About Ed Hale

I am an avid hunter with rifle and Bow and have been hunting for more than 50 years. I have taken big game such as whitetail deer, red deer, elk, Moose and African Plains game such as Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, Blesbok, and Impala and wrote an ebook entitled African Safari -Rifle and Bow and Arrow on how to prepare for a first safari. Ed is a serious cartridge reloader and ballistics student. He has earned two degrees in science and has written hundreds of outdoor article on hunting with both bow and rifle.

Reloading: Cartridge and Bullet Concentricity Tests for Hunting

 If you hunt and shoot beyond 200 yards, bullet and brass concentricity (wabble) can matter. Experienced long range shooters call it “runout.” I have shot at 600 yards at targets on occasion but rarely checked for concentricity/runout till prepping for this falls moose hunt. 

Accordingly, I just purchased a Sinclair Concentricity gage to check for runout and to see groups improve. The idea is to eliminate fliers! But that required me to do more brass case prep too. That must have helped as well. Some swear by it, some don’t.

l_749007305_1.jpg

First tests were for the case neck on those I had already full length resized a week earlier.

 

After checking 30 cases, half were at .003″ or greater runout (wobble), half were less.  Some long range hand loaders suggest that 0.003″ is the max runout.

What to do?

I ran these .003 cases back through my full length sizing die a few times, rotating 90 degrees and retested. Runout (wobble) improved to .0015″ or less.

Next is to load some bullets and retest for bullet runout.

All bullet retests for runout were 0.003″ or less. Nice!

Doing this test suggests that the bullet is better aligned to enter the rifling nearer to parallel. So lets see some targets…

Below this Nosler 168g ABLR group shrunk from 2 inches to 1 1/8 inch group at 150 yards  is an example of what the Sinclair Concentricity Gage did for me.  Sub-MOA groups below!

 

The next picture below is of the same 168g ABLR bullet at 150 yd distance but the OAL was longer (0.020 off the lands).

The 1/4 inch difference in grouping photos was probably me. But you can see these are both sub-moa groups.

Lesson learned! To establish a best in class reloading process with or without the gage.

Good Shooting!

 

© Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nosler AccuBond Long Range for 7mm Rem Mag

I have been a Nosler fan since my African Safari some years back and have taken two bull moose and whitetails with AccuBonds from 140 grain up to 300 grains with great success on big game.

Accordingly, I have written extensively about Nosler bullets in my New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine using AccuBonds, Partitions as well as E-Tips. All world class hunting bullets that hit hard, stay together and penetrate deep. Handloading my own bullets are key to my satisfaction and success.

The AccuBond Long Range ABLR bullet is in a class all by itself, providing very low drag, a bonded bullet that can mushroom as low as 1350 fps and stays together up to 3000 fps. No other bullet can make that claim.

https://www.nosler.com/products/bullets/product-line/accubondr-long-range.html

 

The ABLR is offered in 150g, 168g, and 175g bullets for those who may encounter long range shots. In my case, I will be hunting Newfoundland Moose among the myriad of bogs that can span many hundreds of yards.

Below is the Trajectory Chart and Delivered Energy. See the 500 Yd data in bold for 2100 ft-lbs delivered energy.

 

