Savage Axis 2 243 Winchester 95 gr SST hunting loads.

[Kent Goldings]

I’m trying to work up a hunting load for my Savage Axis 2 243 Winchester. I settled on these Hornady 95 gr. SSTs. due to the lack of available powders, I’ve been loading Hodgdon H4831. It is relatively slow burning and often used for larger calibers. Nevertheless, I’m using what I have and loading data for this power is available.

I tried different charge weights from 42 to 45 grains. The most promising groups were about 1 MOA for 45 grains. However, most of the groups were a 1/2 moa ragged hole and a single flier. Today, I did some chronography.

It seems to me that there are some pretty drastic fliers in the velocity space.

Im wondering what direction to proceed. Should I keep using the H4831 or should I use a different powder.

View attachment FullSizeRender.mov

 

[Acer-m14]

with the lack of stuff in stock now to use .. it could just be that gun does not like that bullet too ..

i also remember there was a issue with them plastic tips melting in air and effecting it be accurate

i have a stock Savage Axis in 270 win . i reload and just use the GameKing bullet jacket soft point .. imr 4350 ..
puts the deer down ..

 

[Kent Goldings]

Deer aren’t a problem. Even with pesky fliers, the SSTs will take a deer. I also have some 100 gr GK. Hopefully, the powder situation will resolve before fall. But, I hate getting that close to deer season and not have something worked out.

 

[tony]

According to the Hodgdon site at 45 gr. you are 1/2 gr. over max. Do you weigh every powder charge? What are you show showing in the video?

 

[Kent Goldings]

I’m

According to the Hodgdon site at 45 gr. you are 1/2 gr. over max. Do you weigh every powder charge? What are you show showing in the video?

I’m using the Hornady loading manual. It has loading for the specific bullet.

I just posted the video for fun.

 

[tony]

Hornadys' 45.5 gr. load shows a velocity of 3000 fps. Hodgdons data shows 44.5 gr. at 3052 fps. Most of your 45 gr. loads are in excess of 3100 fps.

Rarely are maximum loads the most accurate.

What is the " Z score " from your chart?

 

[Kent Goldings]

Hornadys' 45.5 gr. load shows a velocity of 3000 fps. Hodgdons data shows 44.5 gr. at 3052 fps. Most of your 45 gr. loads are in excess of 3100 fps.

Rarely are maximum loads the most accurate.

What is the " Z score " from your chart?

I had previously loaded 42,43, and 44.The 45 grain looked the best. Velocities on loading tables rarely reflect exact velocities on the bench. Individual rifles will always show variation. Also, 95 gr. is on the low side for that table. I’m considering loading some at 40 and 41 grains, as the Hodgdon manual suggests. I’m a little hesitant to waste the primers on a poor loading.

FWIW, there were no signs of over-pressure on the brass.

Z-score is a measure of relative placement of an observation inside a sample. I did that to identify velocity outliers. That’s my Ph.D. in Math peeking out. I don’t like hitting people over the head with it.

 

[tony]

The Hodgdon site I viewed showed 42 grs. as the starting load. I will ask again, do you weigh every charge? Does your z score have a zero or base point?

 

[Kent Goldings]

The Hodgdon site I viewed showed 42 grs. as the starting load. I will ask again, do you weigh every charge? Does your z score have a zero or base point?

I have this gizmo from Hornady that marries a digit scale and abs auto-trickler. The weights are precise to within a tenth of a grain.


The sample Z-score is a measure of relative placement. It quantifies the number of standard deviations an observation is away from the mean. For example, Z=0 means the observation was equal to the arithmetic mean. Z=1 means the observation is one standard deviation greater than the mean. Z=-1 means the observation is 1 standard deviation less than the mean.

When a population is normally distributed, we expect 95% of the sample to have Z-score between -2 and 2. Z-score is a rough way of identifying outliers.

 

[tony]

In your chart is there or I should ask what is the standard or Z ?

 

[Kent Goldings]

In your chart is there or I should ask what is the standard or Z ?

The standard deviation is a measure of the variation of a sample. The average is a number that quantifies the center of a sample. The average is customarily the arithmetic mean, but not always.

 

[tony]

Hahaha, I have a pretty good idea what SD is. The issue it would appear is the occasional deviation in velocity which is sometimes pretty big in this instance. What can you attribute that to? Keep it simple. Have you checked the repeatability and accuracy of your scale against another? How about weighing the exact same powder charge 20 times and see what you get.

 

[Kent Goldings]

Hahaha, I have a pretty good idea what SD is. The issue it would appear is the occasional deviation in velocity which is sometimes pretty big in this instance. What can you attribute that to? Keep it simple. Have you checked the repeatability and accuracy of your scale against another? How about weighing the exact same powder charge 20 times and see what you get.

I don’t think the problem is variation in charge weight. It could be that the powder is not burning completely.

 

[tony]

What is your reason based on? Do you see evidence of that? Un-burned granules of powder? Muzzle flash?

 

[Kent Goldings]

What is your reason based on? Do you see evidence of that? Un-burned granules of powder? Muzzle flash?

No evidence. I’m just guessing. The barrel length is not optimized for a 243. I just don’t have problems with charge weights from other chambering. Inconsistent powder burn is a possible culprit.

 

[tony]

What did burn consistently for 6 of 10 shots looks pretty consistent. The velocity of your last shot doesn't figure in... Check your scale, I've read of numerous instances where users have checked their scales and found inconsistent charge weights. Just because it's digital doesn't mean it's infallible... This rifle may be more sensitive to varied charge weights and your others more forgiving.

I use IMR4350 in my .243 RCBS (24" bbl. 1-10" twist) w/100 gr. Nosler Partitions or 75 gr. Hornady HP's. Never checked velocity as I was pleased with 1/4" five shot groups at 100 yds from both...

I would not hesitate to use IMR 3031 or even H380 as an alternate for my use.

 

[Shoots100]

I have a friend with an axis 2 243 he got for his daughter to hunt with and it like's the 100grain SST/38.5 grns of 4350 combo.
Dime sized 3 shot groups at 100 yards with it right from the factory and she's no Annie Oakley.

 

[Kent Goldings]

I have a friend with an axis 2 243 he got for his daughter to hunt with and it like's the 100grain SST/38.5 grns of 4350 combo.
Dime sized 3 shot groups at 100 yards with it right from the factory and she's no Annie Oakley.

Yes, I’m thinking of lowering the charge weight and seeing if the groups are more consistent. That being said, I can totally see shooting 3 round groups through the same hole. I was shooting 5 round groups with 4 touching and number 5 an inch away.

 

[Kent Goldings]

I lowered the powder charge to 42 grains. Numbers are a little less wild.