Gun Digest – August 2019

gundigest.com GunDigest the magazine AUGUST 2019 (^) | 21
shots in just over ½ MOA. Imagine
the disappointment when the chro-
nograph showed that these bullets
were moving at a bit more than
2,500 fps. In spite of the excellent
accuracy, that seriously low velocity
(factory loads for this cartridge/bul-
let weight combo usually run about
2,850 fps) would have an adverse ef-
fect on both trajectory and striking
energy, so my IMR4350 load had to
be abandoned.
Happily, I was able to reproduce
the accuracy using Reloder 23, with
very consistent muzzle velocities av-
eraging 2,815 fps. The load showed
no high-pressure signs; and, because
Reloder 23 is insensitive to tempera-
ture changes, it will work well in the
heat of Africa or on the tundra in
pursuit of caribou.
The .404 Jeffery
The .404 Jeffery—one of my favorite
big-bore cartridges—was traditionally
loaded with a 400-grain bullet to a
muzzle velocity of 2,150 fps. Modern
loads bring that muzzle velocity up
to 2,350 fps, bringing the .404 Jeffery
into the same class as the .416 Rigby
and Remington factory loads.
When I started load development for
my Heym Express, I fi rst evaluated how
the rifl e liked factory loads. I found the
accuracy with most 400-grain loads
was acceptable, but I wanted to use the
400-grain Woodleigh Hydrostatically
Stabilized solids, so I’d need to hand-
load them.
I looked through the reloading
manuals and found a bunch of differ-
ing data. With 400-grain bullets, both
monometal and lead core, and Alli-
ant’s Reloder 15 powder, some books
listed 74.0 grains as the maximum
load, while others listed as much as
83.0 grains as maximum, yielding
more than 2,400 fps.
I worked up, in 1-grain increments,
from 72.0 grains to 80.0, which is
where the Heym gave me the MOA
accuracy I was after. The Oehler 35P
showed a muzzle velocity of 2,280 fps,
coinciding perfectly with the test data
in the Woodleigh reloading manual,
and that velocity worked out just fi ne
for me: It was easy on the shoulder
and quite effective on the business
end. Did I hit the 5,000 ft-lbs of en-
ergy benchmark? No (but please don’t
tell the elephant or buffalo about
that).
The .470 NE Double Rifl e
In my .470 NE double rifl e—which
was regulated by the Heym factory
with Hornady factory ammunition at
2,150 fps—I needed to match a par-
ticular velocity in order to duplicate
the accuracy. Trying different factory
loads showed me just how velocity
variations affected the accuracy of a
double rifl e.
For example, Federal’s factory load,
with the 500-grain Trophy Bonded Bear
Claw, proved to be very consistent in
my rifl e but was running at an aver-
age velocity of 2,251 fps and impacting
about 3 inches high and nearly that
much to the left. I could have adjusted
the sights, but I opted to handload for
the big gun. I did match the regulation
velocity with a load of 88.0 grains of
Reloder 15 and a Kynoch foam wad.
That formula works with several differ-
ent projectiles and has taken numerous
Cape buffalo.
Find a Good Chronometer
A good chronograph is a necessity for
the serious handloader, whether it’s for
a handgun load, hunting guns or tar-
get rifl es. I like the Oehler 35P chrono-
graph, although there are other models
that give reliable performance (for in-
stance, many guys sing the praises of
the LabRadar system, using Doppler ra-
dar). For the long-range shooter, know-
ing the muzzle velocity is as important
as knowing the BC of your bullet; and
even with those two pieces of informa-
tion, corrections will need to be made
to the projected trajectory.
Accuracy/Velocity Compromise
What’s the remedy for a rifl e or hand-
gun that gives its most accurate per-
formance at a lower velocity? My only
suggestion is to try until you fi nd
something you can live with. Just as
some barrels give lower velocities with
factory ammo, it can, and does, hap-
pen with handloaded ammo as well.
I have a 6.5-284 Norma in a Savage
Custom Shop Model 116 that’s abso-
lutely lights-out accurate. However,
that occurs at velocities more often
associated with the 6.5 Creedmoor. I
have several hunting loads that still
print under 1 MOA, but I have yet to
fi nd the load as accurate as the slow
one at proper 6.5-284 velocities.
Nevertheless, I’m not giving up ei-
ther; I know that accuracy/velocity
combination is out there somewhere.
While plenty accurate, this factory 7mm load
just didn’t give the velocities the cartridge
was capable of producing.
The accuracy of the 6.5-284 Norma is more
than desirable, yet the velocities are about
200 fps lower than what is attainable.
It’s certainly disappointing to buy a
.300 Winchester Magnum and see .30-
’06 Springfi eld velocities—just as it
can be frustrating to try to push a .308
Winchester to magnum velocities.
Try different primers to see the effect
on velocity and accuracy; switch the
brand/type of bullet; and/or change
up the powder choice.
Be a bit fl exible in your expecta-
tions, realize that not every rifl e will
deliver the perfect blend of velocity
and accuracy, but be diligent in your
development. I’ll wager you’ll end up
happy with your chosen rig. GDTM
Philip P. Massaro is president of Massaro
Ballistic Laboratories, which creates custom
handloaded ammunition. In addition to his
frequent contributions to the Gun Digest Annual,
he has authored several Gun Digest books. His
newest work is Big Book of Ballistics, available at
GunDigestStore.com.