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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
New APS Raptor Stalker pics
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<blockquote data-quote="Fiftydriver" data-source="post: 507395" data-attributes="member: 10"><p>My personal lightweight 7mm AM, old "GREEN" is based on a Rem 700 with an HS sporter stock, HS DM system, #3 non fluted barrel and its for all intent and purpose the same weight as this new Raptor Stalker but it has a 26" barrel length instead of a full 27".</p><p> </p><p>The reason for this is the HS stock is pretty heavy for a sporter stock with its full length aluminum bedding block.</p><p> </p><p>Again, we can get lighter then this Stalker pretty easily. I also forgot to mention that We can go with a different Raptor Stalker barrel contour. The Standard Stalker barrel channel is very similiar to a Lilja #5 contour but with a longer then standard barrel shank.</p><p> </p><p>The lightweight Stalker model uses a contour that is smaller yet, around a #4 contour with flutes yet it still retains the longer shank length for much better barrel rigidity. This is one feature that helps the Stalker compete very well against much heavier rifles. The longer shank is much more rigid. Add to that the dramatically longer bedding area under the receiver, especially the front of the receiver and you get a much larger bedding footprint to support the barreled receiver. The large diameter receiver thread and the long receiver thread length also add to the increased stability and rigidy of the Stalker compared to conventional weight rifles.</p><p> </p><p>My light weight 7mm AM is quite impressive numbers wise. When the barrel was fresh, it would drive the 200 gr ULD RBBT to 3180 fps with very comfortable chamber pressures which I required with the use of the Rem 700 receiver. Its barrel has become pretty long in the tooth and has some heat cracking in it now so its to rough for the 200 gr ULDs at this velocity.</p><p> </p><p>As such, I have swapped out to two other bullets. For long range shooting I use the 175 gr SMK loaded right at 3340 fps in the 26" barrel length. Again, this is a good comfortable load. A bit higher pressure then the 200 gr load but PLENTY acceptable pressures for even a Rem 700 based rifle. In my ballistic testing, I have to use a BC of .680 with the 175 gr SMK to get drop charts to accurately match up with actual bullet trajectories. Pretty impressive ballistically out of a 10 lb rifle ready to hunt with.</p><p> </p><p>For most of my big game hunting chores I use the 160 gr Accubond loaded to 3420 fps at similiar chamber pressures. Certainly not as potent as the heaiver bullets ballistically but its a very accurate load and plenty for hunting out to even 800 yards and its a very good bullet for closer range impacts so its a good all around choice for out to moderate range hunting.</p><p> </p><p>I list these numbers for a comparision. My Raptor LRSS with a 30" barrel length will easily surpass what the 200 gr ULD RBBT will be able to survive. We have to limit muzzle velocity to around 3300 fps with this bullet or you will have bullet integrity problems.</p><p> </p><p>We do not have this problem with the 175 gr SMK as it will handle MUCH more velocity but does give up a bit of terminal performance. I have tested the 175 gr SMK to over 3550 fps out of the Raptor LRSS. In testing, the 7mm AM will drop around 25-28 fps going from 30" down to 27". So you would be looking at a velocity of around 3465 to 3475 fps in the 27" Raptor Stalker on average. </p><p> </p><p>The 160 gr Accubond has been tested at 3600 fps in the Raptor LRSS although I prefer to see velocity in the 3575 fps range for top end loads. +3500 fps in the Stalker should be pretty easy.</p><p> </p><p>I have not tested the 140 gr Accubond in the Raptors but with the strength of this rifle, I would be surpised if you would not see well over 3600 fps in the Stalker model and possibly pushing 3700 fps in the LRSS. This bullet would be a bit of a waste in the big LRSS model but for those that wanted a laser flat shooting bullet in the Stalker for basically no or very little holdover shooting out to 500 yards on lighter big game, this would be a very practical choice.</p><p> </p><p>In this customers rifle, I may give the 190 gr Matrix VLD bullet a run and see what it will handle. Since its based on the J-4 jacket, I am sure it will be limited to the same 3300 fps velocity ceiling as the 180 gr Berger VLD and 200 gr ULD RBBT from Wildcat Bullets. Even at the reduced 3300 fps velocity however, it would still be a very impressive bullet choice for the long range hunter. </p><p> </p><p>I will post results of tests hopefully early next week.