Some interesting tests........45 cal.
May 11, 2010 17:01:54 GMT -5
Post by Richard on May 11, 2010 17:01:54 GMT -5
Well, fresh back from NJ and my visit with our esteemed Administrator Edge I got to try out his CNC sabots!
After a fouling shot, I went to target #1. Due to some impending rain, I did not set up the chronograph..........so NO speed readings for this first group. Here I wanted to try a duplex which I may have used in the past and wanted to see how .060" veggie wads in conjunction with the blue Harvesters would work? So target #1 was shot using No wad under the sabot. Maybe not a great load as the last shot spoiled and otherwise half way decent group?
So now I add a wad and use the same duplex The first three shot spanned 9.5" ; no sense in pursuing this one any further so for the last two shots I did not use the wad and the group formed right where it did on target #1. Note, the rain was holding off so I put out the chronograph.
NOW for the test of EDGE's PVC sabots, .060" veggie wad and a 200 gr. Remington .35 cal. (.358) rifle bullet (kind of a generic typical flat base bullet with lead exposed tip or spitzer?). (bullet, sabot and wad weight 224 grains) These sabots, if you had read Edge's description in the past, are machine (CNC) made from schedule 2 PVC. The base is dead flat, hence the need for the veggie wad to help with sealing. Mark also cuts rifling groves on the side that matched my 1 - 22" twist 8 grove rifling. To seat these, you have to sort of put them on the muzzle and turn them until they index with your rifling. I used the same duplex as in targets 1 and 2. Let me tell , these things can drive tacks! Who knows what they are capable of with some load development. This was just an "off the cuff" load. I would think this combination would be capable of MOA ten shot groups (which I think Mark did shoot!) I was surprised that the ES on the load was not better. I believe, with a lower ES, long range shooting could produce some great groups!
Again, Mark, thanks for giving me the opportunity to shoot these bullet/sabots! (NOW IF I COULD ONLY GET YOU TO PRODUCE A BUCKET FULL OF THEM :
(I'm saving the other five for another occasion ;D)
(Note.........correct #3 to read: Edge's PVC Sabot and .060 veggie WAD)
But, while they do shoot great, we still have components capable of some good groups.
I found this interesting...............My next load was a 200 gr. XTP with a blue Harvester sabot and 70 gr. of straight N-120. Note the low velocity on the first two shots? Then the next three jumped up 100 fps? and target #5 which used the same load only with the SST also produced similar velocity to the last three shots? For what ever reason, I feel there was some residue or coating left in the bore which caused those two slower shots. Due to the overcast conditions, I don't think it was a chronograph problem.
On to the last target. A proven duplex. Herman had shot this load today and said it didn't group worth a c _ _ p out of his gun. On the other hand, mine produced and excellent group.......Almost as good as the PVC sabots?
OK, so here is what a sabot looks like that is "drilled!" Herman was trying out a bullet our friend Bill got as a "blem" from Midway. It is a .357 cal. 150 gr. FTX from Hornady. Herman used it with blue sabot made for it. We were searching from those PVC sabots to see what they looked like? (could not find any) when I stumbled across this blue sabot.......and to boot, Herman found the cut out about fifty feet down range from where I found the sabot???
Richard
After a fouling shot, I went to target #1. Due to some impending rain, I did not set up the chronograph..........so NO speed readings for this first group. Here I wanted to try a duplex which I may have used in the past and wanted to see how .060" veggie wads in conjunction with the blue Harvesters would work? So target #1 was shot using No wad under the sabot. Maybe not a great load as the last shot spoiled and otherwise half way decent group?
So now I add a wad and use the same duplex The first three shot spanned 9.5" ; no sense in pursuing this one any further so for the last two shots I did not use the wad and the group formed right where it did on target #1. Note, the rain was holding off so I put out the chronograph.
NOW for the test of EDGE's PVC sabots, .060" veggie wad and a 200 gr. Remington .35 cal. (.358) rifle bullet (kind of a generic typical flat base bullet with lead exposed tip or spitzer?). (bullet, sabot and wad weight 224 grains) These sabots, if you had read Edge's description in the past, are machine (CNC) made from schedule 2 PVC. The base is dead flat, hence the need for the veggie wad to help with sealing. Mark also cuts rifling groves on the side that matched my 1 - 22" twist 8 grove rifling. To seat these, you have to sort of put them on the muzzle and turn them until they index with your rifling. I used the same duplex as in targets 1 and 2. Let me tell , these things can drive tacks! Who knows what they are capable of with some load development. This was just an "off the cuff" load. I would think this combination would be capable of MOA ten shot groups (which I think Mark did shoot!) I was surprised that the ES on the load was not better. I believe, with a lower ES, long range shooting could produce some great groups!
Again, Mark, thanks for giving me the opportunity to shoot these bullet/sabots! (NOW IF I COULD ONLY GET YOU TO PRODUCE A BUCKET FULL OF THEM :
(I'm saving the other five for another occasion ;D)
(Note.........correct #3 to read: Edge's PVC Sabot and .060 veggie WAD)
But, while they do shoot great, we still have components capable of some good groups.
I found this interesting...............My next load was a 200 gr. XTP with a blue Harvester sabot and 70 gr. of straight N-120. Note the low velocity on the first two shots? Then the next three jumped up 100 fps? and target #5 which used the same load only with the SST also produced similar velocity to the last three shots? For what ever reason, I feel there was some residue or coating left in the bore which caused those two slower shots. Due to the overcast conditions, I don't think it was a chronograph problem.
On to the last target. A proven duplex. Herman had shot this load today and said it didn't group worth a c _ _ p out of his gun. On the other hand, mine produced and excellent group.......Almost as good as the PVC sabots?
OK, so here is what a sabot looks like that is "drilled!" Herman was trying out a bullet our friend Bill got as a "blem" from Midway. It is a .357 cal. 150 gr. FTX from Hornady. Herman used it with blue sabot made for it. We were searching from those PVC sabots to see what they looked like? (could not find any) when I stumbled across this blue sabot.......and to boot, Herman found the cut out about fifty feet down range from where I found the sabot???
Richard