Noveske Barrel

[Onyx Z]

You might try dropping that load down a touch. I'm dropping 23.4-23.5gr on top of CCI 450's and am getting incredible groups with 77gr SMK's from 2 different rifles. Dropping the powder charge will help your primer pockets last longer as well.

[J-cat]

According to my research, CCI 450 is the same strength as the 41. I worked up a load using 41's and 8208 and it blew a primer with 23.4grs. 41's generate 70 FPS more than 7.5's with the same charge. Based on velocity, and my QL, I'd say 23.8 with 7.5's makes the same pressure as 23.2 with 41's.

[markm]

Oh, I forgot. I got some Tulammo 556M primers. They average 20 FPS less than 7.5's.

Did they shoot better? 8208 is a fast enough powder that the mellow Russian primer should really make it sing. (It has in my experience)

[Onyx Z]

According to my research, CCI 450 is the same strength as the 41. I worked up a load using 41's and 8208 and it blew a primer with 23.4grs. 41's generate 70 FPS more than 7.5's with the same charge. Based on velocity, and my QL, I'd say 23.8 with 7.5's makes the same pressure as 23.2 with 41's.

They are supposed to be the same compound, but I've found 450's to be much more consistent than the 41's.

FWIW, higher velocity is not always indicative of higher pressure. And a hotter primer does not always equal more velocity. There are many more factors at play here.

I might load some up to your specs and do some velocity testing if I get the chance. Something always pops up when I plan on heading to country to shoot, so it wouldn't surprise me if something came up and I don't make it out there.

Edit: scratch that, it's dove season. If I'm headed to the country, I'll be hunting.

[bp7178]

The biggest improvement I had when reloading for my Noveske was to stop full length sizing, and just move to shoulder bumping. I suspect the body of the chamber is a bit on the big side to aid in extraction. My theory is that if you're mashing down every case to the small side of things it never really expands and seals as good as it should. After I started bumping, my cases were coming out of the rifle a lot more clean than they were previously; less soot on the ejected cases.

[J-cat]

Did they shoot better? 8208 is a fast enough powder that the mellow Russian primer should really make it sing. (It has in my experience)

I didn't do a full work up. I just loaded them with 23.2grs to compare velocity.

[J-cat]

Another update:

Ran out of 77SMK, but found some with cannelure at a local store. Tried 23.8 of 8208 and 7.5's crimped and uncrimped. Shot .75" either way, although crimping shifted the POI to the left a little.

Then I shot 23.8, 23.6, and 23.4grs with the 556M's. 23.8 shot 1", 23.6 shot .75", and 23.4 shot .3" with a last shot flier opening it to .5". I knew I was going to mess up that group. I'm not worthy.

23.4 is it. The primers look nice and round. The load is and feels mild.

I was going to work up a load with Hornady 75's but some sumbich stole them out of my mail box. I hope he od's on his dope.

[markm]

That's good. 23.4 should put you at load with a little buffer for safe pressure levels. I think I get improved results with crimping because I have mixed brass with various numbers of firings. So the crimp somewhat equalized the neck tensions.

[Onyx Z]

23.4-23.5 XBR is what I use with 77gr SMK/Nosler CC's. Consistently .5moa.

I haven't tried the crimp vs no crimp. I was just thinking about wanting to test that out today actually.

[markm]

I haven't tried the crimp vs no crimp. I was just thinking about wanting to test that out today actually.

That may be unique to my process...