[9mmkungfu]

Hey everyone,

I've been on the site for a bit but I just finally picked up a 6.8-powered machine. I've got a PSD and I'm looking to see what would be the most ideal home defense/SHTF-type of ammo I can pick up. I've found some 115gr Sierra OTMs from SSA loaded to combat pressure, but I also noticed (thanks ArtFWTx!) SSA has the Nosler 110 bonded stuff on sale. What do you guys recommend? I figured I'd ask since the PSD with its 8.5" barrel might be a little more picky and not get the same velocity as some of the good loadings out there with the longer barrels. I'm hoping rcrandall can tell me something I've already checked out the post "What length for 6.8 SBR" and it does have all of the velocity info for the 6.8 out of a PSD -- thanks!

 

[caporider]

I have the PSD in 6.8 as well -- what a rockin' combination of compactness and performance!

However, with that short barrel I would stay away from the current 110gr Accubond loads SSA is selling. They do about 2150fps out of an 8" barrel, which is about 150fps lower than optimal. The Combat Loaded 110gr Noslers do about 2300fps, which is right where you want to be to make the PSD really sing. Unfortunately, you can't get the Combat Loaded 110gr Accubonds anymore. I would also stay away from any Hornady ammo that is older than 11/08; these will cause your PSD to short stroke.

You can get to 2300fps with 30gr of H322 behind a 110gr Nosler Accubond. Rcrandall has tested this load in his PSD. Of course, you should work up to this to ensure YOUR barrel is OK with this load. But the CHF barrels LWRCi is putting out now are amazingly consistent - even more so since there is no chrome lining to muck up chamber pressures.

Have fun shooting your PSD!

 

[paulosantos]

If you plan on reloading just pick up some H4198 and whatever bullets you want to use. The 90 GR bullets will get some good velocities.

 

[kalwasart]

I have the PSD in 6.8 as well -- what a rockin' combination of compactness and performance!

However, with that short barrel I would stay away from the current 110gr Accubond loads SSA is selling. They do about 2150fps out of an 8" barrel, which is about 150fps lower than optimal. The Combat Loaded 110gr Noslers do about 2300fps, which is right where you want to be to make the PSD really sing. Unfortunately, you can't get the Combat Loaded 110gr Accubonds anymore. I would also stay away from any Hornady ammo that is older than 11/08; these will cause your PSD to short stroke.

You can get to 2300fps with 30gr of H322 behind a 110gr Nosler Accubond. Rcrandall has tested this load in his PSD. Of course, you should work up to this to ensure YOUR barrel is OK with this load. But the CHF barrels LWRCi is putting out now are amazingly consistent - even more so since there is no chrome lining to muck up chamber pressures.

Have fun shooting your PSD!

Our Nosler on sale are all loaded to Combat strength 2,600 FPS out of a 16'. I will clock the PSD tomorrow with that load.

Art - SSA

 

[9mmkungfu]

Art, that is good news. I do not currently reload (that may change now that I have picked up the PSD in 6.8). I did happen to find some Sierra 115gr OTM combat loaded from Palmetto State Armory. Which would be the better loading of the two? It sounds like the Nosler Accubond (if it is indeed combat-loaded as well), being slightly lighter, would be..

 

[kalwasart]

Art, that is good news. I do not currently reload (that may change now that I have picked up the PSD in 6.8). I did happen to find some Sierra 115gr OTM combat loaded from Palmetto State Armory. Which would be the better loading of the two? It sounds like the Nosler Accubond (if it is indeed combat-loaded as well), being slightly lighter, would be..

The Nosler is a prefornence round with a Ballistic Tip and being bonded, the Nosler has a slight edge on velocity and it will drive thru barriers as well as soft targets. The 115 grain OTM is good on soft targets and for HD but it is not designed to pentrate barriers.

Art - SSA

 

[rcrandall]

For your inteneded HD purpose I would go with the 115 grain OTM. I fired one the other day out of my PSD into the water jug with newspaper and water and it still fragmented heavily. It stopped at 12 inches which was the depth the container, and left four dimples on the outside of the plastic suggesteing the bullet fragmented and those fragments continued to the far side. I like the OTM's for HD and swat use and keep a mag for SSA 85 grain TSX in my kit in case I need to go through serious barriers.

I forgot to add the impact velocity was 2160, I was ten feet from the chronograph which was five feet in front of the water contrainer. The SSA 115 OTM frgamented more completely that the Hornady Tap vmax.

 

[marinesg1012]

Why not run the Hornandy Vmax's?

 

[rcrandall]

Why not run the Hornandy Vmax's?

In the above mentioned tests the 110gr vmax froim the PSD hit at 2160 fps. I recovered the bullet which had deformed into the classic mushroom shape. It's diameter was .68" and it's retained weight was 78.1 grains. When I picked it up the jacket and core seperated in my hand.

The SSA 115 grain OTM chronographed at 2164 from the PSD. I was only able to find a piece of the lead core which had flatened into an oblong shape. It measured .78" and retained 56 grains. When digging around in the mushed newspaper and water looking for the OTM it did find a few tiny fragments of copper here and there but nothing worth picking up. When fired into the same test medium with the 14.7 inch barrel the velocity is an average of 2480 to 2505 fps and on that test I was unable to find more than a few small lead and copper fragments, not enough to measure or weigh. I was also able to shoot a 1.525" group with this round out of the PSD at 100 yards this winter, and if I had a magnified optic instead of a reflex sight I think it could have been a little tighter. I've never tried to shoot groups with the vmax.

I think the SSA 115 grain OTM is about the best HD/swat type round for my purposes and it works well in short and longer barrels. The vmax is an excellent bullet for this purpose too, but I feel the OTM is better. I want to test the Hornady TAP 110 grain BTHP with the new powder mixture they are using and see what it will do out of the different barrel lengths. I am really looking forward to testing Art's 100 grain Accubond when he gets the speeds up!

 

[marinesg1012]

When did Hornandy switch powders? I have 10 or so boxes of the BTHP, if I have the new stuff I can tell you how fast it is going in a 16

I was using the Vmax's as my HD round but now I am using the 100 grain accubonds. I would like them to go faster but since my main worry is large 4 legged animals I think they will do the job. I could just use the 110 accubonds I have but variety is the spice of life.....

 

[rcrandall]

According to DocGKR Hornady switched powders for their BTHP's (not sure on the vmax) sometime late last year for TAP line, alos not sure on the civilian. He would need to jump in here with an exact date. He did some tests with the new Hornady 110 BTHP's and they are posted in the ballistics gel section, muzzle velocity from a 16" barrel was around 2610ish.

 

[marinesg1012]

I guess I should test the BTHP's I have then.....