450Bushmaster.net

Hey all,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

I finally got a chance to make and shoot 300 gr Lee gas checked bullets. I used regular wheel weights. I stove heated them to 450F for an hour and then quenched them in the cold water. Waited about 3 weeks before I loaded them so the alloy can harden enough. The bullets were sized to .454" and gas checked.
I used Lil'Gun. See the pictures below. Shot at 75 yards. I have a 2.5x scout scope on the rifle. I inspected the barrel and noticed NO leading.

Interesting that your groups seem to have 3 clustered and then two higher. All vertical dissperion. At 75 yards, this has nothing to do with velocity, sd or es. How are you holding the rifle?

I started using targets that have multiple aiming points and shoot two shots at each. After the first two, I break away for a very short time and then engage two shots again at another aiming point. I get a better idea of what is happening, meaning -- is it me or the gun. If I have 3 - 2 shot clusters all the same and then have one shot in a cluster that deviates greatly -- it must be me! I found that when I was shooting 5 shot groups I was getting fatigued -- especially with the recoil. I started anticipating the kick towards the end. Guess that is why some use the lead sled.

It is a little odd how often I see 3 shot groups in a five shot string of cast boolits in this cartridge. I always wonder if the two odd shots had a specific reason. Bullet pull? Poor ignition? If you had a spotter so you could ID the particular shot to it's velocity it might shed some light on this.

I'm not a fan of the fatigue theory as I can still put quite a few of the FTXs into a hole. That 20 shot group is actually two different shooters, ten rounds each off the rest at a little local range in NY. The guy at the next bench was watching the target through his scope and wanted to try the boomer. So I let him.

BD

BD,

One of these days I have to pull my Chrony out of the box and set it up at the range. I am geting so lazy. It is with me every time I go to the range and I end up not using it it anyway. And as usual you are right about those flyers, a lot of the times there is a greater velocity difference.

Your FTX group looks sweet

Whow on that FXT group! Of everything that I have tried -- they ARE the GOLD standard. Wished they cost less!!!

That is a fantastic group on the FTX's! Have you noticed if the flyers typically come at the beginning or the end of the group?

And yeah Siringo, for target shooting they are pricey . For hunting rounds they are very reasonable IMO .

Very true regarding the price for hunting. Heck -- A box of 20 and a deer every year with one shot -- humm, hope the logging roads are wheel chair accessable.

Without a spotter it would be tough for me to know which shot is which, particularly when they're on the line. If I spent my time concentrating on where the last shot went, rather than where I want THIS shot to go, I think my groups would fall apart.
BD

I am going to install a regular 3x9 rifle scope as well just for the purpose of the test. I also have a feeling that my groups were not as good as I expected because of the scout setup. It shouldn't have played helluva difference, but still. What scope are you using BD?

To BD.
I want to say that you were right in this case. That is if you remember our conversation about leading with wheel weights at high pressure. I did not notice any even using 32 + gr of H110 in my 450.