I'm a So Cal resident and as of July 1st we must use non-lead bullets in the Condor range, which includes my Deer Hunting zone. Nosler has put out a non-lead bullet in 30 Caliber that weighs 150 grains. I decided to develop a load with the 150 grain E-tip foer my Model 70 inj 30-06 even though I prefer 165 grain pellets in my 30-06. Nosler has not published any load data for the E-tips but I did read the following article in Shooting Times.
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/etipwin_100907/index.htmlThe article says that the E-tips are interchangeable with the Accubonds in the same load recipe.
I had previously played with 150 grain Hornady SSTs in my 30-06 and they shot best with 59 grains of IMR 4350. If you look at the Nosler manual they indicate that the most accurate load with IMR 4350 and 150 grain bullets is 59 grains. With quite a bit of reloading expierence in various calibers I have determined that the Nosler BTs, Partitions, Accubonds and the Hornady SSTs and Interbonds are all pretty much interchangeable in the same load recipe.
In starting my load development, I started two grains lower than the 59 grain max in the Nosler manual (by the way the Hornady Manual says 59.9 grains max) and built up in .5 grain increments. When developing a load I always check my brass for signs of over pressure. Lo and behold I got the best groups (just under 1" three shot groups) at 59 grains of IMR 4350. The brass showed absolutely no signs of over pressure. The 150 grain E-tips are 70 thousands longer than the Accubonds. I had to seat the E-tips about 10 thousands less in OAL than I seat the 165 grain pellets I shoot in this Model 70. The magazine limits OAL on this rifle.
About this time I picked up some feedback on the Nosler reloading forum that Nosler recommends two grains less as a max load for the E-tips. That puts me 2 grains over max according to Nosler. My 165 grain loads for this rifle vary from 2820 fps to 2890 fps (In 165 grain loads I use 57 grains of IMR 4350) based on a chronograph readings. Since this is a lighter bullet I was anticipating a muzzle velocity of about 2950 (the E-tip also has a BC of .469). The average of 10 shots gave me a chronoraphed muzzle velocity of 2994 fps. A bit higher than I expected but certainly not way out of bed.
While developing this load an anomaly developed with my model 70. I have always loaded a round directly into the chamber when shooting from a bench. When hunting I always feed the chamber from the magazine. When I tried to feed directly into the chamber the round would not go completely in and I couldn't close the bolt with the normal bolt pressure. I went to a gun smith with a no powder dummy load (bullet seated in the brass) and I explained the problem. He told me that problems loading directly into the chamber on model 70s is not uncommon. It's an issue of the extractor not properly getting around the rim of the brass but loading through the magazine this problem does not occur (I don't know why). He took my dummy load and showed me how it loads very nicely from the magazine. I went back home and loaded up some more of the E-tips and sure enough they loaded just fine from the magazine. I shot another 15-20 rounds and once again no signs of pressure on the brass.
I've had this model 70 for nearly 10 years and have probably shot 500 to 600 rounds through it. I talked to another gunsmith and he concurs with the Model 70s having problems when loading directly into the chamber. He does not think that the E-tip load is too high a pressure. Do you guys think that the chambering problem is just a coincidence with my load development or do you think that this load is indeed too much pressure?
I would appreciate some of your thoughts on this issue. Thanks.
