440sixpack is correct

Zeke · Aug 12, 2015

440 (or whatever he's now going by) was correct about the 150gr LR AB bullets. I thought since "I" know so much they would work for me. LOL. They are tough to get them to shoot accurately. Period.

I've tried up and down the powder scale, from 10 to 50 thousandths off the lands and it seems like it's not going to shoot any better than 1.25-1.5" groups for me.

Since this is a new Lilja barrel, I didn't know what the gun would do and hoped that the poor groups could be attributed to the bullets.

I also thought it might be the powder since I went with the new IMR7977 for temperature insensitive reasons and I'm the only guy on the planet who I know who has used it. To test this thought,

The switch was made to the 150gr Ballistic tips (not my first choice but I've killed 3 or 4 sheep with them before using cartridges ranging from 270, 280, 300) and the groups immediately shrank to less than half!!! The best news is, the higher I went with my powder charge (within safe limits yet 2.3 grains above book max), the better they shot! The last couples were .43" and .4"

Now, I'm sure that with way more tinkering, the 150 LR AB's could be made to work but it might take something as radical as a new barrel twist and I'm not willing to do that. My 9 twist seems to work fine with the BT.

I hope he doesn't let it go to his head but he was certainly correct.....again.

Zeke

sageadvice · Aug 12, 2015

a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.

Joey

ps. my 270WSM didn't like them either and i posted a rather long thread about the weeks long process we went thru trying to get them to shoot.

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Zeke · Aug 13, 2015

Joey,
I should have read your report and taken it to heart!

My problem is this, I've been able to get loads and guns to shoot pretty well, over the years, so I had a bit of arrogance going against me when it came to the LR bullet. Live and learn!

I forgot it's easier to learn from other's mistakes than to make the same mistakes for myself. I know better now...until next time. LOL

Maybe an 8 or 8.5" twist would make them shoot but I'm not that in love with the bullet to re-re-barrel my 280AI.

Thanks,
Zeke

sageadvice · Aug 13, 2015

Frankly, i didn't believe 440 as often his "snob rich boy" bias gets in the way of sound objective opinion.

I was able to get my velocity up a good bit higher than he claimed doable but couldn't get it dialed in no way, no how. One of my best friends reloads far more than i do and he took the challenge personal. We tried half a dozen suggested powders from mid thru over max loadings, tons of seating depths, tried everything, even mounted one of his 30X target scopes on the rifle and it just flat shot poorly.

Then we went back to my old reg 140 Accubond loading and they printed a nice tight clover leaf on the first group. I've been very happy with the reg accubond product for some time now anyway, won't miss the LRAB's one bit.

Yeah i agree, i think barrel twist has a lot to do with it.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Togwotee · Aug 13, 2015

" Never trust anyone who isn't broke "

Words of wisdom from Joey.

I gave the 190 gr LRAB's I had left to a buddy with a tack driver 300 RUM. he asked if I wanted them back because they were uselss to him. I said toss them.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Zeke · Aug 13, 2015

I have 3 boxes, unopened, same lot, 100 ct/box for sale!

Between my brother, son and I, we bought 4 boxes of all the same lot.... just in case they shot well. We've almost gone through the first 100 bullets, in 3 rifles, and they were not meant to be our bullet.

Any takers for the remaining 3 full boxes?

I would have tried the regular AB but Nosler doesn't make them in 150 grain and I cannot use 140's with this new IMR7977 powder and still get the velocity I want... and 160's are a bit larger than I want to use right now. Hence, I'll use the more explosive Ballistic Tip for deer size game only. I've used Ballistic Tips on sheep a few times and deer countless times and they'll be just fine. Oh, and did I mention they shoot really well?

Zeke

sageadvice · Aug 13, 2015

"Words of wisdom from Joey."

Nope, nothing i said, just usual made up BS stuff from you that, as usual, is not worth reading.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Cahunter805 · Aug 13, 2015

Zeke
I've seen many posts regarding the ablr and I have loaded them also. My rifle would shoot them under 1/2" but then fling one for no reason. Also seen the nose deform during seating. I quit using them and went back to my vld load.
Did you test jumps further than 050? I've seen many guys using 0120 off the lands.

