26 inch barrel- powder of choice

[Brad Y]

Excuse me asking silly questions yet again.

In a 26" barrel am i going to see much of a difference between 2206H and 2208- aside from the size of the flame out the front?

[Brad Y]

Sorry should have mentioned its a 308.

[Quinny]

I didn't see a great deal of difference in accuracy between 2206H and 2208 in my Tikka (23.75" barrel), but I ended up going with 2208 because it seemed to be a little more consistent. I use 2208 now in my Howa 223 and F/TR 308 (30" barrel), haven't tried 2206H, but I am happy with the way 2208 is working.

You could always try both and see how it goes, your rifle may prefer one over another. It seems to me that 2208 is more popular for the 308 though - there may be something in that.

[Brad Y]

I have a tub of each. Tried the sierra palmas and 2208 and got poor results. I know the NARA ammo shot well and thats 44gr of 2206H and the HBC's. Got 20 HBC's from a generous donor to try out so Im going to see if I can tweak that load up with the 06H but in lapua brass. Will start down at 43 and work up slowly towards it. I think my main objective is to get the HBC loads to shoot as well as the NARA ammo out of this factory barrel (rem) with a stupidly long throat. If I can do that, then Im happy til the end of the year. Then its new barrel time.

[stu_bear2002]

brad, in my 26" omark i use 45gr 2208 pushing hbc's with very good results .110 @100mtrs for 5 shots
stuey

[Brad Y]

Thanks stu

Will keep in in mind. Ive done up 43.5 to 44.7gr of 2206H and will check them this weekend. I saw more potential in the HBC's than the SMK's so if these dont quite tickle my fancy will try the 44gr of 2208 and work up.

[macguru]

You will know when you are onto something when you get one hole groups at 100m, if its a small round hole all the better ! The best i have managed is about dime sized, say 1/2" edge to edge for 5x 0.308" projectiles.

I have had more luck with 2208 in my 308 but have good loads for both powders now. Just dont change too many variables at once. powder, projectile, load, seating depth, brass all have an effect of course. I make up bunches of 5 rounds, write details on them & fire them off at 100m. If they go through one hole, i try them at longer ranges. Of course i am assuming little or no wind and a good bench for the test to have any meaning. Some of my best loads are a bit on the soft side for the longer ranges i think, which is why i am still experimenting.

cheers andrew

[Brad Y]

44.4gr 2206H is looking darn good. Terrible weather for load development, but 3 shots were two holes, both touching, one slightly to the right of the other. Soon as more HBC's arrive I will load up a heap more and run a heap more of that load at 300 to see what they are doing. 2.910 OAL and the HBCs are still jumping heaps thanks to the remington factory throat. Seem to be tolerant of a bit of a jump.

[Brad Y]

Gave that load a real test today. I only had 5 of them loaded and had to shoot the NARA HBC ammo at 800m with a shocker of a tailwind- above 30 knots.

The NARA stuff had alot of vertical spread and was very hard to tame. My score was up to sh!t so halfway through the second round I changed to my loads over and burnt my 5 handloads off. Vertical spread instantly reduced a crapload and they were landing a full minute higher I reckon.

Off to get some more HBC's I go!

[saum2]

You may not want to hear this, but why develop a load etc in a barrel that is going to be replaced at xmas time?? When you have the new barrel screwed in, you'll have to do it all over again and it will be different anyway.
Just my 2 bobs worth.

[M12LRPV]

You may not want to hear this, but why develop a load etc in a barrel that is going to be replaced at xmas time?? When you have the new barrel screwed in, you'll have to do it all over again and it will be different anyway.
Just my 2 bobs worth.

Because the process of load development can be a technique in itself.

The more you test the more you learn about the rifle and the more you learn about the testing process itself.

Then when you get your good barrel you've got enough experience to plan how you're going to do it with minimal effort and minimal cost.

[Brad Y]

Im doing it because I want to shoot with it. No point trying to use it with factory ammo that doesnt shoot anywhere near as well as what I can load. If it was going to sit there until xmas then I wouldnt bother.