[constructor]

If any of you guys are interested, RMR has .308 130gr SOST MK319 OTM bullets in stock.

They work great in the Herrett and are also the most accurate military type bullet I have ever shot in a 308. The TNB1 Federal load will shoot right around 1 1/4" out of a HK91 clone, my DPMS G2 and an AR10.
The Cavity Back is a premium hunting bullet but the SOST is the next best thing.

 

[gunner14412]

I inspected all my loaded unfired rounds under a magnifying glass, twice. Didn't spot a split in any case. Some of the lines in the photo might be surface scratches due to feed-testing in a fresh magazine with sharp edges. There might be micro-splits/cracks, but I can't spot them under a magnifier.

In any case, I think annealing before resizing will be a best-practice for me and this brass. Maybe the ring around the neck will disappear too, as its the former crease corresponding to the top of the 6.8 shoulder where it met the 6.8 neck.

I'm going to pull all the remaining loads apart and anneal some of those, then reload and fire to see if those results are all good, or if the damage is already done. I'll also load up some with new brass, annealing before sizing and see how that goes. That will take several weeks; super busy with work and summer stuff for the near future.

I'll lighten the load, was at 26.5 grains of SW BO. With that powder do I need to worry about lower %-fill affecting pressure in the opposite direction, i.e. causing higher pressure? I believe that's a "feature" of H110 or maybe Lil'Gun. The only thing I'm aware of with SW BO is if pressure is lower, there could be a yellow residue buildup.

I was surprised to get signs of high pressure on the primer from that load. Was it the load, or maybe the CCI 400 primer being soft?

Thanks guys, I'll post an update when I get the next round of testing done.

Finally got some time to take this further. I pulled all the loads apart, and annealed a few and reloaded and shot.
The new load was 26.0 grains of SW-BO with 147 grain FMJBT pulls.
Turns out I still had splits, although fewer than the batch before annealing.
What's next is to anneal the S&B 6.8 brass before resizing to make 30 Herret. And maybe annealing again after its resized prior to reloading.

Does anybody have a stash of non-S&B brass, more suilable for 30 Herret? Unfortunately, brass isn't excatly available these days.

More to come later.

 

[chris3018]

MK319 130 SOST bullet loaded in S&B brass. 18”ARP barrel COAL 2.295 SWBO 29.4gr 30°Temp 71humidity 28.7 Baro 1180 Elev
2710fps. 1” at 100 yards. I’m happy with this performance.
Does anyone know if the SOST bullet is good for deer. I’ve already tagged out this year with the 125MKZ this year.

 

[ppelaez]

MK319 130 SOST bullet loaded in S&B brass. 18"ARP barrel COAL 2.295 SWBO 29.4gr 30°Temp 71humidity 28.7 Baro 1180 Elev
2710fps. 1" at 100 yards. I'm happy with this performance.
Does anyone know if the SOST bullet is good for deer. I've already tagged out this year with the 125MKZ this year.

Chris, curious about your 125 gr MKZ load. I load that bullet in my 18" 30 HRT with 29.0 gr of SWBO at COAL=2.225 and I get right at about 2600 fps. What's your load?

 

[chris3018]

Chris, curious about your 125 gr MKZ load. I load that bullet in my 18" 30 HRT with 29.0 gr of SWBO at COAL=2.225 and I get right at about 2600 fps. What's your load?

I used 30gr of AA1680 for 40° temp. COAL 2.270". Last year I was using CFEBLK at 29.5 for 40° temps. I didn't have SWBO early enough to develop a load for this season. Dennis was using 29.4 SWBO AT 2.280 for his load with a 125MKZ. He was getting 2753fps but I don't know what temp his load was developed for.

 

[GGrice]

I am currently using AA2200 and CFE BLK for my MKZ 125 hunting loads. I see a lot of load data here using 1680. Has anyone gotten better accuracy with 1680 over the powders I'm using?

 

[Bowhntr6pt]

Got my 16" barrel in, got the upper together, should be finished tomorrow as I've been waiting on the gas tube.

I managed to scrounge enough AA1680 from a friend to make about 25 test rounds using 30.0 grs. I'm giving Sierra 125 TMK's, 125gr Hornady SST's, and Nosler 125 BT's a try. If any of those shoot well... 1.5" +/- I'll be needing AA1680.

I do have several pounds of AA2220 if anyone has a recommended load... I had been using W-296 in my .30HRT and if the AA1680 does not work, which I see no reason why it won't, I might play with that powder as well.

