Dear Friends,

I just came back from the range where I had a blast, ( no pun intended...) I wanted to test the 270gr Barnes TSX in relatively cool weather. Here are the details.

Rifle used: Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless 375 H&H

Bullets: 270 Gr Barnes TSX
Cases: Never fired Winchester
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle Magnum
Powder: RE-15

Bullets seated to 3.595"

Temperature this afternoon was -5 degree Celsius or 23 degree Fahrenheit.

The chronograph used was a Competition Electronics Pro Chrono Digital set at 15' from the muzzle.

Elevation was 750'

Here are the observations:


Charge CHE Velocity
------ ----- --------

70.0 Gr .002" 2588 FPS
71.0 Gr .002" 2599 FPS
72.0 Gr .002" 2629 FPS
73.0 Gr .0025" 2666 FPS
74.0 Gr .0025" 2699 FPS
75.0 Gr .0025" 2726 FPS
75.5 Gr .003" 2721 FPS
76.0 Gr .003" 2777 FPS
76.5 Gr .003" 2783 FPS
77.0 Gr .003" 2807 FPS


Now I have to wait a few more months for the weather to warm up so that I can try this same experiment and see what results I get. I am trying to see if RE-15 is a temperature sensitive power or not... I would gladly like to hear from people who might of tried this experiment in the past regarding this powder in particular.

One thing I did notice this afternoon was that the TSX groups got tighter as the velocity increased!!! This might be my moose, bear load for next year... Another thing I noticed is that at 2800 FPS, the girl barks!!!

Cheers,

Maurice

Thanks for the info Maurice. I'm thinking of building a 375 load with this bullet & the Swift A-Frame. I will test several powders and shoot for accuracy & more importantly, a ballistic test of each. I keep going back & forth on which I think I will favor.

I have not tried any other powder since RE15 has always worked great for me in that caliber. As for accuracy, how about below an inch at 100yrds @ 2800 FPS... Not to shabby I would say

I have used a similar load in my remington 700,76 grains rl-15, 270 grain TSX. I have not chronographed this load but it is very acurate, 3 shots 1 inch group at 100 yards, and is absolutly devastating on moose, but i really want a grizzy tag to try them on.

..........I worked up a load , quite some time ago with RL15 in the H&H with first style of X bullets .....I used Fed 215 primers as I remember ..from a 24" barreled Remington 700 ....Accuracy was good but 77 grains was TOO HOT and I backed the load down to 75 gr ..I remember the load very distinctly because 3 shots were 2777 fps ,. I thot the chronograph wasn,t recording so I took 2 shots over it with the 22 and they were on then more shots with the 375 and they were like 2782 and 2779 ....fps ....I was very suprised ....But still I thot it too hot even @58 degrees Far...75 gr gave 2710fps and was very smooth .......The TSX would have made the difference I,m sure ........Thanks for the report ......If its not too hot that is a perfact load but RL15 is a little more affected by temp than the Hodgdon extreem line ...but less than ball powders .......Hope it works for you .........

Thanks for sharing your info gumboot. I can imagine that close to 2800 fps with the regular X-bullet is on the warm side. Its incredible what the right bullet technology combined with the right powder will do. I agree with most of you out there that another 100fps won't do much, and that most game on the planet could not tell the difference between the two, whoever, if it can be done safely why not... Us North Americans like big engines and fast cars I'm sure that I will have to back off one full grain, maybe two as summer approaches.

So long,

I got the same rifle, but bedded in a McMillan Supergrade stock, and I shoot the same load as you do. Once I settled on 77g (under the same impression as you on the more powder = more velocity and tighter groups) my rifle hasn't shot a group over an inch yet.

That rifle is ready for spring brown bear . . .

Moose-Hunter,

Thanks for your reply. By the way, if you show me yours, I will show you mine

Ok, I had to say it lol...

Sorry in advance for the folks that already seen it...

I kinda like that blue stock

What stock is that? It looks good. I'll snap some better pictures of mine and post them here.

The stock is from Accurate Innovations. Its a laminate with a full length aluminum bedding block, aluminum pillars and a titanium pin in the wrist area. It is very strong and perhaps heavy for some. As far as I'm concerned, I could not of been happier. It shoots great, handles great, and it has looks to kill

Here is the link to their website: http://www.accurateinnovations.com/

I have one of thier walnut stocks on my 458 Lott. They are very nice stocks and hold up to the big boomers better than standard wood. My 375 wears an ultralight kevlar stock, functional but not near a pretty. here is my AI stocked Lott.

That is one pretty rifle TheBear. Congrats!

Enigma, thanks for sharing, and thanks for the link to the stock maker.

Enigma and TheBear, I don't see crossbolts, you think their bedding system eliminates the need?

Thanks again

Enigma ...Thats a pretty rifle, well set up .....I really feel that 2750-2850 are ideal velocities for general purpose Alaska hunting and I would like to get my friends /[ I gave that 375 to a friend ] 375 up to an easy 2750 w/ 270 gr TSX .........That was my goal with my 9.3x64 Bren. with the 250 gr TSX and I accomplished it well ........I would much rather have 50 -100 fps than not .........TBear78 you know I really like your LOTT ....Perhaps this summer we can do some shooting at the range ...............Hopefully my 416 will arrive in the mail soon and that will be one of the ones I,ll bring ............maybe I could get to shoot your 9.3x62 if I promise not to drool on it

Sounds good to me gumboot, We can shoot the 416, the lott, and lightweight 375 with breaks in between with the 9.3.

JPenn-

The Accurate inovations stock has a full length aluminum bedding block that has numerous recoil lugs and mates very well in the stock. along with very strong glue to keep it from ever moving. They also have a titanium pin to renforce the wrist of the stock. I also fully glass bedded my action into the AI stock, I don't think it is going anywhere. If anything this should be stronger than crossbolts. I figure its all about surface area, the more surface area the recoil energy is spread over the better the stock will handle recoil.





It has proven to be a very strong stock. Here is a link to thier website and you can get further information.
Accurate Innovations website

Thank you everyone for your contributions and kind words.

As far as the strength of the stock JPen, well, I'm not a gunsmith or engineer, but logic would tell me that this stock is the strongest laminated on the market, period. They drilled and inserted a titanium pin in the wrist. That aluminum block has a few recoil lugs which are spaced a few inches apart. The CNC inletting in the stock is made to accept that aluminum block, which is then epoxied together. Two aluminum pillars are pressed in the stock and also epoxied tight. I'm willing to bet that this stock would handle the 577 T-Rex without a sweat! I you want, I can always post pictures of the inletting if you are interested...

Cheers,

The Bear beat me to it... I won't have to take my gun apart to take any pictures now lol.

what is the weight of a stock like that say compared to a McMillian hunter stock... They look real nice..I may need one of those

RL-15 is a good powder for temperature insensitivity. Good enough for US Army study to approve it for the .308 sniper loads.
The only thing that might be better in the temperature department and near-same burn rate is Varget Extreme by Hodgdon. I still use RL-15 in the .375 H&H.