So here it is next to my PCP rifle:


I have to wait for suppressor to October...

Now, I have only Lapua factory ammo with 250gr Scenar bullet. It is really bad for hunting. I bought this ammo relatively cheap, so I use it for breaking in, basic sight in, plinking and as a source of brass.

Now, I am in the beginning of longe range hunting load development. I have those bullets for this purpose:

250gr Cutting Edge Lazer bullets ( https://cuttingedgebullets.com...-tipped-hollow-point )
248gr Peregrine VLR4 ( https://besthuntingbullets.com...t-248/2-packaging-50 )

and maybe also 300gr Hornady A-tip ( https://www.hornady.com/bullet...00-gr-a-tip-match#!/ ).

I know A-tip is not hunting bullets, but I want to do this:

Ballistic gel test at muzzle velocity
Ballistic gel test at velocity corresponding to maximum range I want to use it (1200 m or so). Will use reduced load for that purpose.

And if both tests will be satisfactory, I believe it will works good in all that velocity range. Are my presumptions valid?

That bullet has great BC, low wind drift, it has custom drag model in Kestrel with Applied Ballistics, so this is the reason I want to try.

250gr Lazers have also custom drag model in Kestrel with AB, so long range shooting should be maximally simplified too. But not as high BC as A-Tips and almost double wind drift.

Those 248gr VLR4 are what I heard difficult to load development and have not that custom drag model, so only G7 calculation is possible.

What do you think?

For 300gr A-Tips, I will start at 88gr of Reload Swiss 76. Desired velocity is somewhere about 2700 fps. Of course, I will choose the most accurate load regardless of MV.

For 250gr Lazers, I will start at 94 gr of the same powder. Desired velocity is somewhere about
2950-3000 fps, but accuracy first too.

Jiri

Nice setup, thanks for sharing your progress!

quote:

Originally posted by Jiri:
I know A-tip is not hunting bullets..

300 grains at those speeds will kill fine. I've killed plenty of stuff with matchkings. An accurate high BC bullet in the right spot is better than the perfect hunting bullet a foot to the right.

This will probably start an argument, but that's my 2¢. Good luck with the testing, and let us know how it goes.

quote:

300 grains at those speeds will kill fine. I've killed plenty of stuff with matchkings. An accurate high BC bullet in the right spot is better than the perfect hunting bullet a foot to the right.

At the maximum range I want to use it (about 1200 m) the velocity will be 1480 fps or so (with A-Tip). Do you think it will still be good enough?

Jiri

quote:

Originally posted by Jiri:

Ballistic gel test at velocity corresponding to maximum range I want to use it (1200 m or so). Will use reduced load for that purpose.

Saw a video on terminal ballistics by a Hornady engineer the other day.
He mentions that this approach often doesn't produce accurate results. The reason is that, while the velocity of a bullet decreased rapidly (as we all know) the rotational speed doesn't change much.

But if the bullet is launched at a reduced muzzle velocity, the starting rotational speed is lower by the same percentage that the velocity is lower.

According to him (and it makes sense to me) the way a bullet behaves on impact is significantly affected by it's rotational velocity.

If you can shoot well enough to hunt with it at 1200m, you can shoot well enough to hit ballistic gel at that range too.

Peter:

It is interesting. I never realized rotation speed phenomena.

Jiri

for hunting in CA (nonlead) I used this load with good results

275 gr lazer (cutting edge)

91.0gr of H-1000, or 88.0gr of H4831

bobby7321:

Thank you. But my rifle twist is 1:10, so 275 gr Lazer will not be stable.

RS-76 I want to use has similar burning rate as H-1000.

Jiri

got it. mine was 28" Bartlein with 1 in 9.5 twist

Now with suppressor. Firing factory 250gr Lapua Scenar ammo. No hear protection necessary. It is so silent that it will not trigger Labradar. You need The Air Gun Trigger Adapter for this.

https://youtu.be/jrASGdvHdcc

Never use Match bullets on big game; eventually you will regret it.
They are not made for controlled expansion.
I have three 338s; an Arma Lite AR-30, a Ruger RPR and a Savage Precision 110. No recoil on any of them, and lots of noise, which is how I like it.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Never use Match bullets on big game; eventually you will regret it.
They are not made for controlled expansion.
I have three 338s; an Arma Lite AR-30, a Ruger RPR and a Savage Precision 110. No recoil on any of them, and lots of noise, which is how I like it.

Why to have noise if you can avoid it. I can't imagine firing it without suppressor (and with muzzle brake) next to hunting dog for example.

Because shooting rifles makes noise and that is part of the experience. If you want quiet sports, just shoot air rifles, or play video games.
I spend 28 years on tank ranges; noise from machine guns and main gun rounds, is part of it.
I wouldn't get a suppressor even if they were legal where I am.
And I don't hunt with dogs. I do not like dogs.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Because shooting rifles makes noise and that is part of the experience. If you want quiet sports, just shoot air rifles, or play video games.
I spend 28 years on tank ranges; noise from machine guns and main gun rounds, is part of it.
I wouldn't get a suppressor even if they were legal where I am.
And I don't hunt with dogs. I do not like dogs.

Clearly your choice. Not mine.

Also you forgot the smoke. I believe many said that 120 years ago: "Because shooting rifles makes smoke and that is part of the experience. I wouldn't use a smokeless gunpowder even if it was legal where I am."

Hunting close to populated areas, next to dogs and friends is completely different discipline than spending time on military range.

Also don't forget to tell special ops snipers using suppressors they should use air rifles instead

BTW be sure if there is any practical way to silence tank fire it would have been implemented already.

Have a nice day :-)

Jiri