50 bmg !!!!

[BT Sniper]

Only have a little time but here are some awesome pics of my 50 BMG bullets. I got to get some loaded up and ready for this weekend's 1,000 yrd match. Took me nearly 3 days to make only 60 bullets, needless to say it was a lot of work getting just this one set of dies finished and set up to make these awesome bullets. Takes a while to get the dies all set up for the first time.

I'm incredibly pleased with how well these dies and bullets performed. This has been over a year in the works! I'll have more info later, till then here is some of the pics!

[BT Sniper]

Targets where at 200 yrds, pretty gusty winds, the target stickers are 1" square. I was very pleased with how these first few shots did on paper, pulling the trigger on 220 grains of powder for the first time on an 825 grain bullet you made yourself makes tends to make one a little nervous but I calmed down right quick and had a blast shooting the rest of these test loads .

More later.

Good shooting and swage on!

Brian

[MOcaster]

Either you need a bigger scope or your gun is a whole lot bigger than I think it is... I think it's the gun...

[BT Sniper]

That's a Sightron SIII 5-24x50 scope. Yep the gun makes it look small

[Iron Whittler]

Putting on extra help are ya. From the looks of things you ain't gonna be able to keep up with demand by you self. You did yourself proud. a retired iron whittler that knows real deal CRAFTSMAN SHIP WORK when he sees it. Iron Whittler

[R.Ph. 380]

Dang, Brian. What you trying for? Perfection in everything? Man those are beautiful. Congratulations.

Bill

[BT Sniper]

At 30 rounds per pound of powder and 40 cent a piece primers I don't want to waist it on sub par bullets so yep... strive for perfection in everything I do.


Brian

[rockrat]

You Sir, are cruel!!!

[woodbutcher]

Well now.As the old baker said"Holy smoking donuts".
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[nhrifle]

Brian, those look better than what I have seen available from the established manufacturers. You should send Hornady and Sierra a few samples just to make them jealous!

[Dutchninja]

Those are simply awesome. Would love to hear the process behind it.

[midnight]

Brian: I see you shoot $15 groups instead of $25 groups just as I usually do. You have found out How accurate these huge rifles can be. Three shot groups around an inch are the norm with good bullets and a lot of case prep. I am curious about what appears to be a two piece core. Please explain the reason for that. Two different hardnesses of lead could be the reason but I don't think a reloading press could handle anything but very soft lead especially with a bullet this big. Even the Sea Girt would struggle with harder lead. Maybe that's the reason, dividing the large core into two more managable pieces.

Bob

[BT Sniper]

Quick pic to show the steps. I'll have to explain in detail later. As far as the two piece core.... I drilled out a Lee mold all the way threw and attached a plate on the bottom to give me the heaviest chunk of lead the lee could possibly make and still needed 148 (.358) grains more. That was the reason for the two pieces of lead. When I get time I'll figure out a heavier mold. Yep pure lead, I did wind up using the Sea Girt in the end, a little easier then the Lee for this big bullet.

BT

[GoodOlBoy]

Amazing work! You really outdid yourself on this one!

GoodOlBoy

[MOcaster]

Just an idea for your core mold, Brian. Or a question, I'm not too sure which yet. What Lee mold did you drill out? I don't know if any of their other mold blocks are bigger, but I do know the Midsouth 6.5mm CM block is quite a bit taller than their regular blocks. I don't know if it would help you out any to use a one-piece core or if it's more work than it's worth (If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and it don't look broke), but I thought I'd throw it out there. And I'm still amazed at how good those bullets look.

[BT Sniper]

I used a standard 6 cavity lee mold. Think it was a beat up 310 grain 44 cal I had. Yes I need the mold to be taller to accommodate a heavier one piece core, I'll look into that mold you mentioned and see if I can bore it out, thanks! Or I'll have to simply make one of my own.....


I just got back from the weekend 50 cal 1,000 yrd shoot! I entered two divisions, Hunter class (prone off bipods) and Heavy class (off the bench). I loaded up Lehigh solid brass bullets and my custom bullets shown here. I didn't have enough of my bullets to shoot an entire division so the first day in Hunter class I shot the solid brass bullets and the second day I shot mine. I was very impressed with the results! For whatever reason I was able to shoot my bullets into much, much smaller groups!

They are still uploading pics from the match, as soon as they are online I'll post some here.

My last round of the day shooting hunter class with my bullets I had the first four rounds go into a sub 8" group, then staying as focused as I could I sent the 5th one down range and pushed it left..... darn it! But I was very thrilled to have shot my own 50BMG bullets at 1,000 yrds and have them shoot so well. I expect to do even better with them in future events. It is a great feeling again to not have to worry about buying commercial bullets.

I wound up placing 3rd in the match for best overall score in hunter class, if I would of had enough of my bullets to shoot the first day too I bet I would have placed even higher in the standings.

I know what bullets I'll be loading now for all my 50 cal shooting!

Now to seriously get back to work on customer's orders!

BT

[aaronraad]

Nice work Brian.

Is that an AMax on the right in your "steps" pic?

[BT Sniper]

Yes that is a Hornady 750 grain A-Max on the far right of the pic for comparison.

BT

[BT Sniper]

A look at the meplat trimming that allows for the seamless and smooth transition of the tip to the jacket.

[BT Sniper]

a look at my sectioned bullet on the left and the A-Max on the right with their aluminum tips.

BT