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fiftydriver, post: 507395, member: 10"] My personal lightweight 7mm AM, old "GREEN" is based on a Rem 700 with an HS sporter stock, HS DM system, #3 non fluted barrel and its for all intent and purpose the same weight as this new Raptor Stalker but it has a 26" barrel length instead of a full 27". The reason for this is the HS stock is pretty heavy for a sporter stock with its full length aluminum bedding block. Again, we can get lighter then this Stalker pretty easily. I also forgot to mention that We can go with a different Raptor Stalker barrel contour. The Standard Stalker barrel channel is very similiar to a Lilja #5 contour but with a longer then standard barrel shank. The lightweight Stalker model uses a contour that is smaller yet, around a #4 contour with flutes yet it still retains the longer shank length for much better barrel rigidity. This is one feature that helps the Stalker compete very well against much heavier rifles. The longer shank is much more rigid. Add to that the dramatically longer bedding area under the receiver, especially the front of the receiver and you get a much larger bedding footprint to support the barreled receiver. The large diameter receiver thread and the long receiver thread length also add to the increased stability and rigidy of the Stalker compared to conventional weight rifles. My light weight 7mm AM is quite impressive numbers wise. When the barrel was fresh, it would drive the 200 gr ULD RBBT to 3180 fps with very comfortable chamber pressures which I required with the use of the Rem 700 receiver. Its barrel has become pretty long in the tooth and has some heat cracking in it now so its to rough for the 200 gr ULDs at this velocity. As such, I have swapped out to two other bullets. For long range shooting I use the 175 gr SMK loaded right at 3340 fps in the 26" barrel length. Again, this is a good comfortable load. A bit higher pressure then the 200 gr load but PLENTY acceptable pressures for even a Rem 700 based rifle. In my ballistic testing, I have to use a BC of .680 with the 175 gr SMK to get drop charts to accurately match up with actual bullet trajectories. Pretty impressive ballistically out of a 10 lb rifle ready to hunt with. For most of my big game hunting chores I use the 160 gr Accubond loaded to 3420 fps at similiar chamber pressures. Certainly not as potent as the heaiver bullets ballistically but its a very accurate load and plenty for hunting out to even 800 yards and its a very good bullet for closer range impacts so its a good all around choice for out to moderate range hunting. I list these numbers for a comparision. My Raptor LRSS with a 30" barrel length will easily surpass what the 200 gr ULD RBBT will be able to survive. We have to limit muzzle velocity to around 3300 fps with this bullet or you will have bullet integrity problems. We do not have this problem with the 175 gr SMK as it will handle MUCH more velocity but does give up a bit of terminal performance. I have tested the 175 gr SMK to over 3550 fps out of the Raptor LRSS. In testing, the 7mm AM will drop around 25-28 fps going from 30" down to 27". So you would be looking at a velocity of around 3465 to 3475 fps in the 27" Raptor Stalker on average. The 160 gr Accubond has been tested at 3600 fps in the Raptor LRSS although I prefer to see velocity in the 3575 fps range for top end loads. +3500 fps in the Stalker should be pretty easy. I have not tested the 140 gr Accubond in the Raptors but with the strength of this rifle, I would be surpised if you would not see well over 3600 fps in the Stalker model and possibly pushing 3700 fps in the LRSS. This bullet would be a bit of a waste in the big LRSS model but for those that wanted a laser flat shooting bullet in the Stalker for basically no or very little holdover shooting out to 500 yards on lighter big game, this would be a very practical choice. In this customers rifle, I may give the 190 gr Matrix VLD bullet a run and see what it will handle. Since its based on the J-4 jacket, I am sure it will be limited to the same 3300 fps velocity ceiling as the 180 gr Berger VLD and 200 gr ULD RBBT from Wildcat Bullets. Even at the reduced 3300 fps velocity however, it would still be a very impressive bullet choice for the long range hunter. I will post results of tests hopefully early next week. [/QUOTE]
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