.277" 169 wildcat bullet

goodgrouper · #1 09-09-2009, 03:14 PM

Wow. Been so long since I've been here that I almost forgot how to make a new thread!

Anyhow, I've just completed load development on three rifles chambered in a semi-overbore cartridge using the above mentioned bullets. 100 yard testing showed "ho-hum" performance but when I got the deviations down (by changing charges, powders, and seating depths) the loads that the gun favored sure were impressive at long range.

I've mentioned I've seen this before many times and many people have called me crazy for it but here's three guns in a row that shot 3/4 MOA at times at 100 yards and then proceeded to drill 1/2 MOA at 1000 yards and one gun even went under 1/3 MOA at 650 yards!

Bottom line: big bullets need some time to dampen the precession and the bigger they are, the easier it is to see. These beauties are so long they almost need to be measured with a yardstick.

Wildcat guys, if you're listening, the J4 jacketed RBBT's work great in their original form with twist rates as advertised. And as long as you don't try running them through a 3 groove barrel, they work great from what I've seen thus far.

Len Backus · #2 09-09-2009, 04:22 PM

Good to hear from you!

royinidaho · #3 09-09-2009, 07:00 PM

Holey cow! Where ya been.

Thought you found a girl or somethin'

I have one of those $#@$^^%*&( 3 groove barrels.

The 169s shoot great. The 195s come apart.

Will be working with Paul this weekend to learn what we'll learn.

My knees are on the ground and my hands folded with my head bowed as I think that the 169 is the perfect Woof fodder. Not because of weight but because of BC and the wind.

I have no comprehension as to how a group can get smaller as distance stretches but my 270 AM does shows the improvement that you describe.

BTW, Its good to hear from you.

eddybo · #4 09-09-2009, 10:24 PM

Glad to see you back....you are not crazy I have seen the same thing happen numerous times.

goodgrouper · #5 09-09-2009, 10:51 PM

Thanks guys. It's good to be back if only for a little while.

No "extracurricular" endeavors yet Roy. Just been hitting the benchrest scene hard this year. Put several thousand miles on the old truck going to competitions all over the western U.S. and the season ain't over yet!

I haven't even killed ONE rockchuck this year! I'm having withdrawals. Paper just doesn't give the same "splat" that a big old Idaho alfalfa-fed chuck does.

As my luck would have it, no tags in several states again this year so there might not be a lot to report here. I am helping a few friends with some elk tags but only inbetween benchrest matches so who knows what's going to happen. I'll post anything I can of interest!

7mmRHB · #6 09-11-2009, 02:20 PM

The three guns that GG is talking about are 270 AMPs which are wildcats based off the 7mm Dakota brass necked down and improved. They push the 169.5 Wildcats at 3050 fps with 70 to 71 grs of Retumbo or 69 grs of H 1000. Pretty potent little round with the B.C. at .750 at our elevation of 5000'

Kirby did his usual great Smithing and we thank him for his efforts.

Grouper did his stellar load development and was being modest when he said they all shot 1/2 MOA!!! they will do way better than that in decent conditions!!!

Project components

Predator actions
Jewell triggers
Rock Creek #4 fluted, 1 in 9 twist bbls
Manners Superlight carbon fiber stock
APS PK brake ( these suckers really work!!!!)
Leupold 6.5 - 20 x 40 LR w/ M1 turrets and Signature rings w/ 20 min. inserts
All up weight at 8lbs 4 oz

Sorry, I don't have the talent to put their pics on LRH --------- RHB

Fiftydriver · #7 09-11-2009, 07:22 PM

Jim,

I have seen this alot with all of my wildcats using the Wildcat bullets(old versions which I am sure are the same). Even more dramatic the longer the bullet or the faster they are driven.

I was driving the 169 gr ULD to 3400 fps and at 100 yards, it was common to see 3/4 moa groups and then by 500 yards those groups would tighten up to consistantly well under 1/2 moa and carry out to very long distances with that level of accuracy or better.

The 200 gr ULD was even more dramatic. In fact my personal rifle in my 7mm AM would average between 3/4 and 1 moa at 100 yards. In fact I was very unimpressed with its performance, That is until I tested it at 800 yards one morning and it was punching pretty consistant 4" groups at that range.

It has been so consistant that I tell all my customers to not even worry about 100 yard groups and to set up at 500 yards or more when doing load development if possible.

Good to hear those three AMPs are behaving for you!!!