Heaviest bullet to 4,000FPS

[Pointman]

You ever hear the phrase "the whole 9yds"? It's because A-10s have 9yards of ammo feeding each gun

I believe this was "coined" in WWII when describing the following: The bullets for the machine guns used in American combat planes of WW2 and since were in chains twenty-seven feet in length. Thus if a pilot was able to fire all his bullets off at one target he was said to have given his adversary 'the full nine yards'.

 

[wonderman4]

Roy developed the 30-378 Weatherby cartridge for the US military in 1959. Uncle Sam wanted a cartridge that would launch a light bullet at 6,000 FPS. When Roy finally got the right propellant for the task at hand, the cartridge exceeded the military requirement.

.30-378 Weatherby Magnum - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[judgebill]

I have an imperfect memory of this but a WWII Ordnance officer named
Walter Nass was hired by Weatherby to try this. He used an 80 grain bullet made from some exotic metal and massive amounts of powder and was able to exceed 6K fps. Impractical as hell because the bullet practically evaporated when it hit the target. It was the Navy, as I recall hearing from Nass. Walt didi a lot of forensic work for my law office "back in the day".

 

[JTComfort]

You ever hear the phrase "the whole 9yds"? It's because A-10s have 9yards of ammo feeding each gun

Now you sent me searching... A few years ago, a docent at the National Air/Space Udvar-Hazy Center associated the phrase w/ the P47 Thunderbolt, claiming that it carried 9 yards of ammunition in each wing feeding the Jug's carried 8 .50s. According the Wikipedia, the phrase was most widely used in the 80s and 90s, which puts it in the timeframe for the Warthogs. However, the first idiomatic use of the phrase was in 1907 relative to a football game in Southern Indiana - predating the Warthog and the Thunderbolt by a couple of years. ;-)

 

[del2les]

On a slightly different note, I have loaded 30-06 sabot rounds with 50 gr bullets at over 5k fps.
And for the opposite of heaviest bullet at 4k fps, I have swaged 17 gr bullets in .224, and when loaded in a 222 Rem pushed by 24gr of Herc2400, I chrono'd them at 5,200-5,250 fps. Impacts under 200yds on small varmints were fascinating

 

[ATTkid]

I believe this was "coined" in WWII when describing the following: The bullets for the machine guns used in American combat planes of WW2 and since were in chains twenty-seven feet in length. Thus if a pilot was able to fire all his bullets off at one target he was said to have given his adversary 'the full nine yards'.

Absolutely right! .50 caliber aircraft machine guns, in fighters and bombers, we're fed from chain linked rounds measuring 27 feet, or 9 yards.

 

[rdsii64]

You ever hear the phrase "the whole 9yds"? It's because A-10s have 9yards of ammo feeding each gun

You are half right. Its actually because the 50 cal belts for WWII aircraft were 9 yards long.

 

[hawg chaser]

I have an imperfect memory of this but a WWII Ordnance officer named
Walter Nass was hired by Weatherby to try this. He used an 80 grain bullet made from some exotic metal and massive amounts of powder and was able to exceed 6K fps. Impractical as hell because the bullet practically evaporated when it hit the target. It was the Navy, as I recall hearing from Nass. Walt didi a lot of forensic work for my law office "back in the day".

Roy Weatherby was part of an experiment that took a 378 Weatherby and necked it down to 22 caliber. I don't remember all the numbers, but it was ridiculously fast.

 

[shorthair1]

Roy Weatherby was part of an experiment that took a 378 Weatherby and necked it down to 22 caliber. I don't remember all the numbers, but it was ridiculously fast.

The eargasplitenloudenboomer as it was known. Many barrels were shot out before they found an accurate load given the lack of suitable powders at the time.

 

[1mechanic]

Didn't they also make a joke and necked it down to a needle?

 

[scope-eye]

Curious: Any meat damage?

There is no meat to retrieve it is scatered all over the place with the rest of they end trails.LOL

Dean

 

[scope-eye]

You have put together the pieces well. Using slower twist with lighter bullets helps.

Yes thankyou all I can say is it did not happen over night, there was a lot of trial and disapointment.
But when you finally find it or figure it out there is no feeling like it.

Dean

 

[scope-eye]

I always went with Bob Hagel's philosophy and pretty much with his loads, starting 10% lower and working up. He loaded for hunting and the most you could get safely out of a caliber and specific rifle.

That was and is pretty much my approch and has always worked for me, I have found that Hodgdons loads on there site are reduced loads and get anywhere close to what they claim "If there loads were Beer they would be lite Beer" LOL

Dean

 

[scope-eye]

Thanks scope-eye!

Your Welcome any time anyone wants to pick my grey matter I am always available.

Dean