"Plus Peak" ammunition by Federal

[WC86]

I doubt Federal will offer any of the older cartridges anytime soon. Keep in mind when it comes to 308 win, 30-06 and the like, joe blow might come along buy a box and run it through an M1 Garand, an early m1903, a pump or semi auto Remington and at 80k psi, that would catastrophic. For the sake of lawsuits, federal will probably keep this technology for newer cartridges (last 25 years?) to ensure most rifles are modern and capable of holding up.

I generally agree and suspect that they’ll be likely to pick newer stuff like PRC, WSM, etc

But then again, there are old receivers being chambered in 6.5 creedmoor and they make 45-70 loads that would likely blow a trapdoor apart

We’ll see

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have been waiting for someone to mention this new development in 6.5cm
I hope the 155gr fusion shows good results in my savage, I really wasn’t interested in a 6.5prc with 2 tack driving.270win in the safe already.and like the idea of higher S.D @ higher velocity, I heard.308win might be next?
View attachment 769419

@pilar
You can already give the 398 a boost.
I load 150 grainers to 2,950 fps out of my son's 22" barreled Howa.
@sgt_zim had to redo his calculations after giving the 168s a boost in his 08.
We both use cfe223 and it gives the humble 08 a set of balls.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

It was only a matter of time. It makes sense, modern metallurgy also means that actions now can probably handle pressures much higher than the actions they used to approve SAAMI specs for a lot of the older cartridges. (30-06 and 270 immediately come to mind) I would imagine the titanium actions we're seeing now could handle significantly higher pressures.

The only thing I'm doubting is that they can get these extra velocities with commonly available powders. A lot of the mono metal, High B.C. bullets take up a lot of room in the case and have made "crush loads" or loads close to full capacity common. I dont know if the steel cases have significantly thinner walls than brass cases, even if they do, its hard to imagine it will be more than a half grain or so.

I'll let others experiment with these first, but I am interested in trying these when they become available in more common calibers.

@Corylax18
With some of the newer powders you can get a boost in velocity without increasing the pressure.
This is achieved by maintaining peak pressure for a longer duration giving a different burning curve compared to the old parabola curve of standard power.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The article referenced .308 and .223 among possible future cartridges they bring this technology to. I would be interested to see the 308 for sure. I would really love it in a .25-06, although that's unlikely at least for a while . Probably see the full gambit of Creedmore line, and most popular cartridges like 243/270/308/30.06/maybe even 338.

@Tbitty
In the 25-06 with heavier bullets if you are using H4831 you could try working up to the same powders weight with hogdon superformance.
Do not exceed the max charge of H4831 with superformance and start at least 5gn lower and work up.
With a 100gn TTSX 54 gn of H4350 should give you around 3400fps.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Maybe they could rename peak loaded 30-06 to 300 Whelen?

@Gomer years ago Hornady used to load light magnum loads for the 06 that gave it a boost while still maintaining safe pressure.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Between modern powders and cases that can withstand an extra 33% pressure safely, the possibilities are way up there for some big time speed, and thereby trajectory and energy.

@Tbitty
I load my 25-303 British highly modified to over 3,600 fps while still maintaining safe pressure for my old P14
My mate John uses the same case design in a M17 and uses an 80gn outer edge similar to the Barnes to 3,900fps with zero pressure signs
How much more speed and flatter trajectory do we need.
Bob

 

[Gomer]

@Gomer years ago Hornady used to load light magnum loads for the 06 that gave it a boost while still maintaining safe pressure.
Bob

Before I started reloading, I used Federal High Energy which pushed 180gr partitions at 2900 from a Ruger No. 1B (26” barrel) in 30-06. Wasn’t super accurate, but I could hit elk with it.

 

[sgt_zim]

@pilar
You can already give the 398 a boost.
I load 150 grainers to 2,950 fps out of my son's 22" barreled Howa.
@sgt_zim had to redo his calculations after giving the 168s a boost in his 08.
We both use cfe223 and it gives the humble 08 a set of balls.
Bob

@pilar - Bob nailed it. I'm getting a short and curly under 2900 out of my 308 a 168 gr Gold Dots with CFE223. Bear in mind, though, I have a 24" barrel on my 308. For a hunting gun with a 22" barrel, probably would be closer to 2800 fps with a 168. Still screaming fast for a heavier bullet in 308W.

 

[Mizzou100]

I doubt Federal will offer any of the older cartridges anytime soon. Keep in mind when it comes to 308 win, 30-06 and the like, joe blow might come along buy a box and run it through an M1 Garand, an early m1903, a pump or semi auto Remington and at 80k psi, that would catastrophic. For the sake of lawsuits, federal will probably keep this technology for newer cartridges (last 25 years?) to ensure most rifles are modern and capable of holding up.

Agreed, i would bet they steer clear of "classic" cartridges!

 

[Mizzou100]

My Winchester Super Grade in 6.5 Creedmoor is my favorite rifle to shoot, +Peak is great news for me! Will make it much more versatile! I have a Weatherby 7mm Backcountry and i love it, 3,178 fps with 155 grain terminal ascent out of a 20 inch barrel!!

 

[txtrout75218]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen what kind of boost are you getting with CFE 223 in the 308?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen what kind of boost are you getting with CFE 223 in the 308?

@txtrout75218
I get 2,950fps out of my son's 22" 308 with 150 gn accubonds
@sgt_zim is getting phenomenal speeds with the 168gn gold dots. I think he is getting something around 2,900fps but I'm sure he will chime in.
Bob

 

[txtrout75218]

That is a nice boost, Bob. I have some CFE 223, perhaps I'll get the reloading stuff out of I get through the 12 other projects I have at the moment...

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That is a nice boost, Bob. I have some CFE 223, perhaps I'll get the reloading stuff out of I get through the 12 other projects I have at the moment...

@txtrout75218
For my son's 308 I use federal premium brass, Remington large rifle primers and I worked up to 50gn of CFE 223.
This load was safe in my rifle but the usual caveat applies
Start at 47 gn and work up
Bob

 

[sgt_zim]

@txtrout75218
I get 2,950fps out of my son's 22" 308 with 150 gn accubonds
@sgt_zim is getting phenomenal speeds with the 168gn gold dots. I think he is getting something around 2,900fps but I'm sure he will chime in.
Bob

Around 2880 or 2890, as I recall. But my 308 also has a 24" barrel. So maybe closer to 2800 with a 168 and a 22" barrel.