Help needed

kidthatsirish

Son wants to start reloading rifle shells and wants some stuff for Christmas. What does he need to get started?

kidthatsirish

Hello guys...I have some reloads I was thinking of trying my FIL made.
30-06 with a 168gr "ballistic tip" (black bullet with a silver tip) over 50gr of varget.

I have a 20 inch barrel....was wondering what kind of velocities and trajectories can I expect?

EDIT: Sorry guys that was a 22 inch barrel

62fuelie

My Sierra manual shows the 168 SMK with 50.1 grains of Varget at 2800 fps out of a 26" barrel. If you deduct 25 fps per inch to your 22" that should yield about 2700 fps. This is the maximum load Sierra lists so use due caution and watch for any signs of pressure.

charliemeyer007

I would see how easily a round chambers. I would extract it a carefully inspect the black coating for any marks left by the rifling.

Most ballistic tables will give you a good approximation of what to expect. I like the Hornady ballistic tables in their loading book. Their program is free to use.

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/0701/Infinity-Version-7-Exterior-Ballistic-Software

http://www.hornady.com/support/standard-ballistics-calculator-vs-4dof-ballistic-calculator

nononsense

kidthatsirish,

The 2700 fps. is probably close enough. Using some data from a few years ago, I have recorded 2679 fps. as the average for several tests targets.

Best.