Thor and Hornady FPB report

[rkrobson]

All loads are appoved by Ultimate Firearms in theirs guns. I've been shooting the Thor 247 gr Colorado legal and the Hornady FPB 350 gr, CO legal with tip removed, for several months. I tried Pyro Pellets, T-7, Black Powder and BH 209, BH 209 is the hands down winner. Pyro pellets are moa accurate and 4 pellets yields 2500 fps, but not CO legal. In my Ultimate the .501s load like you want them to, and with no cleaning 2" moa is the best I can get, 170 grs will get 2500 fps. Load 502s by pounding with hammer and get moa at 2500 fps with 150 gr BH, cleaning between shots. NECO moly coated .502s, as per Terry oertwig, load right, 150 BH gets 2360 fps, 170 gr gets 2500 fps, 1.25 moa, 2.5 at 200yds, all cleaned between shots.
Hornady FPB 350 gr, out of package, 120 gr BH 209 yields 1914 fps and moa. 140 grs BH 209 gets 2065 fps and moa. All with no cleaning between shots, cleaning will destroy accuracy. I knurled FPB to .502-.503 and then sized to .501, had to pound down to seat and accuracy was 4" and velocity was 2110 with 140 grs BH. Note: my gun is .5000-.5005, I think, as .501s load stiff. I'am impressed with the FPB accuracy and did not have any left to crank up the charge. I like the coated Thors best, as I prefer to shoot a clean bore, as its one constant I can depend on. The FPBs shoot moa only when not cleaned between shots. I hope this helps, and I would like some feedback as to what you guys think the terminal performance of the FPBs will be, as it has a very thin jacket. Ray

[reloader]

I chatted with a guy that killed a nice cow with an FPB over 90grns of BH209. That load is good for 1720 fps from my Omega and will be my load of choice for my '10 hunt if I get drawn. I was sure I'd get drawn this year, but only got another PP.

The guy that put me on the load said he got slightly better accuracy by cutting the tip flush than by totally removing it. I tried with the tip left full as well as the tip cut flush and it shot well both ways. It's quite easy to cut the tips flush with a razor.

I read a few post saying a tip in provides slower expansion for better penetration, but I haven't tested myself. May shoot some phone books to see if this has any merit.

Good Luck

Reloader

[rkrobson]

I talked to a Hornady Customer Rep today and he gave me several penetration test results done by Hornady, most we're 15" to 20" plus in their media at 100 yds and 1900 fps. Randy Wakeman said its a great bullet for the boiler room but not for bone, I agree, and I will use where needed, Ray