GS Moly Coated Bullets

[MontanaRifleman]

I've been checking out these GS bullets and some look very interesing.

GS Custom Bullets - Made in South Africa - Proven on the toughest game on the planet.

The .308 cal 177 gr HV bullet has a BC of .638 and ave BC of about .620 out to 1K which is a better BC than any other bullets of that size and weight that I know of. And this is a "hunting" bullet. Another interesting feature is that they open and expand down to 1600 fps. Also, they are moly coated which the manufacturer claims increases velocity and barrel life. Their moly is different than the spray on type and other types used by other manufacturers.

So, looking at where the rubber meets the road, I'll compare this bullet to a 180 E-Tip with a BC of .523 and an MV of 3000 coming out of a 300 WM or WSM, and using a theorhetical MV of 3100 fps for the GS HV bullet. I'll use 3000 ft elevation ( a conservative western elevaion). My personal definiton of effective long rang hunting performance is the distance a bullet will travel and expand on game.

The E-tip's effective long range hunting distance is 800 yds based on a minimum opening speed of 1800 fps.

The GS HV's effective long range hunting distance is 1200 yds based on a minimum opening speed of 1600 fps.

Also, the GS bullet drifts 31" to the E-Tip's 41" @ 800 yds in a 10 mph crosswind.

Edited: corrected the MV's to 3000 and 3100.

This is quite a significant difference.

Any comments?

Anyone have any experience with these bullets?

 

[Lightvarmint]

Hello,

I have tried several versions of them in .30 caliber..... I still have some if anyone wants them. They were extremely accurate (.375" six shot groups (two shots per day for three days at the same target) at 400 yards), but they did not meet the trajectories associated with the advertised BC. So I quit shooting them.

LV

 

[Tyler Kemp]

When you say "if anyone wants them" does that mean they're free?

 

[Coues Sniper]

When you say "if anyone wants them" does that mean they're free?

+1 I'll play with a few.
What BC did you come up with. They claim their 197 is in the .9's

 

[davewilson]

someone on here tested the BC of a bunch of 308 bullets maybe a year or so ago. the BC of the GS Customs was WAY lower than what was advertised. like .2 lower if i remember right.

 

[Lightvarmint]

someone on here tested the BC of a bunch of 308 bullets maybe a year or so ago. the BC of the GS Customs was WAY lower than what was advertised. like .2 lower if i remember right.

Dave,

That was me.

LV

 

[MontanaRifleman]

someone on here tested the BC of a bunch of 308 bullets maybe a year or so ago. the BC of the GS Customs was WAY lower than what was advertised. like .2 lower if i remember right.

Interestng, there's a very accomplished shooter on another forum that will be testing the the 100 gr bullets in the 257 WTHBY in the very near future.

 

[Lightvarmint]

Interestng, there's a very accomplished shooter on another forum that will be testing the the 100 gr bullets in the 257 WTHBY in the very near future.

I only tested the .30s for BC. I spent a lot of money on them and they did not exhibit the advertised BC within .2 units of BC.

Specifically, they were supposed to be in the .600 to .650 range and they tested out at .341. We did the test many times and even swapped the chronographs around and took the average BC of all the values to give them the benefit of the doubt. No luck with the advertised BC.

We got suspicious when they had poorer flight characteristics (ie., more drop at 400 yards with a 100 yard zero) than the Nosler Ballistic Tips. But, they are very, very, very accurate.

LV

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I only tested the .30s for BC. I spent a lot of money on them and they did not exhibit the advertised BC within .2 units of BC.

Specifically, they were supposed to be in the .600 to .650 range and they tested out at .341. We did the test many times and even swapped the chronographs around and took the average BC of all the values to give them the benefit of the doubt. No luck with the advertised BC.

We got suspicious when they had poorer flight characteristics (ie., more drop at 400 yards with a 100 yard zero) than the Nosler Ballistic Tips. But, they are very, very, very accurate.

