35 Remington loads for Super 14

[ctrout]

I have been trying to come up with some loads for my Contender and am not able to reach the velocities that I am seeing others getting.  I am satisfied with the accuracy of this barrel but I am only getting 1800fps with my most accurate 180gr load.  I saw in the article at suitorsgarage that he was getting 2300 fps out of a Bullberry barreled Contender pistol.  I would assume that since this was a pistol that the barrel was 16" or less.  If 2300fps is actually possible, I would think that I should be able to hit 2100fps with reasonable accuracy.  My best accuracy so far was with 36.0gr of H4895 @ 1.1" 5-shot group @100yds from sand bags.  This load reached an average velocity of 1806fps.  Accuracy became progressively worse as the powder charge increased with the 37gr load delivering 1.4" and the 38gr at 1.6" and the max load at 1.9".  I thought that 4895 would give better velocity than it did but I was wrong.  I have seen reports of very good velocity from H322 and H335 but no specifics of starting loads or max loads or anything other than the data at the Hodgdon site that shows max velocities of around 2100fps from a rifle length barrel.  The best velocity their site shows is about 2300fps with LVR powder with H4895 being the next closest at 2232fps. 
 
Just as an aside, I have used Varget in the past with very similar results.
 
What is my best option for powder for best accuracy and velocity from this 14" barrel with 180gr Hornady SSP (#3505) bullets?  Also, what starting load, max load, and estimated velocities should I expect?

[KYODE]

my 14"er is a rimmed version using 303 british brass shortened a bit in a 35rem trim die, sized with 35rem die, and fireformed. it is nothing more than a rimmed 35rem. a max load(what i percieved) of H322 and 180gr hornady ssp shoots good in it. take a look at a sierra handgun manual. they show H322 and the 180 up to 2200fps out of a 14" barrel. my barrel is just under that at 2150-2180fps.

[ctrout]

I don't have a Sierra manual and they have no data available on their site.  Could you possibly provide min/max so I can work up?  I would look to my Lyman 47th but I gave it to a friend who was interested in getting into hand loading.  I would also look to my Speer manual but I gave it to a kid as a gift along with a press, components, and a 30-06 rifle as a gift when he made Eagle Scout.  All I have left are load books for the calibers that I shoot more often.

[KYODE]

my sierra manual is not here at home   i think my barrel load is 39.5gr. by memory, they show up to 40+ as max. i'd start around 36.0 and work up carefully in .5gr increments. a chrony sure would be handy. you have one?
sierra did state that their top loads does reduce brass life. i would also size the brass carefully and adjust for correct headspace.

[ctrout]

I do have a Chrony.  Unfortunately, I accidentally shot one of the mounting bars for the shade on Saturday and it immediately began reading 200fps slow so I think I jarred it out of calibration so I'll have to pick up a new one before I can do any more load development.  I did find a post or two somewhere that qouted the min/max for H322 from the Loadbook for the Contender as 39.0 starting and 42.0 max but since the Hodgdon site shows a starting load of 31.0 (I think), I guess I'll just split the difference and start around 36.0 as you suggest.  All of my brass has been fired in this barrel at least once so I will work on fine tuning my sizing depth to ensure correct headspace (although as yet I have not experienced any misfires or significant case stretch).  Thanks for the help too.  I'm finding that although this is a very popular caliber in the 14" Contender, good load data is a little hard to find and there seems to be some conflict on safe load levels.  The nearest Cabela's (or any decent S/G store) is about 40 miles away so the next time I go, I will make a point of either repurchasing my loading manuals or at least picking up the Contender Loadbook.  I need a new Chrony and some H322 anyway so maybe I'll make the trip this weekend.

[KYODE]

there seems to be some conflict on safe load levels.

possibly because a lot of 35rem load data is for lever action rifles. i think the contender and definately the remington xp100 bolt pistol can handle a lil more, according to handgun data.
mine sure has been deer hunting accurate out to a couple hundred yards with H322 and the hornady 180ssp. hard to pick up another of my barrels during deer season, with it being such a thumper. i might have to give my 30-30AI some time this yr, another contender favorite.
on the headspace adjust, you might try an automotive feeler gauge to set the die off the shellholder a few thousandths, after checking barrel/frame gap. you want the case to fill that gap, minus a couple thousandths.
 

[ctrout]

Good idea on setting the headspace.  What's the procedure?  Do I just bump the shoulder on fired brass, load it into the gun, close the action, and then insert the gauges?  Keep doing that until I get say, .002" gap and then lock the die in?  I was just going to bump the shoulder until the action would close without resistance but I'll bet your method is more reliable.  I'll bet it would be easier to keep an eye on frame stretch that way too.

[KYODE]

remove the barrel, place fired case in chamber, check how much brass protrudes, only bump shoulder back enough to fill the chamber PLUS the barrel/frame gap, minus a couple thousandths.
you can also use the feeler gauges to set a known amount between shellholder and die. most of my die sets usually end up roughly .005-.010" off the shellholder. of course things can vary, so.....