DAY TWO ON THE 22 NOSLER

[GLSHOOTER]

After my trials and tribulations with the 18" Stoner 22 Nosler from Midway I obtained a new 24" tube from Black Hole. Nothing fancy just a standard weight tube. The Stoner was tearing up brass something fierce and had the largest groups I've ever shot with an AR. I got a new box of brass and decided to give it another try. Low and behold the brass showed virtually none of the destruction on firing from the first batch in the Stoner. I do believe there was a mix change on the brass. I saw a note on that in one of the gun magazines that they had reformulated/changed the brass. I suspect that the first stuff got boxed and was shipped off to the hinterlands. That doesn't cover the accuracy issue but it does make me feel a bit better not having bent rims and ripped edges that wouldn't let me get the brass in to a shell holder.

My basic build profile that I like for PD's. Vortex 6X20.Geissele with High Speed trigger to get things going.





I wanted to see how the Hodgdon data I was sent ran so decided to go for some speed on the first outing so loaded up some 40 grain Noslers. The speed was there compared to the published data and I improved on it just a tad. I ran the same adjustable block on this one as I had on the Stoner and had it turned down to dead nuts 3 o'clock ejection. Brass was perfect coming out with no damage. I had to do this in two trips because of a family issue and rain about every time I wanted to head to the desert.


On the first day I got only a few rounds down range but enough to make me have hope. It liked 8208 and I liked the speeds.



Tried some Benchmark and it was not letting me down at all. The groups weren't as tight but they were repeatable. I could live with this if that was the best I got but one can only hope some times.





As I mentioned I had a long hiatus between trips as I had shot some H4895 on the first go around that did decent at a bit under a minute for two groups. I had two higher charge weights ready to go so they were my first targets of the day. It was only 99 or so but the winds decided to play nice. The first group was decent for a warm up and then I got a bit more comfortable. As the three groups were shot following that they dropped in CTC spread and I was pretty happy. Not the fastest load in town but I figured it liked the H4895 for a go to powder.




I was getting happy quick and had one more batch of six rounds using H322 with three each at different charge weights. I would normally shot five shot groups but this finished off my brand new box of brass so I now have 100 cases dedicated to the rifle. This is a powder I normally don't play with but had a request to shoot some 6X6.8 with it for a test ladder so since I had the can out and it was listed by Hodgdon it was worth a fling.

Remember how I said the Stoner was the worst shooting AR I had ever had? As these groups formed I wasn't sure if I was seeing right but a walk down range fixed that puzzle for me. The last group of three is the best group I've ever shot in my life so I figured it was worth a show and tell. I'll be revisiting both the H4895 and the H322 on the next trip. Maybe I flinched just right for a change.







All told the 22 Nosler got some street cred with me that day. I'll re-shoot some of the 40's and then some 50's on the next trip out. I have a 204 that is anxious to play also and it will be a god run between the two. With the decrease in case damage this one may get a bit more play as had something not changed this tube would have been setting in the corner after its audition.

Greg

[GLSHOOTER]

As I was working with this one I talked to guys all over the US. We felt the brass sucked initially but had gotten better. One fellow sent me some brand new first run brass and I had some second run to try.Additionally he sent me ten pieces of NOSGAR brass. This is 6 MM HAGAR necked to 22 with the shoulder shoved back and shortened to 45 MM. It is 6.8 size like the Nosler so it will run in the chamber and only the back end is different using a 6.8 bolt face vs. the 223. He sent along some 53 grain Hornady VMAX and some 53 grain Nosler Varmageddon bullets. I had never tried that weight so I ran the test with it.

The OLD brass got rims that were eaten up somewhat but with a change to teh BHW chamber vs. my original STONER this improved. The second lot of Nosler brass came out looking very nice and not abused at all. The NOSGAR stuff looked pristine and like any of my normal 6.8 variant cases. No shiny marks or ripped rims at all.

Velocities on the loads hoovered around 3675 with the VMAX and up to 3710 with the VG's. The NOSGAR VMAX ran 3697 and the VHG's were pushing 3750.These were all over a 33 grains of CFE. Middle of the road and not excessive on the loading data list.. This barrel is an 8 twist just like the factory offerings are. Hers what was interesting. All VMAX hit and grouped . The VG's blew up or tumbled. In fact the VG's in the second run brass at 3710 ALL blew up. At 3677 one of teh five tumbled!!

The actual Nosler brass test was done early on and I delayed the NOSGAR as I didn't have a 6.8 BCG with me that day!! LOL Anyway on the VG's at 3750 three of the five reached the paper. The VMAX pushed out at 3697 and all hit. Now here is what's interesting. No attempt for load work up was done at all. Just the straight 33 grains of CFE 223 across the boards. I was shooting in 75 degree weather with a slight variable wind. My reward for all this work came down to the last five shots for the day with this rifle. Once this was done I put a cork in it. Wouldn't you?








I'll be ordering some HAGAR for further testing but I think mine just got a new name.

Greg