LV

LV, what 308 bullets did you test. The shooter on the other forum is also testing the GS HV 150's. In working up a load he got a 3 shot group with an ES of 2 and 1" group size. The thought is that the bullets aren't completely stabalized and may go to sleep at longer ranges Those 150 bullets dont have a great BC.

Also, off subject, do you know what the minimum velocity is required to open the HAT's. I'll be giving them a test as soon as I get a descent shooting rifle. Currently, I am waiting for Sako to hopefully send me a new 300 WSM as the first one did shoot very well. I know you said the 180 HAT would probably not stabalize out of the 11 twist. But I did shoot a few out of it and they all made round holes, so I'm going to give them another try if I can get a new rifle or work the bugs out of this one.

 

[Lightvarmint]

MR,

I can tell you that when I got the GS bullets, I thought that I had found the holy grail of projectiles..... I worked up a load at 100 yards and then proceeded out to 400 for obtaining a zero. At 400 yards, the bullets were much lower on the target than they should have been but the grouping was very impressive.

Next, we went to our secluded range and set up chronographs and did the BC testing as described above. To say the least, we were ecstatic about the accuracy, but extremely disappointed as to the flight characteristics......

I tested both the 150 grain HVs and the 173 grain HVs. I do not know what the BCs are advertised at this point, but when we tested them, we did not even get close to the advertised numbers. Giving GS customs the benefit of the doubt, maybe they were not sea level corrected prior to using them for advertisement.

As to the minimum velocity for the HATS, I used them on several deer this year with a muzzle velocity of 2900ish fps. I do have some loaded up in the 308 Wichita pistol, but was not able to collect any game with it as of yet. I would stay on the faster side of the scale when using them for hunting to ensure you get the expansion you are seeking.

They will not work properly in any twist slower than 1-10" on the 180 grain due to the extremely high BC (higher than a 240 SMK and a 210 Berger) and length for the weight of the bullet.

LV

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I found the 150 HV's out of a 30-06 to be about 1moa low out to 750yrds using their bc's. They shoot very well, and on game performance has been everything they advertise. I have not harvested anything beyond 300yrds with them though. At conventional ranges they kill faster than anything else I have used, and do less meat damage. They achieve amazing velocity for bullet weight. I can shoot them in my 30-06 at very near 300 win mag velocities. Use GS's guide lines for reloading.

Steve

 

[Lightvarmint]

Steve,

I think they have great possibilities for smaller calibers and shots under say 600 yards. I stillhave some 173 grain HVs if someone wants to buy them just to satisfy their own curiosity.

LV

 

[MontanaRifleman]

LV,

They are currently listing the BC for the 150 and he 173 as .412 and .515. From .515 to .638 is uite jump going from a 173 gr bulle to a 177 gr bullet. I'll probably be trying these (the 177's) out eventually to see what performance I can get out of them.

As for the 180 HAT's, I have about 20 left (first generation) And I'll give them a go at some point. I've also shot about 50, 180 E-tips out of my rifle and see no evidence of stability problems and when I compare the two bullets side by side, they appear to have the same bearing surface and close to the same length. I'm guessing your assessment is no doubt accurate, but maybe my 11 twist is special Time will tell.

Regards, Mark

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I found the 150 HV's out of a 30-06 to be about 1moa low out to 750yrds using their bc's. They shoot very well, and on game performance has been everything they advertise. I have not harvested anything beyond 300yrds with them though. At conventional ranges they kill faster than anything else I have used, and do less meat damage. They achieve amazing velocity for bullet weight. I can shoot them in my 30-06 at very near 300 win mag velocities. Use GS's guide lines for reloading.

Steve

Steve,

Thanks for the input, what you report about the performance on game is consistant with another report I read as well. Getting almost 300 mag velocities out of a 30.06 sounds amazing at a difference of about 200-300 fps.

Were you using the .412 BC in your calculations?