In hopes of more handload experiments

Intercooler · November 15 2012 09:15:05 AM MST

Their are some interesting different bullets out there which haven't been explored such as Winchester and Berry's offer. Not everyone has a place or gel to do testing but if you get a box of bullets and can spare a couple, Chopinbloc I'm sure will work them up and fire them.

Raggedyman · November 15 2012 11:13:13 AM MST

I'd be happy to, but I can either just load a few at moderate charges and test only those or I can do a real work up to get to higher speeds, which would take 25 rounds or so. I like to back off the book max by about 1 gr and work up in 0.2 gr increments. Each charge weight needs 5 rounds to get a good sense of what the velocities are doing so that puts the total work up at 25 rounds. I doubt anyone would want to give me a quarter box of bullets and I'm certainly not willing to shoot anyone else's hand loads.

Intercooler · November 15 2012 12:17:23 PM MST

I thought most bullets come in 1000 packs but don't reload. The Berry bullets would be neat to see and I need to get an all Copper to you. I was waiting on Kevin but may just grab a box of Buffalo Bore.

REDLINE · November 15 2012 04:13:46 PM MST

Plus bullets offered by Magtech that no one ever talks about.

Yondering · November 15 2012 07:39:40 PM MST

I tested a number of Magtech hollow points about 10 years ago; they were similar in performance to Montana Gold or other generic hollow points. In other words, some expansion, generally with the jacket coming off early, nothing very impressive.

REDLINE · November 15 2012 07:41:17 PM MST

Quote from: Yondering on November 15 2012 07:39:40 PM MST
I tested a number of Magtech hollow points about 10 years ago; they were similar in performance to Montana Gold or other generic hollow points. In other words, some expansion, generally with the jacket coming off early, nothing very impressive.

You tested their solid copper line too?

Yondering · November 15 2012 07:51:20 PM MST

No, just the traditional hollow points. As far as I know, they didn't have the solid copper stuff at that time. Only Barnes and those Taurus Hex bullets were available to me then. (The Taurus was made by Barnes, I'm pretty sure. They worked well.)

REDLINE · November 15 2012 08:16:27 PM MST

In 10mm Auto I would like to see an expansion capability comparison and penetration depth copmarison between both the 125gr Barnes XPB and the 130gr Magtech Copper JHP from a bone stock G20 loaded to a safe maximum the G20 can handle toward velocity of each.

Raggedyman · November 16 2012 09:58:06 AM MST

I'd still like to test some all copper but I'm less interested now that I've seen the velocity you posted for them. They look like .40 S&W speeds with 10mm pressure. I presume it's because of the long bearing surface.

REDLINE · November 16 2012 02:02:39 PM MST

I didn't post a velocity for them. The solid copper bullets in 125-130 grains can be loaded to some pretty decent velocity. Just not in direct comparison to the likes of a 135gr Nosler lead core bullet. Still quite respectable though.

DM1906 · November 16 2012 11:01:39 PM MST

Quote from: Raggedyman on November 16 2012 09:58:06 AM MST
I'd still like to test some all copper but I'm less interested now that I've seen the velocity you posted for them. They look like .40 S&W speeds with 10mm pressure. I presume it's because of the long bearing surface.

Non-lead bullets are not very handgun-friendly. As long as you don't try to compare them to their lead counterparts, they do pretty well. They are long, about 135% by weight. My 10mm hunting round is the 155 gr. Tac-XP at 1500 FPS. If I had a lead option, I wouldn't mess with them. They are accurate and flat shooting, but lack terminal performance options. At the same time, the Hornady Mono-Flex .30-30 bullet is about as good as it gets, for .30-30. 140 gr. at 2600 FPS from my rifle. My son's .50 ML does well with Barnes sabots. In most of CA, it's only legal to shoot 2 legged critters with lead bullets.

Raggedyman · November 17 2012 02:22:54 AM MST

Quote from: REDLINE on November 16 2012 02:02:39 PM MST
I didn't post a velocity for them. The solid copper bullets in 125-130 grains can be loaded to some pretty decent velocity. Just not in direct comparison to the likes of a 135gr Nosler lead core bullet. Still quite respectable though.

I'm sorry. I must have mistaken you for someone else. Might have even been a different 10mm forum. I was just reading a thread a few days ago where someone had posted data for Barnes copper bullets and the velocities were about what you would expect out of .40 S&W for lead bullets of the same weight.

REDLINE · November 17 2012 02:35:39 AM MST

No problem.

doverpack12 · January 10 2013 03:44:43 PM MST

I'm about to start reloading 10mm and have a box of Berry's 180 gr FP. I would gladdly send 25 to someone to do some testing since there isn't much out there for info on these.

Raggedyman · January 12 2013 10:28:47 AM MST

How fast are you looking to push these? If you want a sort of medium, 1,200ish load, I'd be happy to just back off from what I've done with other 180 gr bullets and I'd only need a couple to do the test. If you want to push them around 1,300ish, I'd have to do a proper workup.