First I would like to thank Hoot and this forum for giving me everything I needed to load this round. Since load data isn’t widely available this has been my go to.
I finished my testing with the RAR using Hornady’s 200 grain FTX and wanted to share my results to help the next person. I do not have a chronograph, I’ve only been reloading a year, and I’m not the greatest bench rest shooter. Glad we got that out of the way
I first loaded up 3 shots of 36 – 38.5 grains lil’gun with 1 time fired hornady brass and WSR primers in .5 increments. Best result was the 36 grain with low recoil. As I worked up to 38.5 I could hear the bullet hitting the paper faster and faster. Although the 36 grain was accurate I pressed on to see if I could find another “node” at faster velocity.
I then loaded 38.5 (I initially thought the 38.5 grain was good just not my shooting) to 42 grains, again 3 shots, .5 increments, but using new Starline brass.
I found the 41 grain load to be dead on although the 40.5 was also very close. I’m not sure if it’s the brass but I didn’t have any sooting in the second session. I’m assuming velocity is at 2,500 FPS after reading Hoot’s 200 FTX going the other way thread.
I’ll be loading up 200 grain FTXs with 41 grains of lil’gun using no expander die and taper crimping to .474-475 for deer season!
(Left to Right: 36gr, 40.5gr, and 41gr @ 100 Yards)