Sako Powerhead Blade

[Donkey Basher]

We’ll finally got the chance to test a box of Sako Powerhead Blade in 308W yesterday - factory 162gn bullets.

First three were into the compulsory NRA NLA zero target & the results weren’t encouraging but a ‘pass’ all the same!



Before firing any of this ammunition I’d measured seating depth, COAL & weighed the loaded rounds as I’m planning on loading my own instead of £59 a box to buy factory.

Seating depths were variable but the next three rounds were all seated to the same depth & the result was a lot more like I was expecting - this ammunition seems to have a good reputation & was recommended to me by a couple of people who use it regularly & who I trust to give an honest opinion.



Definitely sub MOA - maybe I’ll measure it to get an accurate group size.

After that I zeroed the rifle to shoot 2” high at 100 yards ready for the next test… see what happens when I put the cross on the shoulder & squeeze one off on a deer!

 

[half-baked]

Looking good. What rifle and what twist rate, if I may ask?

 

[HonestJohn]

We’ll finally got the chance to test a box of Sako Powerhead Blade in 308W yesterday - factory 162gn bullets.

First three were into the compulsory NRA NLA zero target & the results weren’t encouraging but a ‘pass’ all the same!

View attachment 359676

Before firing any of this ammunition I’d measured seating depth, COAL & weighed the loaded rounds as I’m planning on loading my own instead of £59 a box to buy factory.

Seating depths were variable but the next three rounds were all seated to the same depth & the result was a lot more like I was expecting - this ammunition seems to have a good reputation & was recommended to me by a couple of people who use it regularly & who I trust to give an honest opinion.

View attachment 359678

Definitely sub MOA - maybe I’ll measure it to get an accurate group size.

After that I zeroed the rifle to shoot 2” high at 100 yards ready for the next test… see what happens when I put the cross on the shoulder & squeeze one off on a deer!

The lower tight group is what i get with them on a bad day, and what I’d expect. If the bore was clean or used with lead ammo before, maybe it just needed to settle in with copper before delivering

 

[Donkey Basher]

Looking good. What rifle and what twist rate, if I may ask?

It’s a 25 year old Tikka M595 stainless with original barrel - think it’s a 1:11 twist but can’t remember as it was a long time ago when I measured it!!

 

[Donkey Basher]

Should have added that in total I shot 10 rounds & chronographed the muzzle velocity

 

[Donkey Basher]

Average muzzle velocity is circa 50fps less than published factory speed

 

[308tikka]

Average muzzle velocity is circa 50fps less than published factory speed

Easily accounted for in temperature difference, possibly altitude from test data.

Will make no discernible difference to terminal velocity at deer ranges. Enjoy using them - good cases for reloads.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Easily accounted for in temperature difference, possibly altitude from test data.

Will make no discernible difference to terminal velocity at deer ranges. Enjoy using them - good cases for reloads.

My comment wasn't a negative, actually quite surprised that it's as close as published. What does erk me a bit is the ES is 58 but I guess it's machine loaded ammunition so what can I complain about.

Won't be using the brass for reloading as I have a LOT of RWS brass that's been batched by volume & will be using this - will keep the brass & the box though just in case I ever need some 'factory ammunition'

 

[308tikka]

Good brass. I have thousands!

 

[skernaghan9844]

We’ll finally got the chance to test a box of Sako Powerhead Blade in 308W yesterday - factory 162gn bullets.

First three were into the compulsory NRA NLA zero target & the results weren’t encouraging but a ‘pass’ all the same!

View attachment 359676

Before firing any of this ammunition I’d measured seating depth, COAL & weighed the loaded rounds as I’m planning on loading my own instead of £59 a box to buy factory.

Seating depths were variable but the next three rounds were all seated to the same depth & the result was a lot more like I was expecting - this ammunition seems to have a good reputation & was recommended to me by a couple of people who use it regularly & who I trust to give an honest opinion.

View attachment 359678

Definitely sub MOA - maybe I’ll measure it to get an accurate group size.

After that I zeroed the rifle to shoot 2” high at 100 yards ready for the next test… see what happens when I put the cross on the shoulder & squeeze one off on a deer!

That’s a nice group! I’ll maybe give these a go with my .308. I have a box of powerhead blades to test with my 6.5CM

 

[nun_hunter]

That’s a nice group! I’ll maybe give these a go with my .308. I have a box of powerhead blades to test with my 6.5CM

I've used the 6.5 in a Tikka and the 308 in a Bergara and both group very well. Good enough that's there no incentive for me to reload, even at the slightly reduced cost. Performance on deer has been good too.

 

[Siggy]

I'm pretty pleased with the Sako powerhead blades 120grain that I use in my 6.5x55s. I was a bit surprised about how slow they were when I got an opportunity to chronograph them, but they do the job on everything from muntjac to lowland reds.

 

[skernaghan9844]

I've used the 6.5 in a Tikka and the 308 in a Bergara and both group very well. Good enough that's there no incentive for me to reload, even at the slightly reduced cost. Performance on deer has been good too.

That’s great to know thanks.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Hoping to bump into a pricket later this week & can then report back on their performance first hand

 

[skernaghan9844]

.

 

[skernaghan9844]

Hoping to bump into a pricket later this week & can then report back on their performance first hand

Your MV is very similar to mine but I’m currently shooting 143 ELD-X which are slightly heavier so 120gr for me might shoot a bit quicker . Do you know what your twist rate is?

All the research I’ve done, it’s said copper needs a minimum of around 2000fps on impact depending on the bullet projectile to mushroom effectively

 

[skernaghan9844]

I'm pretty pleased with the Sako powerhead blades 120grain that I use in my 6.5x55s. I was a bit surprised about how slow they were when I got an opportunity to chronograph them, but they do the job on everything from muntjac to lowland reds.

what sort of range were you at?

 

[Siggy]

what sort of range were you at?

The red was pretty close - 50 metres, but I've shot fallow out to 220 metres

 

[skernaghan9844]

The red was pretty close - 50 metres, but I've shot fallow out to 220 metres

That’s decent? How did the fallow react at 220m? Did it run far? Where was your shot placement?

 

[Siggy]

That’s decent? How did the fallow react at 220m? Did it run far? Where was your shot placement?

Both chest, one dropped on the spot and the other went 20 metres