Trajectory
Input Data
Manufacturer: Nosler Description: Accubond Long Range Spitzer (G7)
Caliber: 0.284 in Weight: 175.0 gr
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.364 G7 (ASM)
Muzzle Velocity: 2974.0 ft/s Distance to Chronograph: 0.0 ft
Sight Height: 1.50 in Sight Offset: 0.00 in
Zero Height: 0.00 in Zero Offset: 0.00 in
Windage: 0.000 MOA Elevation: 0.000 MOA
Line Of Sight Angle: 0.0 deg Cant Angle: 0.0 deg
Wind Speed: 10.0 mph Wind Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Speed: 0.0 mph Target Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Height: 50.0 in
Temperature: 48.0 °F Pressure: 29.92 in Hg
Humidity: 40 % Altitude: 0.0 ft
Vital Zone Radius: 5.0 in
Std. Atmosphere at Altitude: No Pressure is Corrected: Yes
Zero at Max. Point Blank Range: No Target Relative Drops: Yes
Mark Sound Barrier Crossing: No Include Extra Rows: No
Column 1 Units: 1.00 in Column 2 Units: 1.00 MOA
Round Output to Whole Numbers: No
Output Data
Elevation: 3.368 MOA Windage: 0.000 MOA
Atmospheric Density: 0.07799 lb/ft³ Speed of Sound: 1104.6 ft/s
Maximum PBR: 373 yd Maximum PBR Zero: 315 yd
Range of Maximum Height: 172 yd Energy at Maximum PBR: 2393.8 ft•lbs
Sectional Density: 0.310 lb/in²
Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2974.0 2.692 3436.3 0.000 0.0 ***
25 -0.7 -2.8 0.0 0.1 2939.7 2.661 3357.5 0.025 0.0 0.0
50 -0.2 -0.4 0.1 0.2 2905.6 2.631 3280.0 0.051 0.0 0.0
75 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 2871.6 2.600 3203.8 0.077 0.0 0.0
100 -0.0 -0.0 0.4 0.4 2837.9 2.569 3128.9 0.103 0.0 0.0
125 -0.3 -0.2 0.7 0.5 2804.3 2.539 3055.3 0.130 0.0 0.0
150 -0.8 -0.5 1.0 0.6 2770.9 2.509 2983.0 0.157 0.0 0.0
175 -1.7 -0.9 1.3 0.7 2737.7 2.479 2911.9 0.184 0.0 0.0
200 -2.8 -1.3 1.7 0.8 2704.7 2.449 2842.2 0.212 0.0 0.0
225 -4.2 -1.8 2.2 0.9 2671.9 2.419 2773.7 0.239 0.0 0.0
250 -6.0 -2.3 2.7 1.0 2639.4 2.390 2706.5 0.268 0.0 0.0
275 -8.0 -2.8 3.3 1.2 2607.0 2.360 2640.5 0.296 0.0 0.0
300 -10.4 -3.3 4.0 1.3 2574.9 2.331 2575.8 0.325 0.0 0.0
325 -13.1 -3.8 4.7 1.4 2542.9 2.302 2512.3 0.355 0.0 0.0
350 -16.1 -4.4 5.5 1.5 2511.2 2.274 2450.0 0.384 0.0 0.0
375 -19.5 -5.0 6.3 1.6 2479.7 2.245 2389.0 0.414 0.0 0.0
400 -23.2 -5.5 7.3 1.7 2448.4 2.217 2329.1 0.445 0.0 0.0
425 -27.3 -6.1 8.2 1.9 2417.4 2.189 2270.3 0.476 0.0 0.0
450 -31.8 -6.7 9.3 2.0 2386.5 2.161 2212.8 0.507 0.0 0.0
475 -36.6 -7.4 10.4 2.1 2355.9 2.133 2156.4 0.538 0.0 0.0
500 -41.8 -8.0 11.6 2.2 2325.5 2.105 2101.1 0.570 0.0 0.0
525 -47.5 -8.6 12.9 2.3 2295.4 2.078 2047.0 0.603 0.0 0.0
550 -53.5 -9.3 14.3 2.5 2265.4 2.051 1993.9 0.636 0.0 0.0
575 -60.0 -10.0 15.7 2.6 2235.8 2.024 1942.0 0.669 0.0 0.0
600 -66.9 -10.6 17.2 2.7 2206.3 1.997 1891.2 0.703 0.0 0.0

 

04-Apr-23 13:05, JBM/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi

 

© Copyright 2023 

 

 

Reloaders- Smokeless Powder Burn Rate Charts Aid in Alternatives

Not finding your favorite powder for sale?  This chart can help find powders closest to yours. I did that with my alternative to Reloader 22 and found Viht N560 and it worked great. Nosler listed it in their manual. 

Reloading safety is of prime importance thus you must begin a new powder at starting loads and work up. The internet should give some start load data sources if you search your caliber and alternative powders.

All reloading manuals list alternative powders but there are some older reloading manuals that are not current in new state-of-the-art powders. 

