Recommended loads for PH 1200TX

[Starfishprime]

Hi Folks
can anyone share their experience with me here. I am starting to reload for my ph 1200tx for shooting to 600yrds, 26" barrel 1:12 twist. It was suggested to me that the rifle likes 168gr Sierra Match King and I was planning on using VV n140 powder as it seems readily availible.

Does anyone have suggested loads or speeds I should be 'aiming' for.

Thanks

Ian

[johngarnett]

Vit 140 / RS 50 (similar) is or are fine powders. I don't think the 168 SMK is the best beyond 600yds, try 155gr or 175 SMK
Speed, I think 155 target ammo is at approx. 2900fps ish.
Your PH 1200 is a Mauser action so start your loads low and work up and in the dry!.
In MY Quadlocks (different action) 45/46gr RS50 will work fine but you MUST work up to that in your PH.
There will be many more suggestions but go steady. There is a 'sweet load' out there for you!
JohnG

[kennyc]

From the Viht online guide 2015
155 HPBT Sierra 2.795 N140 starting load 37.0 2354fps max load 44.2 2712fps

[dromia]

Look at printed pressure tested data, Vihtavuori's own is a good place to start and work up from the minimum load.

There is no short cut to finding a safe and accurate load for your rifle with your chosen components, N140 is a very good powder for this calibre, 155 gn SMK's are well worth trying along with the 168s especially out to 600 yrds.

[targetshooter]

Hi I’m new to this forum but not to shooting and I have the same rifle a PH 1200TX, last year I’ve been working up loads to predominately to shoot at 600yds at Bisley.
Here’s what I’ve decided upon.
41.5 grains of Vihtavuori N-140 using 155gr Lapau (4hl7073) bullet. This gives me fill of 95.9% in GGG cases according to QuickLoad.
The measured muzzle velocity using a chronograph averages out over a five shot string of 2583.80ft/sec with a standard deviation of 10.61 with reasonable accuracy on target.
I measured the muzzle velocity over a five shot string with the NRA Imperial (which I think they now called Match) 7.62 155grs and it shoots’ at 2884ft/sec with a std. dev of 7.2. I think that’s too hot a load for my rifle bearing in mind it’s a 1980’s rifle with a chamber pressure of 20 tons and I didn’t have a great success in accuracy using the GGG 7.62 147gr FMJ as I think my 26” barrel (twist rate 1 in 12) likes the heavier bullet which is why I started home loading, apart from the cost.
My loads started from 39grain to 42.5grain in 0.5grain increments until I found the most consistent muzzle velocity measured over a chrony combined with the most accurate scoring. With that combination I can certainly hit V-Bulls at 600yds and Bulls at 900yds.
Slowly working up loads only from published reloading data is the only way to go and do not exceed lower limits (because this can cause excessive chamber pressure as well) and be careful of upper limits bearing in mind it’s a 1980’s rifle with a chamber pressure of 20 tons. I have noticed that two identical rifles can have different preferences in reloading data to obtain optimum accuracy.
I hope this helps.

[waterford103]

Mine liked 155 scenars and 42.5 gr vv140 , fed primers , super accurate safe load.

[Starfishprime]

Thanks for all your sage advice folks. Looks like 155 gr may be the way to go out to 600 yrds.

Cheers

Ian

[Furiouspilgrim]

If you’re going 155gr, check out the Lapua Scenar, excellent BC numbers.