New Stuff

[nralifer]

Wanted to post a couple of projects that we are working on at Badlands. The pic below gives a glimpse. The round on the left with the long ICBM2 is a 338LM for comparison. The middle round is a 308 Win with a new 125 gr .308 bullet with a specially designed hollow point and tip intended for reliable expansion at very low (<1600 fps) velocity impacts. How low awaits gel testing as soon as blizzards around here go away. The one on the right is a 338 LM case necked up to a .373" ID to accommodate our 300 gr .375 BD2 bullet. It is intended as an all around large game, including dangerous African game, capable of both < 100 yd use out to about 800 yds. That bullet has a G1 BC of .620 that in the modified 338 LM case we hope can go 2900 fps from a 26" barrel and be usable in CIP length magazines. At that speed it will have 5600 ft-lbs of energy, be capable of expanding reliably at 800 yds under standard sea level conditions, and have a residual energy of 2225 ft-lbs. We have a couple of custom rifle makers anxious to use this case in their rifles. Getting a reamer made by PT&G. Also designed an expander that can expand the .338 neck in one step to .373 ID that will be made available to those who wish to roll their own. We will keep everyone posted.

 

[338 dude]

Wanted to post a couple of projects that we are working on at Badlands. The pic below gives a glimpse. The round on the left with the long ICBM2 is a 338LM for comparison. The middle round is a 308 Win with a new 125 gr .308 bullet with a specially designed hollow point and tip intended for reliable expansion at very low (<1600 fps) velocity impacts. How low awaits gel testing as soon as blizzards around here go away. The one on the right is a 338 LM case necked up to a .373" ID to accommodate our 300 gr .375 BD2 bullet. It is intended as an all around large game, including dangerous African game, capable of both < 100 yd use out to about 800 yds. That bullet has a G1 BC of .620 that in the modified 338 LM case we hope can go 2900 fps from a 26" barrel and be usable in CIP length magazines. At that speed it will have 5600 ft-lbs of energy, be capable of expanding reliably at 800 yds under standard sea level conditions, and have a residual energy of 2225 ft-lbs. We have a couple of custom rifle makers anxious to use this case in their rifles. Getting a reamer made by PT&G. Also designed an expander that can expand the .338 neck in one step to .373 ID that will be made available to those who wish to roll their own. We will keep everyone posted.

What happened to the pics? I got nothing.

 

[Swinehunt74]

No Pics

 

[nralifer]

What happened to the pics? I got nothing.

What happened to the pics? I got nothing.

Sorry. Had to take the dogs out and never got back to it. It's on the post now

 

[BEEMAN]

Tagging in.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Wanted to post a couple of projects that we are working on at Badlands. The pic below gives a glimpse. The round on the left with the long ICBM2 is a 338LM for comparison. The middle round is a 308 Win with a new 125 gr .308 bullet with a specially designed hollow point and tip intended for reliable expansion at very low (<1600 fps) velocity impacts. How low awaits gel testing as soon as blizzards around here go away. The one on the right is a 338 LM case necked up to a .373" ID to accommodate our 300 gr .375 BD2 bullet. It is intended as an all around large game, including dangerous African game, capable of both < 100 yd use out to about 800 yds. That bullet has a G1 BC of .620 that in the modified 338 LM case we hope can go 2900 fps from a 26" barrel and be usable in CIP length magazines. At that speed it will have 5600 ft-lbs of energy, be capable of expanding reliably at 800 yds under standard sea level conditions, and have a residual energy of 2225 ft-lbs. We have a couple of custom rifle makers anxious to use this case in their rifles. Getting a reamer made by PT&G. Also designed an expander that can expand the .338 neck in one step to .373 ID that will be made available to those who wish to roll their own. We will keep everyone posted.

I like the concept. Maybe you should have made it into a 375-338LMAI with a 40 degree shoulder. Either way think would be good for DG in Affrica with the right bullet.

 

[nralifer]

I like the concept. Maybe you should have made it into a 375-338LMAI with a 40 degree shoulder. Either way think would be good for DG in Affrica with the right bullet.

Certainly could have, but both rifle makers thought the LM version was easier to deal with. Also, since they would be used on dangerous game using a bolt gun, reliable feeding is a must. It has so much power already that we felt the extra power of an AI would not add much. It has an 800 yd range, but realistically it will most commonly be used within 500 yds, and then on plains game. Doubt anybody wants to shoot a Cape Buffalo or Kodiak Bear at much beyond 150-200 yds. The idea is to take one gun for everything on the tag list. Although the 300 gr bullet would be optimal the 275BD2 seems to be preferred by most of our customers. That bullet we anticipate being able to shoot close to 3100 fps. Both bullets have very high BCs for .375 hunting bullets making them suitable for 500+ yd use and because of the larger bore will go faster than the corresponding .338 bullet of the same weight. Being all copper they are as tough and penetrate as well as a brass solid with a lot more damage through the wound channel.

 

[shootnpoke]

So can you tell us some more about the 125gr 308 bullet? Length, BC? Would like to try them out. I would expect some impressive velocity numbers with them.

 

[nralifer]

So can you tell us some more about the 125gr 308 bullet? Length, BC? Would like to try them out. I would expect some impressive velocity numbers with them.

I should in about 1 week on load data with velocity numbers. Weather here still bad. Getting 5-6" of snow right now, but it is not likely to persist and should melt completely by Saturday. Can tell you preliminarily 51 gr of LVR is safe from 24" barrel and SRP brass so speed should be at 3200 or so. Once I'm able to get a radar on it, will also be able to measure G7 BC and get a max speed.

 

[billcaldwell]

That's exciting stuff!!! Please keep the info coming. Powders recommended?

 

[bsnyder]

@nralifer what are you plans for the low impact velocity line? if you can expand on what calibers you plan to take that design to along with bullet weights that you see fitting with each. Example being you chose 125 for 30 cal. Will there be a heavier option for guys who run big 30's or 150-170 grain weights for the bigger 7's ect.

Thanks for your time.

 

[nralifer]

@nralifer what are you plans for the low impact velocity line? if you can expand on what calibers you plan to take that design to along with bullet weights that you see fitting with each. Example being you chose 125 for 30 cal. Will there be a heavier option for guys who run big 30's or 150-170 grain weights for the bigger 7's ect.

Thanks for your time.

All this is gel testing dependent but we see the 205 g .308 bullet also as a possibility for subsonic suppressed hunting rifles. The 125 gr .308 was primarily for the Blackout but it may have uses in the 308win as well. We have a couple of modifications of the hollow point internal structure that could be tailored for more specific applications. Just need to do some testing.

 

[nralifer]

I like the concept. Maybe you should have made it into a 375-338LMAI with a 40 degree shoulder. Either way think would be good for DG in Affrica with the right bullet.

The bullet is the key. That 300 gr is expanding and penetrates like a solid as well as has long range capabilities with a G1BC of 0.620. No other bullet intended for the 375 H&H or Ruger can claim all those capabilities.

 

[nralifer]

I like the concept. Maybe you should have made it into a 375-338LMAI with a 40 degree shoulder. Either way think would be good for DG in Affrica with the right bullet.

The guys at Jarret Rifles have used the 300 gr .375 BD2 bullet fired from a 375 H&H case in a recent trip to Africa. That bullet was able to single shot kill 2 Cape Buffalo and one Hippocampus with no follow up shots needed as well as several Plains Game taken at 600 yds. No solids were needed. The bullet proved to be sufficient for dangerous game and plains game from the same rifle. The performance surprised their guide. The pics below show the two Buffs and a recovered bullet.