125gr soft points

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sparks1775
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125gr soft points

Post by sparks1775 »

I got some 125gr soft points, loaded 5 different weight charges and went to the range to chrono and check groups. Thoroughly disappointed in groups.

.850" oal
.308" cannelure to base
.480" ogive to base

10.5" AR pistol. Groups were 3' to 5" @ 100yds Not what I expected, in fact dismal. Too far off the lands?

Next I shot groups for 125gr Sierra SMK's. worst group> 2.5" best group> 1" This is more like it. Groups started large then narrowed down then got larger. Best group load was 17.3g H110

I was hoping the soft points would shoot better. Should I just relegate these to my .308 and forget them in the .300blk?
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plant.one
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Re: 125gr soft points

Post by plant.one »

what COAL did you load them to?
did you crimp?
what powder charges?
what primer?
what brass?

can you share the chrono data of the 5 charges you tested?

what were the weather conditions?

what is your max COAL to the lands with that bullet based on a OAL gauge in your chamber?




basically you gave us almost no useful information to judge your loads on is what i'm getting at... other than they grouped 3-5" out of a 10.5" pistol
Reloading info shared is based on experiences w/ my guns. Be safe and work up your loads from published data. Web data may not be accurate/safe.
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sparks1775
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Re: 125gr soft points

Post by sparks1775 »

Brass...LC all 2015
Primer...CCI 400 SRP
Powder...H110
AOL...1.955"

Charge FPS
16.3 1792. 1795, 1822, 1841, 1821
16.8 1827, 1873, 1863, 1888, 1904
17.3 1932, 1947, 1929, 1965, 1979
17.8 2089, 2060, 2084, 2074, 2090
18.3 2028, 2081, 2064, 2081, 2108

Weather...60F sunny, light 5>10 MPH @12 o'clock

Loaded COAL to this length because I was told to have at least the bullet diameter inside the neck. Any farther out seems like not enough grip on the bullet. Bullet seated to middle of cannelure. I have no measurement of Max COAL.
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dellet
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Re: 125gr soft points

Post by dellet »

It's pointless to have .308" of bullet in a .250" long neck, you will only have as much contact as there is neck. with a boat tail it's a different story. You lose the length of the tail, about .100-.120"

You might start out with Sierra's data and go from there.

That bullet can be quite accurate.

Image

https://sierrabullets.files.wordpress.c ... 212017.pdf
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sparks1775
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Re: 125gr soft points

Post by sparks1775 »

Thanks Dellet. Back to the reloading bench and range. I admit I do not find this tedious, but fun. Good to hear these spitzers can be a good choice.

Finding the right combination in all the variables is the game.
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