IMR published a burn rate chart PDF below and includes many brands.

Check it out.

 

https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/burnratecolor.pdf

 

Browning X-Bolt Speed- Testing with Vihtavuori N560 Smokeless Gun Powder and Nosler 175g ABLR’s-Updated

In prep for my 7mm Rem Mag cartridge custom loads and my fall Newfoundland Moose hunt I had some difficulty getting Reloader 22 powder for reloading my 7mm Rem Mag.

Accordingly, I purchased some available Vihta. N560 Powder that Nosler had listed for 7mm Rem Mag with Nosler 175 grain ABLR’s with a 24 inch barrel and 9 twist.

Vihtavuori N560 1 Pound of Smokeless Powder

Its burn rate is near to RL 22. My rifle is a 26 inch barrel and 9.5 twist. Subtle differences in length and twist can shift ideal powder burn rate preferences to one side or another. You just have to find the sweet spot and the powder. 

Early N560 Powder results showed extreme spread (ES) and standard deviation (SD), at lower velocities, were excellent, thus I continued working up the load. 

Many handloaders have found that some rifles with 9.5 twist rates do not like the 175 grain bullets’ accuracy but so far my rifle likes them with this N560 powder.

As those who experiment with loads are aware, powder, can and does vary from lot-to-lot, thus backing off to starting loads and working up slowly is best. Observing the cartridge case and resulting primer can tell quite a bit as you approach a max load. As you incrementally approach hotter loads, the primer will begin to flatten into a pancake.

I try to avoid what some call “sticky bolt”, a term for supposedly “manageable” over pressure. So far so good.

As I load each round, I use a sharpie pen to write the powder name, grains, and bullet type/weight used on the brass.

I have achieved the near to 3000 fps under preliminary testing at an outside temperature of 45ºF and cartridge and primers look flatter but normal. First 3 shot group was just 1.0 inches at 100 yards. 

Next is to check for Extreme Spread and Standard Deviation below with Labradar data.

Browning X-Bolt Speed 175g ABLR w/Viht N560 Powder 65.7g OAL 3.440                                      
Outside Temperature 48F
Total number of shots 3                                 
Group 1 inch
Units avg  velocity fps                                         
Units distances yd                                         
Units weight grain (gr)                                    
                                                             
Stats – Average 2974.61                                 
Stats – Highest 2987.57                                 
Stats – Lowest 2961.27                                  
Stats – Ext. Spread 26.3                               
Stats – Std. Dev 13.16                                  
Shot ID V0 V25 V50 V75 Proj. Weight Date Time
1 2961 2925 2889 2851 175 4/2/2023 11:28:09
2 2975 2934 2896 2859 175 4/2/2023 11:28:39
3 2988 2945 2905 2866 175 4/2/2023 11:29:17

JBM Ballistic Data indicates 1891 ft-lbs delivered at 600 Yards, 10 mph crosswind moves the bullet 17 inches left or right. At 500 yds delivers 2100 ft-lbs and 11 inch crosswind. At 400 yds delivers 2330 ft-lbs and 7 inch crosswind.

Next is to practice at those distances and collect real field data to see what limitations surface. More to come!

Good Hunting!

© Copyright 2023 

Adding a Timney Trigger to my Browning X-Bolt Speed

Removing the two mounting bolts, you can pop out the barrel and action with some finagling and prying. It is a tight fit. 

Here is the Timney Trigger below.

Below there are 2 pins that hold the trigger in the half moon cutouts in the barrel. Use a 1/16 punch to remove the two pins and the trigger will come off. 

The part I did not expect is that the Timney did not just drop in. The forward slot was too narrow to fit in the half moon cutout. I had to grind off a few thousandths from the trigger housing to widen the slot with a Dremel tool. 

Below you can see my Dremel tool that I used to grind the forward pin housing a bit. Took me 20 minutes to grind and fit it. Not overly hard with the right tool. Some triggers drop in to those slots in videos. 

Below is the Timney trigger installed. The whole process took me about an hour or less.

