Brief Update 200XPB – 50Cal

[ET]

Today was a real frustrating day with the 200XPB. It wasn’t even worth saving my Report Sheet because there was nothing consistent at all.

Tried up to 48gr of 4759 and the best I got for velocity was about 2350fps.
Picture below shows 4-shot=2-3/4” group, 3-shot-1-5/8” group (100-yds) that was my best for the day.
Best group was using BL Harvester sabots.
RCR sabots just no real decent grouping at all. I have no idea what happened here considering last time they were responding the best.



At this point I’m staying/focusing with BL Harvester sabots. Knurl the 200XPB up another .001” for a little tighter fit and proceed from here.
Just feel I need to find that right load resistance mark to get the velocity up to 2500FPS by the time I reach 50gr of 4759.
If I reach a point that starts getting into consistent 2-hand loading then it’s time to try some 4198 for a little extra push.

The journey now seems like a struggle that reminds me of when I 1st started with the 10ML-II but not over yet.

Ed

[Dave W]

Straight 4198 was like a flamethrower with that bullet when I tried it. Took a considerable amount of booster duplexed with 4198 to get it into the 2500's.

[dougedwards]

Is this a .452 diameter bullet?

Doug

[Dave W]

Been awhile, but probably closer to .451 like the TMZ's, TEZ's etc.

[wilmsmeyer]

ET,

I agree about straight H4198. As much as I love this powder, I'd only use it straight up with 250+ bullets.

Not sure of your powder inventory...but try this....it worked great with 185 XTP's meact for .45ACP

Start with 15 gr 4759 and 60 gr H322. Move up in 3 gr increments of 4759 and pay attention to speed. This starting load will be mild but probably as fasy as your fastest reading so far. I stopped at 30 gr 4759 and never adjusted the 322 of 60 gr. Ending speed was 3,150 with 2-3" groups and no fliers over 15 or so shots. I can't remember the sabot I used...think it was an HPH12. If you have time, search the old board sometime in the late winter/early spring of 2007 or 2008. The thread is called 3,150 fps ....or something like that.

I abandoned the load as it wasn't useful for anything but vaporizing woodchucks at 50 yds (which I did...literally) BUT, throw in a copper bullet with that speed and you might have something useful for deer.

I remember that I tried this with the same bullet you did but did not have good luck....however, I did not get as good a knurl and snug fit that you are getting.

Just food for thought.

[ET]

DW

Thanks for the heads up.
Hope by increasing the load resistance forcing the pressure to rise higher before bullet/sabot starts moving will be enough to get a better velocity.

Dougedwards

DW is right about it being a .451” bullet. I have knurled it up to .454” and will now try it at .455”. Have already adjusted my sizing die and am preparing my next round. Hopefully next week.

Wilmsmeyer

Thanks for helping with optional info. I feel this bullet wants too shoot from preliminary results buts now wants some more velocity. I would be happy with reaching 2500-2600fps.


Ed

[Dave W]

May 7, 2010 7:24:53 GMT -5 ET said:

DW

Thanks for the heads up.
Hope by increasing the load resistance forcing the pressure to rise higher before bullet/sabot starts moving will be enough to get a better velocity.

Dougedwards

DW is right about it being a .451” bullet. I have knurled it up to .454” and will now try it at .455”. Have already adjusted my sizing die and am preparing my next round. Hopefully next week.

Wilmsmeyer

Thanks for helping with optional info. I feel this bullet wants too shoot from preliminary results buts now wants some more velocity. I would be happy with reaching 2500-2600fps.


Ed

Ed, somewhere between 15/45-20/40 should put you in the 2500+ range

[ET]

DW

Your help is appreciated and thanks for a possible load direction. Have taken note of it.
I have a bunch of 200XPB redone to .455” OD and trial fitted down the bore. They tightened up some (tighter than my 250SW load) but noticed marking on the sabot showing it’s just touching the groove now as well so further increasing the OD IMO will not benefit my load from this point on. Will see with this first what happens to my velocity.


Ed

[mike.dawson]

Ed I have knurled this bullet up to .454 and with the black short mmp I can not get a group that I could hunt with. But on the other hand the 225 FTX shoots really GREAT! I just dont know about this bullet on deer size animals when pushed at smokeless speeds, will it blow up. frangment too much, exit wound? The guy next to me said my Savage looked like a flame thrower shooting 62 gr. of N120 with the xpb, no sabot disruption but a lot of flame.

Mike

[ET]

May 8, 2010 8:43:58 GMT -5 mike.dawson said:

Ed I have knurled this bullet up to .454 and with the black short mmp I can not get a group that I could hunt with. But on the other hand the 225 FTX shoots really GREAT! I just dont know about this bullet on deer size animals when pushed at smokeless speeds, will it blow up. frangment too much, exit wound? The guy next to me said my Savage looked like a flame thrower shooting 62 gr. of N120 with the xpb, no sabot disruption but a lot of flame.

Mike

Mike

I have no qualms about using the 225FTX on deer sized game after seeing what the 250FTX does when fired in a sand bank at 30yds. What I suspect here is that the softer plastic will begin a flattening process when it makes contact compared to the older hard plastic tips that acted like pile drivers into the core when it makes contact. If any fragmentation occurs with FTX it would probably be a few large chunks as compared to the older style SST with hard nose plastic that blew apart into many fragments. If it has the canneluring as seen in the pictures all the better.

I’m still waiting for my order of 225FTX’s to arrive and am anxious to get a few rounds off to see how they shoot. Hope to see 2-lighter weight candidates getting action this fall.


Ed

[deadon]

Mike, If I am not mistaken the FXT is the bullet designed for the 30 30. The soft tip keeps the bullets from going off in the tubular magazine upon recoil.The ammo is called the Fusion Leverlution. What are 30 30 velocities?

[boarhog]

Deadon,
The 30-30 is where they started with the soft FTX, but they have branched out to quite a few calibers, up to .500. I have posted before, that the deer I hit with a 160 gr FTX in my 30-30 at 15 yds, was DRT. The bullet did not blow up at all or even shed pieces. Hit the big leg bone and still a pass through. Over the chrono, the load was doing almost 2300 fps at 15 ft, so I doubt it had slowed much at 15 yds. I was impressed, and would not be afraid to use 225-325 gr FTX for deer in my MLs. And I am a hard core Barnes Bullet fan! JMHO