Fiftydriver
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To all,
Had some rifles to develope loads for this morning so I decided to throw my sporter weight 338 Allen Xpress I just finished up in for some load testing as well. This rifle will be used at the end of this month on an early season elk hunt.
The bullet I will be using if it proves up to the penetration challange and strains of impact will be the new Wildcat Bullets 265 gr AL RBBT. A bit of quick back ground on this bullet. Basically, its a 300 gr ULD RBBT with a long aluminum tip on the nose of the bullet. Because of the lighter weight of the aluminum the bullet weighs 265 grains compared to 300.
The main benefit of the tip is to dramatically increase BC over the 300 gr SMK while also allowing a higher velocity potential as well with the lighter weight. It does both very well. In my very limited BC testing so far using bullet drop numbers it looks like this bullet will have a BC in the .900 to .930 range depending on muzzle velocity. Compare this to the 300 gr SMK which will range from .780 to .810 in most cases. A significant increase. Now realize these numbers are what I need to put into my Exbal program to get the computer generated flight path to match up with actual bullet flight.
For some reason Huntingpictures.net is not allowing me to upload my pics so this will be in essay form only......
My dad is starting practicing fireforming brass for me as he will be in charge of forming cases for customers when he feels comfortable taking that over. From the looks of the 50 cases of 338 Allen Xpress brass he made up for me, he is ready to go. They looked like they just came out of the Lapua box preformed in 338 Allen Xpress.
Because this rifle will be used on elk at possibly closer range I decided I would turn her into a repeater and installed a 3.900" center feed Wyatts mag box in the Rem 700 receiver.
The rifle is pretty basic:
Accurized Rem 700 CM
Gre Tan striker assembly
Badger Ord pinned in extractor
Wyatts 3.900" mag box
Lilja 27" #4 contour SS 1-10 barrel
Manners sporter stock pillar bedded
RB trigger
Holland recoil lug and QD muzzle brake
Factory Rem 700 BDL floorplate
Burris one piece standard base
Burris Signature rings
Weaver 4.5-14 Tactical
Your basic sporter rifle. She weighs in at 9 1/4 lbs ready to hunt with.
Because of the length of the barring surface on the 265 gr AL RBBT, which is basically the same as the 300 gr SMK, I figured a goal of 3000 fps was about right.
Also, because of the length of this bullet, 1.920" compared to 1.720" for the 300 gr SMK, I had to leave the throat very short so it would still function as a repeater. Normally I would not have worried about a repeater but with big critters at closer ranges, it may be nice to have a back up laying under the bolt!
The ogive on this bullet is so long(1.050") that I had to go with the very short throat and as such, the case capacity is severely impacted by the large amount of bullet below the case neck. This concerned me a bit as far as performance was concerned.
Knowing that H-1000 is about perfect in the 338 RUM and 338 Edge, I figured with the 8 to 9 grains extra case capacity of the 338 Allen Xpress that Retumbo would be just about perfect with this bullet. I was not wrong.
I started at 92.0 gr and worked up to 102.0 gr. Here were the velocity results:
92.0 gr.......................2819 fps
94.0 gr.......................2848 fps
96.0 gr.......................2883 fps
98.0 gr.......................2942 fps
100.0 gr.....................2994 fps
101.0 gr.....................3030 fps
102.0 gr.....................3055 fps
100.0 gr is roughly 100% load density with this bullet seated to an overall length of 3.850"
Extraction was perfect on all loads including the 102.0 gr load which produced 3055 fps. I stopped here because this load started to show a bit of a shiny ejector circle on the case head. Not heavy by any means but noticable and that is my stopping point with the Rem 700 receivers.
Had this receiver been a BAT, Nesika or my new Raptor receiver, I would have gone until the bolt lift just started to get sticky and then back off 2 grains and call that absolute max load but I did not want to push the Rem 700 that hard.
My velocity goals with this bullet were 3000 fps so it easily matched that and then some.
Because of the possibility we will be hunting in very hot temps I decided to load up the 98.0 gr load so I would have a bit of pressure cushion if the temps got up in the high 80 to 90 degree range which may be very possible at the end of August, hopefully not but its possible.
Accuracy of the rifle and bullets was pretty good. no group was larger then 1" at 100 yards for three shots. Average was around 0.6" with about half breaking the 1/2 moa level of accuracy. Since I have not fine tuned any load yet I think that was pretty darn good for a prototype bullet.
