7 GNR bullet test.

Mark Conner
[subject]
Sunday, November 28, 2021, 18:01 (1712 days ago)

I cast for most everything I shoot anymore, and the 7 GNR is going to be no exception. Wanting what I thought would be a good rock chuck bullet I ordered a 288-135 with HP pins from NOE.

Casting this from 50/50, WW/Pb and water dropping I hoped to get a nose that would shear off like little pieces of shrapnel leaving the base to drive on, and I think that is exactly what I got.

This barrel is very accurate and I know this is going to be a great combo for chucks and coyotes.

A very light load of IMR 4064 sends this bullet on it's way.

The exit hole is obvious, but you can also see the exits of three shards of the nose.
[image][image][image]

That looks great! I cast for most but I have holes

WB
[subject]
Sunday, November 28, 2021, 18:31 (1712 days ago) @ Mark Conner

in my calibers, some I want to but have not yet. 7mm is one since I have several and really like the bore. .243 is another and I wanted to cast for the .240 Raptor. I do have a 6mm 95 gr. FNGC mould and need to proceed with the program. That bullet have more nose than the 7mm but what's one millimeter. It's very encouraging.

NOE HP moulds are great

steve todd
[subject]
Sunday, November 28, 2021, 22:15 (1712 days ago) @ Mark Conner

Used with GT Bullets alloy, and then powder coated, they expand really well. I wish i had more time to cast.

The old Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook always

WB
[subject]
Monday, November 29, 2021, 08:48 (1711 days ago) @ Mark Conner

showed somewhat mediocre velocities using very fast powders. I always wondered why?! Dick Lee in his wonderful thick loading book published that most classic alloys gave out at around 25k psi. Not sure if that was gas check or not. But his point is you are fine below that point of alloy failure. Also accuracy seemed highest just below that point.

I have experimented and found I can get 50% higher velocities on naked cast gas check bullets using the slowest powders practical for the case capacity. In some cases rivaling factory jacketed speeds. Powder coating takes that to a new level. You basically have a "jacketed" bullet. It's a plastic poly jacket but enhances the alloy enough you get much greater speeds before failure.

Using slow powders I've had great success with .458 Win,.416 Rigby, .378 GNR, .338 Winchester, .25-35 Win. and .218 BEE. It is a delight that I can get factory speeds from cast bullets. As you are working, getting some type of expansion is the next hurdle. I've cold swaged HP into some bullets using the LEE sizer die as a tool to ensure concentric alignment. I just need to get back at it.

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