O.K., I measured my cases and decided that 0.002" expansion was enough. I chickened out. So I just backtracked to 105 grains: Just three shots with each powder charge specified.

RL-15
F-215 primer
QualCart brass
Barnes Original RNSP 500 grains
80 to 85 degrees F
COL 3.746", no crimp
25" barrel
(These are a starting point for future hunting load development with suitable bullets.)

105 grains RL-15 >>> 2424 fps average ... Extreme Spread 29 fps
106 g >>> 2444 fps ... ES 8 fps
107 g >>> 2460 fps ... ES 41 fps
108 g >>> 2502 fps ... ES 16 fps
109 g >>> 2535 fps ... ES 19 fps
110 g >>> 2565 fps ... ES 30 fps
111 g >>> 2579 fps ... ES 12 fps
112 g >>> 2608 fps ... ES 7 fps
113 g >>> 2625 fps ... ES 25 fps
114 g >>> 2650 fps ... ES 13 fps
115 g >>> 2685 fps ... ES 13 fps

There was still air space in all the above loads. The longer X-Bullets and monolithics would go well with this roomy case.

Yes, I chickened out and didn't go any higher than the 115 grains. No need for it. Had to save my shoulder for the 9.25# 45 Lapua.
Aloha

Ron,
Any picts of the 45 Lapua with some of the other bar buddies - 416 Rigby, 470 Mbogo, 510 RAB, etc?

Regards,
Jeff Pfeifer

DaggaRon: "There was still air space in all the above loads. The longer X-Bullets and monolithics would go well with this roomy case."

Yes, they would. Your fps increments are steady. Looks to me as though you can go still further with the 500's. Hell of a good case, that.

[ 06-29-2003, 06:06: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

Pfeifer,
Excuse me if I can't get to play with cameras and posting pictures right now. Maybe later.

Nickudu,
That data does very closely approximate a straight line on the X and Y axes.

If you graph it and draw the line, you get:
2760 fps with 118 grains
2786 fps with 119 grains

Funny things happen at the high end. Velocities might jump even higher, or fall off unexpectedly. I don't want to abuse my rifle any more than I have, and I don't think the loads I showed were excessive in my gun.

This is a slightly fast rifle, beyond the 1" longer (25") barrel. Dave Estergaard has good data at his web site:

www.470mbogo.com

I suspect that filling the case more with longer monometals (solids or expanders of any type) would be excellent, and make for even more uniform velocities across the range of loads.
Aloha

It's not easy finding bullets for these calibers, especially long-for-caliber softs. Seems if you do find them, the next question is what velocity were they designed for, in that most were likely intended for use in the N.E. rifles @ substantially lower velocity. Without sufficient demand, I suppose it's gonna stay that way. The solids, we can always have made up, I guess. A 550 grain "XLC" and Super Solid would be sweet for this little beauty.

I agree, Nick. I am not the biggest fan of Barnes X's in the little calibres (cuz none of my rifles seem to like them), but a 550gr XLC would be one heckuva bullet for the 470 Mbogo!!

With all the potential that roomy case has, it seems such a waste to be limited to 500 grain bullets from the major manufacturers.

I'd be pretty happy about a 550 or 580 grain A-frame too.

Canuck

Why, hell's bells, y'all, what is really needed is a 600 grain Triple-Shock X-Bullet and a 600 grain Bridger!

Seriously, you are right, monometal softs and solids around 550 grains at 2400 fps would "ultimize" this ballistic machine.

Dave had a 540 bridger load at 2400 fps MV, IIRC.

Notice that I only refer to GSC in the past tense? However I still have some of their FN and HV in 500 grainers, hoarded away. The 470 Mbogo is definitely the best 470 for GSC's, which, alas, seems to be a thing of the past.

I have had a few 600 grain Barnes originals, but they don't seem to be making those rnsp's anymore. Too fragile for 470 Mbogo power anyway.
Aloha