NOE 30 Hunter With 2400 and Reloader 7

[quicksylver]

So today was what they call "soft" weather in England, you know 47% , misting but livable.

I decided it was good enough (maybe) for iron site shooting.

I had loaded 20 rnds of 30-06 with NOE's 30 Hunter, COWW +2% tin, lubed with Ben's Red and lightly rolled in BLL.

I sized them .311 and seated them at 3.220 OAL, 10 rnds were to be pushed with 17.8 grs. 2400, the other 10 with 21.7 grs. RX7.

The cases were very old and used WRA 54's

The platform I used was my MK 1, it has a "c" stock, a Lyman 48 rear and 17a front sight with two inserts , one the orange disc, the second my standard round insert, ( JW taught me that trick),this arrangement cuts the glare considerably.

The gun is also equipped with an NOS 2 groove barrel.

The reason I chose this rifle was because I recently installed the action in the stock and secondly I bubbaed
a 1903a3 sight base to fit it in order to hold the hand guard, but I did not know if doing this would effect the accuracy.

I included a couple of pictures of the gun as used on a rest for JW, you can see where the stock is located
on the front rest, as I said in another post I "pinch" the front band to the rest's stop before each shot to insure the gun is mounted in the rest the same way each time.

As for the target, the only surprise I got was the first shot's location, that rarely happens, WOW way out there !

Then as usual things settled in, the only changes I made to the sight settings was to windage in order to separate the groups.

So what did I learn?

1. Great to be able to shoot iron sights after the long winter.
2. Both loads are keepers IMO
3. Bullets, alloy and lube are good
3. The RX7 load shoots higher and has slightly more recoil and report
4. Pressures appear to be about the same.
5. Looking at the groups you can see how my eyes started to get tired,
I did this on my lunch hour so I did not have the time I would normally have had to shoot 20 rnds.

All in all a not a bad hour.

Next is the 311332 and then on to the Lee 155 and 160 TL.

Then after those the ....

 

[KHornet]

A good report Quick!

 

[quicksylver]

Thanks , K !

Actually the whole point as I said before was to find a reasonable replacement for 2400.

So far I have been very pleased with the RX7, actually I like it better than either flavor of 4198.

However I would not pass on the 4198's if I ran across some.

Strange how when you get used to a particular load small differences show up.

I have shot so much 2400 I can feel the difference in the length of the recoil impulse of the RX7.

 

[35 shooter]

Nice test and good shooting. I picked up some unique and imr4350 powder locally last week. They didn't have 2400, but did have plenty of rl7.
I'll be going back for more unique and 4350 next week and now i believe i'll pick up some rl7.

 

[KHornet]

I still have a few pounds of 2400, but am buying Rx7 in case 2400 does not show up. I like Rx7, but I have a thing about 2400. Have used it in every rifle ctg I own from Hornet to 45-70 for many more years than I can remember. It is kind of like an old friend!

 

[JWFilips]

Dan,
That is some darn good shooting! I really appreciate your posting!
Jim

 

[JWFilips]

Paul,
I have great loads with RX7 & with 2400 in a number of calibers....I could not decide between them!!! But the one thing I decided is I need both powders!!!
Jim

 

[Ben]

Dan,

That certainly is some fine shooting ! !

Ben

 

[quicksylver]

Jim, Paul,Ben...Thank you all for your kind words.

My shooting that day was not all that great, but a good start for the season.

Like you guys I have been using 2400 since the mid '60's and love it.

As we all know lately it has been all but impossible to find , I have managed to stach about 12# away, but the cost has become rediculosely high.

The RX7 works as well with most if not all of my favorite bullets.

RX7 does seem to be "greaser" ,that is more residue on the case necks than with 2400.

I used WLR primers with those loads , I am going to try CCI with the same RX7 loads and see what happens.

One last note ,preliminary testing has indicated that multiplying my 2400 loads by 1.20 puts me about spot on for my RX7 loads with a given bullet.

More later

Thanks again guys.

 

[KHornet]

Dan, I will log the factor of 1.2 into my memory bank. I have been using WLR for the past couple of years, because that was all that was available in quantity. CCI's are starting to show up in quantity, and what limited amounts of ammo I have loaded with them seem to be pretty good.
Paul

 

[quicksylver]

Paul..regional differences still baffle me.

CCI is and has been readily available.
,
WLR on the other hand is so spotty that I have taken to buying 5000 at a time on line.

 

[KHornet]

Interesting! I also am baffled! And it is a real PIA!

 

[300BLK]

While I like 2400 in other calibers, I use 5744 in the '06, OR, I use H322. I'll have to try RL7.

I was in a small shop yesterday and saw a couple of cans of 2400 on the shelf!

 

[quicksylver]

L

While I like 2400 in other calibers, I use 5744 in the '06, OR, I use H322. I'll have to try RL7.

I was in a small shop yesterday and saw a couple of cans of 2400 on the shelf!

Next time, take a picture please ,'cause I would like to see what it looks like on a shelf.

It has been around two years now since any has been found at any LGS and I have three friends and a nephew looking and that covers at least two states.

 

[quicksylver]

BTW..I did walk into one LGS and they had two 8# bottles of 4227 for a very reasonable price, but I haven't had much luck getting that stuff to work.

 

[300BLK]

BTW..I did walk into one LGS and they had two 8# bottles of 4227 for a very reasonable price, but I haven't had much luck getting that stuff to work.

It works great in the 300BLK.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Quick
I am down to less than a lb. of 2400 is the RX7 a reasonable replacement. I know not the same but close.

 

[quicksylver]

Kevin ...do not hesitate to purchase as much as you can....

It is a little dirtier and you will use slightly more...in my '06's I use multiplier of 1.20.

Accuracy MAY surpass 2400...definitely is as accurate if not more so .

Been using it in my 30-30, .308 as well with the same results.

I can post some groups if you like.

 

[JWFilips]

Kevin,
I agree with Dan I would say it is a good substitute. Both powders meter and shoot very well in most of my calibers I have used it in ( .223 to 8mm)
I think it may have been Ian who pointed out In a thread awhile back, that if temps are 100 deg or warmer RX7 isn't as consistent We never get that kind of warmth here so I have no experience in that matter, however if that is the case …..ammo in a hot vehicle could give different results then expected.
But Yes grab the RX7 you won't be disappointed
Jim

 

[Ian]

Reloder 7 is a very consistent performer even when loaded down below it's preferred pressure range. It will leave mummies in the cases sometimes, and it isn't the best choice for huge cases and light loads, but it doesn't mind being compressed at all and responds well to Dacron filler if you need it, which most of the time you won't. It is head and shoulders above any of the 4198s, XMP5744, and in a lot of things works better than 4227. It has a very high nitroglycerin content and is easy to light off. It's my preferred powder for 30-30, .35 Remington, .300 Blackout subsonic/heavy bullets, and for seriously over-weight .45 Colt loads, so I keep plenty on hand.