Powder for 168 Hybrid

[Mr_Logic]

Hi folks

Hope someone has some ideas on this :-)

I have a load of 168 hybrids. Have run out of IMR4895 and can't get more, so tried N140.

44 gr gives accuracy good, velocity not great at 2750. When wet today did some pressure signs although with a dry barrel they shoot well with no pressure evident.

My choices appear to be Anything Viht - no other powder is in stock long enough to buy.

Am I best off with N140? If not, which should I use. Many thanks for any assistance!

[phaedra1106]

Both my Stery and my Howa shoot 168gr A-Max, Scenar or Nosler Custom Competition bullets very nicely with the best results around 42gr of N140.

[ovenpaa]

With the 168 Hybrids a full load of TR140 will work nicely and I have seen similar or better results compared to N540. That was built at 2.900" with a 31" barrel. N140 was quite a bit down on MV. I can PM you the load data if you wish.

[Mr_Logic]

yes please :)

[TJC]

2,750 ? What do you mean that's not great ? That gets you still ballistic at 1k yards even though the 168gr isn't the bullet for that distance. If you have good accuracy too then....

[ovenpaa]

PM or mail me your OAL and barrel length and I will send mine and the QL loads

[Mr_Logic]

OK will do, will need to go measure the OAL as I work only off the ogive length, which I am aware will be different per-comparator.

[Mr_Logic]

2,750 ? What do you mean that's not great ? That gets you still ballistic at 1k yards even though the 168gr isn't the bullet for that distance. If you have good accuracy too then....

The 168 hybrid is a different kettle of fish to the 168s of old - at .266 G7, it'll do the job nicely, but I want to be driving it 2800+ fps really - I need it to go 1100!

[Laurie]

The 168gn Hybrid IS a very comepetent LR bullet and will give any of the 155s a run for their money. You're right in saying you'll need 2,800 fps plus to be reliably supersonic at 1,100. 2,850 fps at the muzzle keeps you at ~1,235 fps at this distance in standard ballistic conditions, that extra 100 fps over the speed of sound very valuable to reduce transonic turbulence.

With a short bearing surface surface length of 0.294", only marginally longer than those of the 155.5gn BT Fullbore and 155gn Hybrid, it can be driven fast without creating excessive pressures - provided we're talking a 30 inch barrel and a chamber throat that's suitable for the longer 155s at least, not the Bisley 150. I ran them a couple of years ago in a custom Savage with a 32-inch Bartlein at 2,925 fps using Norma brass and H. VarGet. I'm currently running these bullets at 2,980 fps out of a 32-inch Broughton, but that's with a high-energy powder in the VarGet / Re15 burning speed range that won't be generally available until later this year. This load uses Lapua 'Palma' small primer brass.

With Viht powders, the only one that offers you a decent prospect is N540. N140 might just break the 2,800 mark at a maximum load and pressure from 30-inches. N540 will see you beyond 2,850, subject to the barrel length and throat caveats. Alliant Re15 will do it too if you can find any. Otherwise it's ball powders - Ramshot Tac, better still the slightly slower burning 'Wild Boar' would likely get you there, Lovex DO73.6 (the old Accurate-2520) too. Ramshot Big Game is getting a little slow burning, but would get the necessary MVs. None of these has much of a track record though for LR Target Rifle or F/TR.

[Mr_Logic]

Thanks Laurie. My barrel is a 30-inch Broughton.

Any chance you can PM me with an N540 charge to start from? Viht's book tends to be light, and I have one session to work out a load before the long range challenge - had it all sorted with the IMR but now starting from scratch.