Started 10% below book as Hawk recommends. Used Reloader-25 in 80,83,85,87 and 90 grns.I seated teh bullets -40 of the lands. Got a .410" 4 shot group with the 80 grn and 1/2" with the 83.I cleaned the rifle between strings.The other loads started opening up a bit. the 90 grn load was starting to flatten the primer a little and grouped about 1 1/4". Will post when I get some game shots

Ted S what jacket thickness are your Hawks?

Ted,

Are the Hawks made on copper tubing. If so, they should have a small hole in the bullet base.

Mike

Sounds like 90 grains is obviously beyond max but that 83 grains is your winner.

What were your velocities with these loads and how did they compare to the reloading manual you were using?

[ 08-20-2002, 12:36: Message edited by: Roger Rothschild ]

Hi all. No chrono. The bullets are a semiroundnose with .035 jackets. Hawk doesn't recommend any loads,just to use recommended data for like bullets and reduce by 10%. I may try H-1000 powder or H-22 with any of the lighter bullets.

Mike, the Hawks are unbonded tubing bullets using soft copper and (I believe) pure lead.

I have gotten generous expansion even at 2300 to 2400 fps in the 0,035 inch jacket thickness in .308 caliber (220 gr) with the lead core extruding out the top almost completely, so I expect they may go to bits at .338 RUM velocities and close ranges. That is not to suggest that they are no good, only that I think they may not be the first choice for brown bear in the alders at 10 feet. This sort of bullet works best at more sedate velocity.

Harald,

Thanks for that on Hawk bullets.

Mike

[ 08-21-2002, 15:21: Message edited by: Mike375 ]