Below are the test rounds. Started with virgin Hornady brass, sized in a Hornady Custom Grade 30 Herrett die, as recommended I sized until they just would chamber... using a Hornady comparator and #30 insert, I'm at 2.314". Trimmed to the recommended length of 1.570" and rechecked. Didn't take too much work to get things set up... size/measure, trim, resize/remeasure, chamber in rifle. At 2.314" an occasional piece of brass would stick, but not to the point I had to beat the CH to get it out. So if I'm looking at this right, I'm right at the limit. Will measure fired rounds to see what's the end result and go from there.

I loaded A LOT of rounds for the .30HRT doing the same thing... never had a split neck even after multiple loads, hope I don't have that problem with this barrel the other poster had.

 

[Bowhntr6pt]

Sized and trimmed.

 

[Yamaraja]

I am currently using AA2200 and CFE BLK for my MKZ 125 hunting loads. I see a lot of load data here using 1680. Has anyone gotten better accuracy with 1680 over the powders I'm using?

Shooters world blackout or CFE Black are the best Ive found.
This is a load from a member

Tested my ARP 30 Herrett AR:
Using Cavity Back 125 MKZ loaded over Shooters World Blackout, CCI450, 2.280" oal, in neck turned SSA fire formed brass.
The Cavity Back 125 MKZ hits the lands in my barrel at 2.285", so loading .005" off the lands..
Oehler 35P chrono.
-
Blackout Avg
_______fps_ E.S. S.D.
27.8 gr 2576 67 34.
28.1 gr 2591 20 10.
28.4 gr 2635 32 16.
28.7 gr 2645 21 11.
29.0 gr 2658fps 17es 8sd...
-
There is more room available beyond the 29.0 load, but this load gave the best accuracy and no swipes or ejector stamps on my brass.
The 29.0 load of blackout is my current hog hunting load in my ARP 30 Herrett AR.

 

[Strawdawg]

Below are the test rounds. Started with virgin Hornady brass, sized in a Hornady Custom Grade 30 Herrett die, as recommended I sized until they just would chamber... using a Hornady comparator and #30 insert, I'm at 2.314". Trimmed to the recommended length of 1.570" and rechecked.

I believe that Harrison posted to trim first and size second on his site and also here somewhere. It has worked for me but I have not tried it in the opposite order so I don't know what the difference might be in the finished product. I will see if I can find his comments again. I need to make some more cases as I don't have any to load at the moment.

 

[sfs13]

I believe that Harrison posted to trim first and size second on his site and also here somewhere. It has worked for me but I have not tried it in the opposite order so I don't know what the difference might be in the finished product. I will see if I can find his comments again. I need to make some more cases as I don't have any to load at the moment.

I have always sized then trimmed myself as hard to trim in a WFT with a 30H bushing unless I size first. Only real issues I've had have been related to lube or lack there of.

 

[Strawdawg]

Okay, H says he trims then sizes because that is what works with his Dillion, BUT it should work either way. He mentioned the same problem with the WFT.

 

[GGrice]

I just found an 8# jug of 1680 using the Discord Reloading channel. You can set it up to send you notifications when components are in stock. I would have never looked for it in Indiana.

 

[Bowhntr6pt]

Well I finally solved the cycling issues with the opening of the gas port. That along with altering the gas block did the trick. Ejects solid at about 4:00 and brass looks good, slight marks with the TGK's, they are grouping very well at 75 yards and the speeds are adequate.

Brass with TGK's...


Group with TGK's (under an inch) and 27.0 AA1680...


Brass with 125 SST's...


Group with the 125 SST's (under an inch) with 27.0 AA1680...

 

[Strawdawg]

Primers don't look like the load is at all on the warm side

 

[Bowhntr6pt]

Yes... I think I'll call it at the current load... for a 16" barrel I'm happy with the speeds.

 

[swampdonkey]

Ok have trouble my case to chamber. I am using federal brass and rcbs die and it has bottomed out. Case length is 1.569 (got a little trim happy) and using a 350 shoulder bushing I am getting a 1.309. What is is weird to me is the bcg stops at the same distance now matter if the brass is 1.375 or 1.309. I have read on past posts where guys had to take some off the die but thought I would make sure there isn’t something else I am over looking before I went that route

 

[constructor]

The Herret has always been a wildcat from the early 80s, dies vary. It is better to remove material from the shell holder...much cheaper.

 

[swampdonkey]

Ya good call

 

[swampdonkey]

The difference In Shoulder measurement between my formed cases and fires cases is .014 does that seem excessive. I am using rem hornady brass.