Help with O/U Double Rifle

[frog stealer]

Guys,

I own a Heym 26b, chambered in 8x57 rimmed. I managed to purchase a few boxes of the german "Geco" ammo that the rifle was regulated with, and it shoots great with perfect regulation (lower barrel impact about 1" directly below upper barrel at 100 yds).

I'm trying to find a good handload (Geco ammo is expensive), using Hornady 195 gr. soft points to duplicate the factory load. After trying many powders, I've found what appears to be a decent load (45 gr. of R15 for about 2300 fps). I'm getting good vertical stacking, but the lower barrel prints above the upper. The picture below shows representative groups I'm getting with this load at 100 yds.

Do I increase speed to get the lower barrel printing lower? Or is it the other way around? Or should I stop and use the load as-is?

 

[frog stealer]

Forgot to mention...Heym guarantees this type of rifle to shoot 6cm (2.36") or better at 80 meters. The current load exceeds the factory guarantee, but as a handloader, I always strive to better!

 

[Red Leg]

Stick with the Geco. Buy every round that you can find for sale and thank the Lord for your good fortune.

 

[Woodcarver]

Chronograph the Geco rounds. Then build a load that produces the same velocity with the same bullet weight. Adjust the load as needed.

 

[R eight]

Stick with the Geco. Buy every round that you can find for sale and thank the Lord for your good fortune.

and there ends the lesson

 

[frog stealer]

Chronograph the Geco rounds. Then build a load that produces the same velocity with the same bullet weight. Adjust the load as needed.

I chronographed the Geco rounds at 2314 fps (196 gr. bullet). That was the starting point for my loading. Going to try and bump my 45 gr. R15 load up to see what it does to my groups.

 

[frog stealer]

and there ends the lesson

I wish I could buy more! There was one guy selling them on gunbroker, and he appears to be sold out. Trying to find a decent load with normally available components so I don't have to rely on factory.

 

[mark-hunter]

Geco expensive?

Interestingly we over the pond on old continent consider Geco as economic good quality brand.

RWS and Geco are RUAG group.
So, in the group RWS is expensive brand and Geco is budget.

It would be interesting to know, if Geco is expensive what are actual retail prices of RWS in your gun shop?

As @Red Leg has put it:
Buy good stock of Geco.

 

[BeeMaa]

Have you tried Sellier & Bellot 196 grain?

https://www.aeammo.com/products/sellier-bellot-sb857jrsa-754908512324-5b23-5666

 

[frog stealer]

Geco expensive?

Interestingly we over the pond on old continent consider Geco as economic good quality brand.

RWS and Geco are RUAG group.
So, in the group RWS is expensive brand and Geco is budget.

It would be interesting to know, if Geco is expensive what are actual retail prices of RWS in your gun shop?

As @Red Leg has put it:
Buy good stock of Geco.

With shipping, I paid about 55 dollars per box. Anything that has to be imported typically has a premium on it.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Attach files

I'm getting good vertical stacking, but the lower barrel prints above the upper. The picture below shows representative groups I'm getting with this load at 100 yds.

Do I increase speed to get the lower barrel printing lower? Or is it the other way around? Or should I stop and use the load as-is?

I would increase the velocity if that will be within the safe limits of pressure.

Otherwise, I'd try a different bullet, i.e. brand, material, shape, type...
In calibers .416 and .458, I found at the same velocity Cutting Edge Bullets, Swift, Partitions, Hornady soft points, Barnes TSX will sometimes, maybe often regulate differently.
Also, different powders' burn rates can affect the regulation.

As @Red Leg stated, you are lucky your rifle regulates with any available factory ammo.
That stated, I always want to shoot my own loaded ammunition!
I will load four-round batches in varieties of velocities and different bullets. That's why I've posted photos of dual barrel coolers being used on hot days.

Stay safe and keep experimenting!

 

[mark-hunter]

With shipping, I paid about 55 dollars per box. Anything that has to be imported typically has a premium on it.

I want to cry and weep!
It is 2.75 usd per round, or 2.60 eur per round.

If I could find in EU high quality ammo, for 4 eur per round in medium caliber up to 8mm, I would consider a bargain (not speaking of cup and core bullets).

Moreover, you have delicate rifle, which is very picky in ammunition it accepts, this pretty much narrows the choices.

Stockpile!

 

[Tanks]

With shipping, I paid about 55 dollars per box. Anything that has to be imported typically has a premium on it.

Wait until you come to the .500 NE side. $55 per box will be a rounding error.

 

[Altitude sickness]

what. No pics of the rifle. I think that’s against the rules. I love seeing pictures of a Heym someone is using.

 

[PerH]

Geco Plus or Geco TM, Teilmantel ?

(Thats why i got a 7x57R In combo gun since Geco Plus is available for it )

 

[HWL]

55 $ is just for the empty box....

HWL

 

[IvW]

You say about 2300fps.....what is the actual chriny velocities?

 

[Woodcarver]

I chronographed the Geco rounds at 2314 fps (196 gr. bullet). That was the starting point for my loading. Going to try and bump my 45 gr. R15 load up to see what it does to my groups.

Attach files

I would increase the velocity if that will be within the safe limits of pressure.

Otherwise, I'd try a different bullet, i.e. brand, material, shape, type...
In calibers .416 and .458, I found at the same velocity Cutting Edge Bullets, Swift, Partitions, Hornady soft points, Barnes TSX will sometimes, maybe often regulate differently.
Also, different powders' burn rates can affect the regulation.

As @Red Leg stated, you are lucky your rifle regulates with any available factory ammo.
That stated, I always want to shoot my own loaded ammunition!
I will load four-round batches in varieties of velocities and different bullets. That's why I've posted photos of dual barrel coolers being used on hot days.

Stay safe and keep experimenting!

What Mark said....
I was having a b*@#h of a time getting my 9.3x74R to regulate with the 1st 2 powders I tried. Switched to W760, and the 1st load was very close. Tweaked it and it now regulates perfectly at 100yds at 2320fps with 286gr bullets. With any 286gr bullet I've tried so far; Partitions, Oryx, Woodleigh. Need to try some of the Norma 286gr Solids I now have, but expectations are high.

 

[frog stealer]

Wait until you come to the .500 NE side. $55 per box will be a rounding error.

Haha, I just bought a box of 450/400, ouch!

what. No pics of the rifle. I think that’s against the rules. I love seeing pictures of a Heym someone is using.

I’ll post some pics next weekend, I know, didn’t happen unless there’s pics!

You say about 2300fps.....what is the actual chriny velocities?

2290 average

What Mark said....
I was having a b*@#h of a time getting my 9.3x74R to regulate with the 1st 2 powders I tried. Switched to W760, and the 1st load was very close. Tweaked it and it now regulates perfectly at 100yds at 2320fps with 286gr bullets. With any 286gr bullet I've tried so far; Partitions, Oryx, Woodleigh. Need to try some of the Norma 286gr Solids I now have, but expectations are high.

Interesting…I’ve tried H4350 and R15 so far. Going to try IMR3031, and maybe some N550. I may pick up some 760, if it doesn’t work, I can use it in my 30-06!

 

[Sideshow]

Looking with interest here. Just but in an ug to my FAT to buy me one.
Fingers crossed it comes through.
Then I can start shopping