I know there's been some testing with these bullets over the years posted here. Results have been mixed it seems, as well as opinions.
I've been sitting on a few of their offerings for several years now, and am finally going to do my best on giving them a decent test of my own. I've decided to make a thread here for anyone interested. The info I provide will be non-biased as much as possible and just the results/data that I get and interpret.
So starting out, these are their .308" 180gr Rebated Boat tail Aluminum Tip (RBAT), now discontinued (that's how long I've had them lol), and their 175gr Rebated Boat tail Steel Tip (RBST). The steel tips are blued.
First off, I know the advertised BC on ALCOs is WAY inflated and I will true them as required after load development. It's unfortunate and a real frustration I have about them. I know this is a very common complaint among others as well, as it should be.
This bullet has the potential of expanding very well to impact velocities as low as 1200fps due to its very large frontal area behind the large tip, and its large cavity that it's inserted into. Upon impact, the force of the tip being pushed back into the rest of the bullet will allow the bullet to swell and immediately release the tip. The bullet will then expand very reliably and very significantly, producing very disproportionate to caliber size wounding. Adequate sectional density, especially with higher impact velocity and impact resistance shots, is crucial so that over-expansion and under-penetration does not occur. Often times the mistake is made of using a version with insufficient sectional density, along with impacting too fast or with too much resistance upon impact that the result is over-expansion and under-penetration. I'm doing initial testing with these weights in a 308w for that reason.
Moving on, I did some preliminary number crunching on QuickLoad and found that although I'll get slightly compressed loads, RL-15.5 looks to be most promising for top speed within safe pressures and at a potential OBT node.
I have posted ballistic charts below to the 1200fps threshold at the advertised BC, and then a full .100 value lower for a more realistic expectation (which could still be on the high end). MV is based on initial QL predictions. I'll update the charts later when I get actual MV numbers, and again after trueing BC.
I've also included some cross-sections of the bullets and next to other popular options for reference as well.
I'm currently in Idaho for work, but plan on getting some of each loaded up for initial velocity readings next so I can calibrate QL and then start finding the actual nodes with each.
I'll keep the thread updated on the progress.
Left to right: 195gr TMK, 200gr Dynamic Research Technologies Terminal Shock, 135gr Apex-Outdoors Afterburner, 180gr ALCO RBAT, 175gr ALCO RBST.
I've been sitting on a few of their offerings for several years now, and am finally going to do my best on giving them a decent test of my own. I've decided to make a thread here for anyone interested. The info I provide will be non-biased as much as possible and just the results/data that I get and interpret.
So starting out, these are their .308" 180gr Rebated Boat tail Aluminum Tip (RBAT), now discontinued (that's how long I've had them lol), and their 175gr Rebated Boat tail Steel Tip (RBST). The steel tips are blued.
First off, I know the advertised BC on ALCOs is WAY inflated and I will true them as required after load development. It's unfortunate and a real frustration I have about them. I know this is a very common complaint among others as well, as it should be.
This bullet has the potential of expanding very well to impact velocities as low as 1200fps due to its very large frontal area behind the large tip, and its large cavity that it's inserted into. Upon impact, the force of the tip being pushed back into the rest of the bullet will allow the bullet to swell and immediately release the tip. The bullet will then expand very reliably and very significantly, producing very disproportionate to caliber size wounding. Adequate sectional density, especially with higher impact velocity and impact resistance shots, is crucial so that over-expansion and under-penetration does not occur. Often times the mistake is made of using a version with insufficient sectional density, along with impacting too fast or with too much resistance upon impact that the result is over-expansion and under-penetration. I'm doing initial testing with these weights in a 308w for that reason.
Moving on, I did some preliminary number crunching on QuickLoad and found that although I'll get slightly compressed loads, RL-15.5 looks to be most promising for top speed within safe pressures and at a potential OBT node.
I have posted ballistic charts below to the 1200fps threshold at the advertised BC, and then a full .100 value lower for a more realistic expectation (which could still be on the high end). MV is based on initial QL predictions. I'll update the charts later when I get actual MV numbers, and again after trueing BC.
I've also included some cross-sections of the bullets and next to other popular options for reference as well.
I'm currently in Idaho for work, but plan on getting some of each loaded up for initial velocity readings next so I can calibrate QL and then start finding the actual nodes with each.
I'll keep the thread updated on the progress.
Left to right: 195gr TMK, 200gr Dynamic Research Technologies Terminal Shock, 135gr Apex-Outdoors Afterburner, 180gr ALCO RBAT, 175gr ALCO RBST.
