Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby jccinohio » Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:36 am

Catches fish?
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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby Hoot » Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:02 am

jccinohio wrote:Catches fish?


Older member humor. I don't know if you recall the TV ads for the Popiel Pocket Fisher by Ronco. :roll:

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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby jccinohio » Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:53 am

Ahh yes, I remember it well..

Hoot wrote:
jccinohio wrote:Catches fish?


Older member humor. I don't know if you recall the TV ads for the Popiel Pocket Fisher by Ronco. :roll:

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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby oren87 » Sat Aug 04, 2018 3:59 pm

First I would like to thank Hoot and this forum for giving me everything I needed to load this round. Since load data isn’t widely available this has been my go to.

I finished my testing with the RAR using Hornady’s 200 grain FTX and wanted to share my results to help the next person. I do not have a chronograph, I’ve only been reloading a year, and I’m not the greatest bench rest shooter. Glad we got that out of the way :D

Image

I first loaded up 3 shots of 36 – 38.5 grains lil’gun with 1 time fired hornady brass and WSR primers in .5 increments. Best result was the 36 grain with low recoil. As I worked up to 38.5 I could hear the bullet hitting the paper faster and faster. Although the 36 grain was accurate I pressed on to see if I could find another “node” at faster velocity.

I then loaded 38.5 (I initially thought the 38.5 grain was good just not my shooting) to 42 grains, again 3 shots, .5 increments, but using new Starline brass.
I found the 41 grain load to be dead on although the 40.5 was also very close. I’m not sure if it’s the brass but I didn’t have any sooting in the second session. I’m assuming velocity is at 2,500 FPS after reading Hoot’s 200 FTX going the other way thread.

I’ll be loading up 200 grain FTXs with 41 grains of lil’gun using no expander die and taper crimping to .474-475 for deer season!

Image
(Left to Right: 36gr, 40.5gr, and 41gr @ 100 Yards)
Last edited by oren87 on Tue Aug 07, 2018 1:51 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby Thom28 » Sat Aug 04, 2018 5:44 pm

Thanks for range report. Look out Iowa deer.
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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby Al in Mi » Sun Aug 05, 2018 4:05 am

nice report and there is nothing wrong with your benchrest skills ;)
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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby Hoot » Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:49 am

This kind of result is my reward. ;)

As Al said, that's as good a bench result as you can hope for with this caliber.
Generally speaking, the hotter the load, the faster the brass seals off in the chamber, preventing gas (soot) from leaking back around it.

I've been on vacation in bottleneck calibers, bolt action land the past month or so. It's also the busiest time of the year around the house. Hard to squeak in range time more than a few hours every Saturday morning. Can't wait to be retired in 2 yrs, 2 mo and 27 days.

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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby plant_one » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:39 am

those will kill deer! congratz on working it out!
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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby Tag Soup » Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:15 am

oren87 wrote:Image
(Left to Right: 36gr, 40.5gr, and 41gr)


What distance were those shots at? (There’s a lot to forget when posting reports!)
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Re: Reloading for the Ruger American Rifle (Bolt)

Postby oren87 » Mon Aug 06, 2018 11:36 am

Absolutely I was sure to forget something! 100 yards

My next step is to figure out at what range to zero my scope
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