I've followed the threads on avoiding monolithic bullets in doubles, but have a related question. I ran across an article by Ed Matunas in which he cautioned against shooting steel clad conventional solids in volume, saying he's seen barrels shot out in 600 hundred rounds or less. He's talking about modern bolt actions, not doubles. Anybody got any real life experience to validate this one way or the other?

Bob

bobc, I don't think you have to worry about steel jacketed solids in your double, and if they won't hurt a double, they will not hurt a bolt rifle! They have been used in doubles as long as jacketed solids have been in existance! They were designed for double rifles. This does not apply to monolithic solids,in doubles, however, they are a no no, but in bolt guns they are OK as well. You just need to back off on the powder load, and work up slowly, as they will give higher pressures with the same load useing a soft point!

The steel jacketed solid is coated with gilding metel, and is filled with soft lead, so engraveing is the same as any jacketed bullet. However, the steel id thick at the nose causeing it to hold it's shape! The Woodlieghs are made to the old shapes, and hardness, and are very good bullets!

[ 06-03-2003, 20:25: Message edited by: MacD37 ]

Thanks, Mac. There's a good sale on including 300 grain 375 Hornady solid blems. Since I won't be shooting an elephant this year, wanted to see if they might make a good cheap practice load. bob

bobc

I also remember reading Ed Matunas on that subject.

I also read a few years ago that when the 50 BMG was first being used for target shooting that lathe turned bullets from brass caused extreme barrel wear.

It would be hard to find real world experience on guilding metal clad steel jacketed solids.

Matunas also struck me as a bloke who went into the mode of extreme conservatism. In addition he appeared to base many of his opinions on extrapolating from limited experience.

In short, I would feel Ok shooting Hornady or Woodleigh solids.

Mike

Another thing to consider is that CM barrels are more wear resistant than SS barrels (not the same as erosionresistance..). Therefore if one intend to shoot a lot of steeljacketed solids or mono-solids a CM barrel should be preferred. Dan Lilja also recommend on his webpage that (in 50 BMG caliber) if you will shoot a lot of monolithics then you should go with CM barrels and not SS.