I put my Lyman Trigger test gauge on the Timney and as expected it measured 3 pounds almost. Two pounds fifteen point nine ounces. I tested again at 3 pounds exact. Test the safety slide to be sure it works. Mounting bolts need torque to 35 inch-lbs.

Below is a video that helped me.

 

Good Shooting.

©Copyright 2023 

 

 

 

 

Hunting and Buck Fever

Buck Fever is when the hunter sees wild game, such as deer, and has intent to harvest/kill, your body releases adrenaline which readies us for what is immediately about to unfold as a fight or to get away… flight.

Adrenaline comes from our ancestral protection mechanism biologists and anthropologists call “fight-or-flight”. 

Adrenaline provides a heightened-state -of-being and is an essential element veteran hunters seek. The moment of truth is exhilarating for many, me included.

Buck Fever can often come with nervousness, heavy breathing, elevated blood pressure, and the shakes known as “buck-fever.” Hunter’s have even fallen from their tree-stand from uncontrolled shakes. 

Some of this heightened state is good, however, too often, new hunters and some older hunters lose the ability to control it during the shot sequence.

I was reminded of the story of the hunter who aimed and working the bolt emptied the cartridges, where, nary a shot was fired, yet later swore he or she shot the rifle 5 times.

Recently a guide recalls a bear hunter who shot a bear, and the guide said; “Shoot him again” and the hunter did not completely eject the round. Some guides call it short-stroking the bolt”.

Even veteran hunters who do not practice multiple shots experience this if not practiced. 

Adrenaline is an essential part of hunting, but, to be successful, the hunter must control the adrenaline.

I find that hunting where there is abundant game like bird hunting for example, allow us to experience it.

Accordingly, after repeated exposure to, say a bird flushing or ducks coming to your decoys, yes, you missed, but another chance and you are successful.

Your brain learns adrenaline control over time.

Deer hunting here in New Hampshire you may not see game that often, thus adrenaline can be less controlled as say hunting deer in a state that has many deer and many hits of adrenaline. 

My hunt in Africa was a prime example of my guide/professional hunter (PH), got me to harvest lesser game animals while observing my buck fever.

Where game is aplenty, hunter learn to control the so-called “Buck Fever. ” 

Make the first shot count!

Aim small miss small!

Good Hunting!

© Copyright 2023 

 

Basic Rifle Cartridge Reloading Dies

Decades ago, I started out by shooting a few boxes of .270 Winchester ammo and kept the brass. This once fired ammo case is a great start to reload. But you need dies to reform brass, add a primer, powder and press the bullet.

For me, reloading is the ultimate satisfaction of doing-it-yourself like DIY.

Like chipping a broadhead from a piece of stone and killing game by your own hand as our ancestors did is the ultimate in satisfaction. 

The component of a cartridge requires a brass case to hold the powder, primer and bullet.

The brass needs to be “resized” in reloading dies, spent primer removed and replaced (left die) and a bullet seating die (right).

Full-Length Die Set - Group A - Popular Rifle Cartridges

 But new brass can be purchased too. See image below.

A reloading press and dies are essential. There are several companies who cater to reloaders.

A basic bottle-neck die set consists of two dies, one to resize the case and another to press the bullet into the case. See Photo above.

Every cartridge caliber needs its own die set. Die set costs to load for hunting typically cost less than $70.00 for a set.

Reloading for long distance hunting and shooting can be more exacting and cost much more. Like this Redding Die Set with micrometer bullet seating.

Redding Premium Series Die Sets

 

I had my first Savage .270 Winchester and loaded it with an RCBS Press and dies 40 years ago.  I use it to this day and saved untold dollars and Did-It-Myself…to my great satisfaction. I hunted Africa with my custom loads.

The key to good reloading technique is to read reloading manuals and guides, watch reloading video’s on you-tube. Listen and pay attention to areas of safety. Inspect your brass and spent primers for gas leaks, case damage of older brass. RCBS offers a free downloadable reloading guide.

https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-downloadable-guide.html

Companies like Nosler, Hornady, Speer, Lyman, and several others sell reloading manuals. My two favorite manuals are Nosler and Hornady. Don’t forget all the videos on the web. 