The 98.0 gr load by the way cut a 0.377" ctc group which is one reason I wanted to test it out more.
After the load development testing I headed back to the shop and started looking up references in different loading manuals on the performance of the 338-378 Wby. THe reason is because my design goal for the 338 Allen Xpress was to match this round with roughly 10 grains less powder.
In every instance, The manuals listed the 338-378 at around 2950 to 3000 fps with a 250 gr bullet weight in a 26 to 28" barrel length.
I was pushing a 15 gr heavier bullet to this same velocity range with very comfortable loads in the same class barrel length and with 10 grains less powder so, so far it looks like another APS wildcat that will meet or surpass all my performance goals.
If this rifle were a single shot and had the throat set up to seat this bullet to the base of the neck, I would have another 10 grains of powder capacity and I know full well 3100 fps would not be a problem at all in this 27" barrel length.
In my testing of the 265 gr AL RBBT and 300 gr SMK in my 338 Allen Magnum, I have come to find that the 265 gr can be drive to roughly 125 to 150 fps higher velocity then the 300 gr SMK with similiar pressures.
Comparing this for use in the 338 Allen Xpress, in a 27" barrel I would be surpised if I could not push the 300 gr SMK to 2900 fps which really is impressive from this class of round.
As soon as I can get pictures uploaded I will post some of the rifle, bullets and ammo. Next up is accuracy testing at 300 yards and 500 yards to fine tune the load and then start drop chart work out to 800 yards which should be farther then any range we will be shooting at.
I will also be testing penetration and expansion here in the next week. This is my only concern with this bullet. Because of the large tip, I am hoping the very heavy jacket can handle the impacts and not come completely apart.
I tested this bullet in my 338 Allen Magnum at 1000 yards on 3, 3 gallon water jugs set up in a row. The bullet punched through all three and literally ripped all three in half. The first two were thrown more then 10 feet to the left of the impact position!!!! I have never heard something pop that hard at 1000 yards before and I have shot alot of water jugs with the 338 AM and the 300 gr SMK at this range. The bullet did not stop in the jugs, I guess I need to line more up!!!!
That test was with this bullet at nearly 3500 fps however so if it will penetrate at this velocity it should at lower as well, as long as it expands well.
We will see.
Kirby Allen(50)
Had some rifles to develope loads for this morning so I decided to throw my sporter weight 338 Allen Xpress I just finished up in for some load testing as well. This rifle will be used at the end of this month on an early season elk hunt.
The bullet I will be using if it proves up to the penetration challange and strains of impact will be the new Wildcat Bullets 265 gr AL RBBT. A bit of quick back ground on this bullet. Basically, its a 300 gr ULD RBBT with a long aluminum tip on the nose of the bullet. Because of the lighter weight of the aluminum the bullet weighs 265 grains compared to 300.
The main benefit of the tip is to dramatically increase BC over the 300 gr SMK while also allowing a higher velocity potential as well with the lighter weight. It does both very well. In my very limited BC testing so far using bullet drop numbers it looks like this bullet will have a BC in the .900 to .930 range depending on muzzle velocity. Compare this to the 300 gr SMK which will range from .780 to .810 in most cases. A significant increase. Now realize these numbers are what I need to put into my Exbal program to get the computer generated flight path to match up with actual bullet flight.
For some reason Huntingpictures.net is not allowing me to upload my pics so this will be in essay form only......
My dad is starting practicing fireforming brass for me as he will be in charge of forming cases for customers when he feels comfortable taking that over. From the looks of the 50 cases of 338 Allen Xpress brass he made up for me, he is ready to go. They looked like they just came out of the Lapua box preformed in 338 Allen Xpress.
Because this rifle will be used on elk at possibly closer range I decided I would turn her into a repeater and installed a 3.900" center feed Wyatts mag box in the Rem 700 receiver.
The rifle is pretty basic:
Accurized Rem 700 CM
Gre Tan striker assembly
Badger Ord pinned in extractor
Wyatts 3.900" mag box
Lilja 27" #4 contour SS 1-10 barrel
Manners sporter stock pillar bedded
RB trigger
Holland recoil lug and QD muzzle brake
Factory Rem 700 BDL floorplate
Burris one piece standard base
Burris Signature rings
Weaver 4.5-14 Tactical
Your basic sporter rifle. She weighs in at 9 1/4 lbs ready to hunt with.
Because of the length of the barring surface on the 265 gr AL RBBT, which is basically the same as the 300 gr SMK, I figured a goal of 3000 fps was about right.