I know you don't want to try Berger but have you considered the Barnes lrx? Nothing wrong with using ballistic tips either! They have worked well for me and my dad.

mtmuley · Aug 13, 2015

I don't have any problem getting LRAB's to group. I even killed stuff with em. Go figure. mtmuley

sageadvice · Aug 13, 2015

muley, i don't doubt you guys that got them to shoot one bit but then you can't discount the efforts and reports of others who could not.

Just goes to show the folly of many guys who say that they are going to shoot a certain bullet or ammo without even putting it to a good accuracy test. I'm preaching to the choir for most here as we know that already but still, you hear it all the time.

Some rifles just don't like some bullets or loadings. Many don't like them enough, to even be considered "good enough" to hunt with.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Zeke · Aug 14, 2015

>I don't have any problem getting
>LRAB's to group. I even
>killed stuff with em. Go
>figure. mtmuley

I also have no trouble getting them to group but just not to my standards. I guess it all depends on what group size is acceptable to the individual shooter.

Rifles are as different as the shooters using them!

Do you have any details on your cartridge loads, caliber, powder, primers, case prep, groups size, distances shot?

Zeke

Zeke · Aug 14, 2015

Cahunter805,

50 thousandth is the farthest I've been away from the lands. I've heard that the LR is sensitive to seating depth but I've not seen a huge difference between group size with multiple seating depths and various powder charges.

Since my sheep hunt starts in 2 weeks, I felt a need to move to another bullet and got stellar groups. I'll get back to playing with them this winter.

Thanks for the info.
Zeke

mtmuley · Aug 14, 2015

Zeke, Pm me bud. I have all the info you need. Targets too. My standard is as high as yours I bet. mtmuley

Zeke · Aug 18, 2015

PM sent.
I'm never too old to learn a new trick.
It will be interesting to learn your process and end results.

Sage and sixpack pretty well summed up my experience with the LR but I've also said many times, every rifle is different.

Zeke

Togwotee · Aug 19, 2015

Every rifle is different, but when many accurate rifles, most in fact will not shoot a particular bullet there is a problem.

Zeke , what is the twist on your 270 ? Nosler says you need a 1-9 and my 270 wby is 1-10. this may be the problem and you can't fix that with tweaking the load .

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Zeke · Aug 19, 2015

The rifles we shot the LR in were 2-280 AI's and a 7mm Rem Mag.

We only used the 150 LRAB in .284 dia. nothing in .277.

The 280's are both 1 in 9 twist. Bro's is a 6 groove and mine is a 3 groove Lilja. I'm not sure what my son's 7 Mag is but his is a factory Rem and his shot the LR the best at about 1.25" mine was about 1.5" and my brothers was averaging over 2" and every other load he's ever shot before and since has been well sub-inch.

I've brain-stormed with several trusted shooters and they also think a twist change to something tighter might help but new barrels are almost $400 bucks before threading, chambering, cut and crown work! I'm more willing to change bullets than change out my new barrel.

Both my son's rifle and my brother's rifle are proven shooters. Mine was the wildcard because it was a brand new build. I was so pleased when I switched and my groups shrunk by half or better! I've since shot 400, 500, 600 and 700 yards and the results were awesome! I couldn't be more happy and I'm packing around a perma-smile.

These are now 3 proven rifles and we tried multiple loads and various seating depths but I'm never too old to learn a trick or two if someone shares with me. With that said, I'm done with the LR bullet... for now.

Zeke

Togwotee · Aug 19, 2015

I'm with you , there are plenty of great bullets out there I'm not going to anymore effort with this sub par one.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Zeke · Aug 20, 2015

Mtmuley,
Thanks for the PM reply.
You've got them shooting like a house-a-fire in your RUM and no one can dispute that kind of success.
Keep up the good work!
Zeke

muzz · Aug 20, 2015

I have a full box of 284 , 150's lrab's if you know anyone who wants to buy them. I can't get them to shoot any better then 1"

I'm gonna try the Bergers!

O--one
B--big
A--ass
M--mistake
A--america

mtmuley · Aug 20, 2015

Thanks Zeke. I have them shooting well, and killed an elk and a mule deer with them. That being said, I went back to the regular Accubond the very next year. mtmuley