Steve Webb at APEX rifle is my buddy that did up my barrels.
He DOES do the big stuff for uncle Sam,but one thing leads to another and sicko's like us are always looking for something to tweak.
First I did a .308 in conventional(About a 1-20 to 1-12 final in 1/3 Newton Ratchett form)on a Sako 75 SS action for my sicko Lawyer buddy.
The thing holds in the .4's with Nosler 165Bt's and the same POI for Matchkings!
That did it,and I did up a .338win Ruger77MKIILH(Yes I am one of "them")and took it to South Africa after some serious learning curve fun with all sorts of powder and bullets.
I found that conventional powders were too slow and that dropping a burn rate AND exceeding max conventional charges was the ticket.
I settled on 230gr Failsafes and an insane(For conventional)charge of H-414 for the hunt.
Accuracy at 100m is in the .6's and at 2900fps.
I did find that I could get ridiculous velocity's with heavier charges but was concerned with pressures in the heat.
I took several critters with that rifle and load.
Upon return thoughts turned to the AR and an "Ultimate" shorty.
If I could get 3100fps from a 16" tube all would be right in the world.
I also have this woodchuck murdering habit that begged for a 24" tube in 1-8.I had Steve do up both and put together a couple of upers using Bushy parts.
The 24" has been a pain,but recently stumbled upon "The load".H-335,Sierra 69grMK,Rem once fired brass(My basement is full thanks to a job where AR's are issued)and CCI_BR1 primers.
I have a couple of targets in the .3's at 200M!
Most of the time however she holds in the .5's at 200m
The 16" has been a love hate thing so far.
E.S. have gone through the window unless I neck turn and crimp.
Factory ammo does OK,but who likes to shoot factory stuff!
PMP(South African)Ball goes just over 3100fps and holds in the .9's with the shorty.
It's a pain to tinker with,but fascinating at the same time.
I wouldn't advise it to anyone who dosn't obcess over the minutia of things,and those that don't reload cannot appreciate what is going on.
There is one other company that does Gainers but they will only do "Short gain".
Mine are almost straight for the first 8" or so and wind up to final.
Core stripping has been minimal,and engraving damage is the same as with conventional constant rate.
OH! I almost forgot!
Steve does only cut rifled barrels so break in is a major PIA!
Lapping cannot be done with a lead lap so pressure lapping is used,then a 20 round break in.
Lots of fussing really,but a guy hs to have his toys.
The coolest thing is the minimal POI shift between loads and different bullets.
I dunno for sure what is going on in there but it is fun!
Cheers!
E4E