Also, because of the length of this bullet, 1.920" compared to 1.720" for the 300 gr SMK, I had to leave the throat very short so it would still function as a repeater. Normally I would not have worried about a repeater but with big critters at closer ranges, it may be nice to have a back up laying under the bolt!
The ogive on this bullet is so long(1.050") that I had to go with the very short throat and as such, the case capacity is severely impacted by the large amount of bullet below the case neck. This concerned me a bit as far as performance was concerned.
Knowing that H-1000 is about perfect in the 338 RUM and 338 Edge, I figured with the 8 to 9 grains extra case capacity of the 338 Allen Xpress that Retumbo would be just about perfect with this bullet. I was not wrong.
I started at 92.0 gr and worked up to 102.0 gr. Here were the velocity results:
92.0 gr.......................2819 fps
94.0 gr.......................2848 fps
96.0 gr.......................2883 fps
98.0 gr.......................2942 fps
100.0 gr.....................2994 fps
101.0 gr.....................3030 fps
102.0 gr.....................3055 fps
100.0 gr is roughly 100% load density with this bullet seated to an overall length of 3.850"
Extraction was perfect on all loads including the 102.0 gr load which produced 3055 fps. I stopped here because this load started to show a bit of a shiny ejector circle on the case head. Not heavy by any means but noticable and that is my stopping point with the Rem 700 receivers.
Had this receiver been a BAT, Nesika or my new Raptor receiver, I would have gone until the bolt lift just started to get sticky and then back off 2 grains and call that absolute max load but I did not want to push the Rem 700 that hard.
My velocity goals with this bullet were 3000 fps so it easily matched that and then some.
Because of the possibility we will be hunting in very hot temps I decided to load up the 98.0 gr load so I would have a bit of pressure cushion if the temps got up in the high 80 to 90 degree range which may be very possible at the end of August, hopefully not but its possible.
Accuracy of the rifle and bullets was pretty good. no group was larger then 1" at 100 yards for three shots. Average was around 0.6" with about half breaking the 1/2 moa level of accuracy. Since I have not fine tuned any load yet I think that was pretty darn good for a prototype bullet.
The 98.0 gr load by the way cut a 0.377" ctc group which is one reason I wanted to test it out more.
After the load development testing I headed back to the shop and started looking up references in different loading manuals on the performance of the 338-378 Wby. THe reason is because my design goal for the 338 Allen Xpress was to match this round with roughly 10 grains less powder.
In every instance, The manuals listed the 338-378 at around 2950 to 3000 fps with a 250 gr bullet weight in a 26 to 28" barrel length.
I was pushing a 15 gr heavier bullet to this same velocity range with very comfortable loads in the same class barrel length and with 10 grains less powder so, so far it looks like another APS wildcat that will meet or surpass all my performance goals.
If this rifle were a single shot and had the throat set up to seat this bullet to the base of the neck, I would have another 10 grains of powder capacity and I know full well 3100 fps would not be a problem at all in this 27" barrel length.
In my testing of the 265 gr AL RBBT and 300 gr SMK in my 338 Allen Magnum, I have come to find that the 265 gr can be drive to roughly 125 to 150 fps higher velocity then the 300 gr SMK with similiar pressures.
Comparing this for use in the 338 Allen Xpress, in a 27" barrel I would be surpised if I could not push the 300 gr SMK to 2900 fps which really is impressive from this class of round.
As soon as I can get pictures uploaded I will post some of the rifle, bullets and ammo. Next up is accuracy testing at 300 yards and 500 yards to fine tune the load and then start drop chart work out to 800 yards which should be farther then any range we will be shooting at.
I will also be testing penetration and expansion here in the next week. This is my only concern with this bullet. Because of the large tip, I am hoping the very heavy jacket can handle the impacts and not come completely apart.
I tested this bullet in my 338 Allen Magnum at 1000 yards on 3, 3 gallon water jugs set up in a row. The bullet punched through all three and literally ripped all three in half. The first two were thrown more then 10 feet to the left of the impact position!!!! I have never heard something pop that hard at 1000 yards before and I have shot alot of water jugs with the 338 AM and the 300 gr SMK at this range. The bullet did not stop in the jugs, I guess I need to line more up!!!!
That test was with this bullet at nearly 3500 fps however so if it will penetrate at this velocity it should at lower as well, as long as it expands well.
We will see.
Kirby Allen(50)
