since I only tested 1 load, more work will have to be done to see if it remains as quiet as I increase the load and gives me the accuracy I am looking for.

[popper]

I got a NOE sizer insert @ 332 and use it to check neck thickness. Fast and no errs. Insert loaded rnd into the backside. If it goes to the shoulder, OK. I did make a rig using an old Lee sizer for 30/30, dropped a washer into it for nose dia. Works like a ogive comparator. Keeps the coated cast loads from jamming at that 'cone' before the bore.

[Augenblick]

So I think I'm nearing the end of my 190gr sub-x development for the Rattler.

[Augenblick]

So I think I'm nearing the end of my 190gr sub-x development for the Rattler. My friend brought a spotting scope so I was able to identify a couple of less well behaved bullets with the chronograph. On its own it isn't terrible but with identifying 1109 and 991 fps bullets out of the group I go from a 1.09" STDV 46 group to a less than 1/2" STDV 10.2 group. And it is all me. Sloppy technique. I am using blems and whether I forgot to reset seating adjustment a few thousand the or was too lazy to pull and start over I got the results I did the work for.



The more I do this the more I learn just how important the brass prep is. Sorting by head stamp, length and weight really makes a difference. Starting out you're happy to not blow up, hit your velocity goals, get cyclic function etc.

You want quieter, you look for better powders but you have to learn why it's better for your application. Then your have to find/learn/understand that what your looking for isn't in the form you're wanting or expecting it to be. Luckily for me Dellet took the time to shepard me towards my goal instead of just giving me what I was asking for.

I say that because I really learned alot going through the process and I can apply that to the next round I develop.

I'm always going to love/hate the rattler. Love it's size, function, robustness. It has eaten everything I've thrown at it. I hate that I'm stuck with the 5.5" barrel. Other MCX variants you can go from 6" - 16" barrels. The 5.5" barrel is just going to be louder. It's physics, no way around it but faster powder helped a lot. It's not going to be moa at 200 yards. It's going to be dirty with a lot of blackout powders because....5.5" isn't long enough to burn them.

It's super compact and if I do my part and can make ammo I can put in a half inch at 50 yards no factory ammo can match that at the sound level of my ammo and that feels pretty good.

I'm not done with the rattler. I ordered a Liberty Anthem S suppressor that I'm really excited about because not only will it be quieter with less back pressure it also has no barrel length restrictions and I can develop super loads. No way in hell I'm shooting supers out of that short ass barrel without a suppressor.

I'm probably going to try the maker rec 200gr expanding next.

On another note those cast HiTek 220 grain bullets I've got down pretty well now too. Zero functional issues in either my rattler or 16" PSA. Big thing I notice is a fairly consistent poi shift. Fun to ping steel with for cheap.