Check-it-Out

 

 

 

Cartridge Reloading Gives Me More Shooting and Hunting Satisfaction

When store shelves are bare of your favorite rifle cartridge and bullet, I just reach into my reloading cupboard and load some up and go hunt or shoot.

Yes, sometime I run out of something but more than not, I have it before the big stores have your pet load.

Beyond that, my cartridges are customized to my rifle thus increasing accuracy. 

A sense of accomplishment? You bet!

Many years ago I purchased an RCBS Reloading press and never looked back. Reloading your own cartridges are a cost effective solution too, if you shoot regularly. I load pistol cartridges too.  

There are other reloading press companies and beginner kits out there to get you started.

RCBS offers the Explorer Reloading Kit for just $339.99.

https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-kits/explorer-reloading-kit-2/16-9288.html

Explorer Reloading Kit 2

Or

Hornady Reloading Equipment

https://www.hornady.com/reloading/getting-started#!/

Go Hornady reloading with Rosie to get going! 

Great fun this spring!

 

 

 

Long Range Shooting with Handloads – Powder can vary Lot to Lot- Take Extra Care with Max Loads

In loading for moose with my Browning X-Bolt 7mm Rem Mag, I continue experimenting with powders and bullets . My two favorite bullets are Nosler ABLR 168 and 175 grain bullets. In the process, I am aware that I am looking for max loads and accuracy too.

As a result, I discovered measurable lot to lot variation in some powders. Alliant Reloader 22 is one of those I see vary,  and on the lower side so far…a good thing.

Thus, I approach new powder lots with more caution. Instead of loading hot loads with the same grain weight as my last lot, I back off a few grains or more and work up several rounds with my chronograph and inspect the brass and primer for overpressure signs.

At max loads you should also be aware that some magnum primers can be hotter and will effect velocity and may create overpressure as well if your are on the cusp.

Those who really push their rifle and cartridge in winter time can find those rounds perhaps too hot in summer when temps are in the 90’s. Why is my bolt sticking, you ask?

I think to keep my winter max loads a bit lighter and be aware of loads you loaded winter to summer. Dating them can help.  

Load Safely!

7mm Rem Mag Long Distance Hunting Accuracy and why you might need a Ballistic Wind Meter

I am a hunter, and try to keep my shots within my skill level. I have never taken a shot at game beyond 300 yards. However, I will, this fall, be exposed to shots at bull moose out to 400 to 600 yards.  Thus, I must, to seriously train to see where my limitations are.

That includes my rifle tuning as well. As my readers know, I will be hunting with my new Browning X-Bolt 26 inch/9.5 twist barrel with Nosler 168g AccuBonds Long Range.

Perhaps one of the most important “unknown” variables for long range hunting is wind speed and direction. At 90º to your shot direction, wind will blow your bullet off the center of your target at its worst. But wind blowing at you or toward your animal, the sideways force of the wind on your bullet is at its minimum, thus it should be true. The big question is, what is the wind speed? And what is the drift at 90º?

Drift Table 90º for 7mm Rem Mag 168g Nosler ABLR wit muzzle vel. 2960fps

Distance         10mph     15mph    20mph    Angle

200                  2in            3in         4in          90

300                  4in            6in         8in          90

400                  8in            11in       15in        90

500                  12in          18 in      24in        90

600                   18in         27in       36in        90

At 400 yards at 10mph the bullet will drift 8 inches across a 12 inch circle on a moose chest, thus you will have to aim right or left of your point-of-aim by 8 inches. This is doable if your wind speed is accurate. At 500 yards you need to move 12 inches on a 90º drift. The big question is how do you determine wind direction and speed at long range? You not only need a laser rangefinder, you also need a wind meter for an accurate shot. 

I have a cheap one but maybe get a better one. There are dozens on the market. Best meters are made by Kestrel. My son has the ballistics model Kestrel 5700 and he loves it. Retails around $449.00.  On a $7000 dollar hunt for my Newfoundland Bog moose where distances are easily at the edge of rifle and hunter capabilities. This is an item to strongly consider. See this article below for options.

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-kestrel-shooting-hunting/

 

l_100034291_2.jpg

Good Hunting!