Reeder Custom Guns - Under performing

Im looking for some help. I have a couple contenders that I've had for years, I just recently pick up a chronograph and the velocities are significantly less the what the reloading book says they should be. I have a 30 gnr that I'm loading 36 gr of imr 4895 behind a 125 grain hornady sst, while there isn't a listed velocity for this, a similar load behind a 135 grain bullet calls for 2690 fps. Im getting around 2000fps. The other load I'm using is for my 338 gnr, im using 53.5 gr of h 4350 behind a 200 grain hornady sst, the book calls for 2625 fps, and again I'm just over 2000. I undersrltand there are variables that might have a 100-200 fps difference, but 500-600 seems a little high. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated to get the velocities closer to the 2500 fps. Thanks

But I load for both too. Our 14” (I think) .30 GNR typically runs 2200-2400 with 150 gr. jacketed bullets. I think I was using 4895 and I always work up my own loads, seating the bullets just off the lands with the action closed. I took a Blackbuck at the Y-O using a 14+2” braked .338 GNR and 200 gr. Nosler bullets. Basically a completely full but not compressed load of BLC-2. IMR3031 is a good powder too, 4064 is a little more bulky and not as fast, maybe 5% less, but really consistent.

Don’t get too hung up on speed. A custom requires some fiddling. That’s the fun part. The data and custom set ups are not cut and dried, cases, powder lots, primers, brass, seating depth, all sorts of variables. If it’s accurate and pushing over 2k that’s good. My .30-30 Contender loads were topped out about 1800/150 gr.

I would normally agree that variations in velocities don't matter as much, but when im deer hunting at 200-300 yards, starting out at 2000fps doesn't leave enough velocity or energy for the bullet to do its work. I hit a deer at 318 yards this year, it went down, got back up and disappeared, no blood anywhere, I think I know why. 2400 id be ok with in my 30, but it was 1996...and 2004... thanks for.the reply, I'll look into what you said and try a few things

The .338 GNR /200 gr. I was running 2500-2600 FPS maxed totally out. Ditto speeds for a same length barrel in 6.5x284/ 140 gr. Fastest handgun barrels I’ve used, except for .22-250 AI and .17 Remington (maxed at 3300, I was a little disappointed).

I hit the wall at 2400 with my 30GNR (might have been a little lighter bullet). I was thinking the 150 Nosler BT at 2200 fps was our hunting load.

This was my son using his .30 GNR rig with that load. He also used a handgun in 7-08 and we ran a 120 gr. around 2400 fps. We are not shooting any range though 50-75 yds. typically stalking.

Have you considered .300 AAC 110 gr. VLD projectiles? That sounds viable.

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I have some blc 2 sitting on the shelf, I might give that a try just to see the difference

I have thought about going to a 110 grain bullet, but if I can get to 2400 2500 fps with 125 grain id be happy. I've also been looking at the 322 335 powders, I'll probably give one of those a shot. I'll give the 338 a try with max load, I did notice im.a little low.on the powder charge on that one, its very accurate with that load, I didn't think it would drop the velocity that much tho.

This applies to .30 cal as well. As handgunners we need to consider what velocity range the bullets are designed to perform. Expecting a bullet designed to handle the velocity of a belted mag rifle, from a 12” or so barreled handgun cartridge is a tall order. Adding extended range only exaggerates the issue. Considering the 200 yd. velocity, a much lighter constructed bullet would be better.

In .375 I get really good performance from the old school lead tip jacketed bullets compared to modern poly tipped wonders. Those .338 200/Noslers were very hard bullets and didn’t open up much on the Blackbuck. I hit it twice at 100 yds. They basically performed like solids! But I got him. The .378 GNR and Hornady 270 gr. smoked a whitetail at the same distance. Easily gave hi-power rifle performance. Then again, a 100 gr. Core-Loct 6.5 blew up at 35 yds. and didn’t even penetrate a Sheep’s leg at 2200+ fps (6.5 Raptor).

It takes some experimentation and fiddling. That’s supposed to be fun! lol

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I read somewhere that hornady sst is a softer bullet than the nosler, that's what I use in my 338, I think I'll try some of those in my 30. I hit a mule deer a couple years back with my 338 at 110 yards, just hammered it. I hunt.mule deer in the sandhills of nebraska, so I need a little more range. 200 yards is about the average distance I have deer at there. You're right, figuring out loads and what bullet to use is alot of the fun of these guns.

7mm GNR 120 at 2400, and 100 gr (I think) in .256 Raptor. I remember getting over 2500 fps in that rig based also on the blown out .30-30. The BT is a softer bullet, it might perform well at longer range, but I’ve never shot game with it much over 100 yds., with the 7mm.

Because I may have an addiction, I was going through my gun safe and found a contender frame i didn't know I had, so naturally I had to get a barrel for it and I picked up a 35 remington so I could hand load or buy factory if need3d. So.my question is, do you have plans experience with that round in contender? It's a super 14 barrel and im.researching what bullet to use for hand loading.

Actually the 158-180 gr. revolver bullets work great. The old 200 gr. JRN is hard to beat. My Marlin did 1900-1950 fps with it and you can get close with the Super 14. You need to adjust the dies carefully for the TC. Trial size an empty so it just chambers and trips the Contender safety with a little snap. That’s minimal sizing to headspace. Not enough and the gun won’t shoot, too much and brass only lasts 3-5 full power shots. It’s not that tricky and pleasing to get it right.

Bob Milek used the TC in .35 Remington a bunch, took it to Africa! If you can find his old articles it would be really useful info and good reading. I have a .35 Remington barrel a friend gave me! Is a 14” someone reworked to .358 Bellem. Opened up the chamber to the .444 case FL resized in a .358 Win. Die. Long neck thing looks like an overgrown .30/40 Krag. I usually trim the necks in half to form, basically, .356 Winchester to shoot from it. But a critter couldn’t tell it from a .35 Remington. It will push the 200 to about 2300 fps. I’d stick with the Remington, .444 brass is hard to find sometimes.

Gary has some cool .35’s as well if you want more HP. One on the .30-30 and another on the .405 Win. case. Both are notable steps up and sport nice useful rims!

I often shoot cast and jacketed revolver bullets out of my .35’s. But you can over run the lighter bullets. They just vaporize.

A 12" or shorter will not get there.
My 12"- 30 GNR gets 2400+ with a 150 gr Nosler using Reloder7 and H322
The 13"- 338 GNR -I would prefer a longer barrel on the 405 based cartridges.
180gr Nosler - 2500fps with BLC-2
200gr Nosler - 2400+
225gr Hornady- 2400

Sean

to 2300 fps, then at 41gr I get 2400 fps.

Sean

Ill.have ti try that, I'm always hesitant to go over the max loads in the book, my 30 is a 12 inch and the 338 is a 13, same as yours. I think I'll get some 322 to try in my 30 and I have some blc2 I can try in my 338. Thanks for the info

And evens out pressure. It’s individual to the chamber and projectile profile. Sean and Puffy liked 4064 and really 3031 for the .405 cased GNR’s. The BLC-2 fireball is spectacular! Even at high noon. lol

Try to do minimal resizing to prevent case stretching and extend case life. FL sizing using them in two guns and chamber at max levels gave me 5-6 reloads before bright rings at the bases tipped me to thinning at the web. Don’t recall one actually splitting.

BTW - my .338 was 16” OAL but had a 2” chambered brake on the end included. I got our .30 GNR out to do some shooting, you motivated me. The .256 Raptor too. The .25’s seem to need a bit more precise bullet placement from what I heard from guys. I’m a 7mm fan but the .30 is fine too.

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