Naphtali
09-26-2011, 12:22 PM
Moderator:
I suspect this thread may be more appropriate in a different forum? Please move it if you believe that it should be elsewhere.
*****
My title is not as accurate as one might anticipate. I have created this thread because I am building a single barrel muzzleloading rifle for "long range" hunting, long range for me and the rifle being 165 yards maximum.
I have been shooting a .731-inch (front driving band) 775-grain [short] cast 30:1 bullet in my .72-caliber muzzleloading double rifle. Regulating barrels to a six-inch both-barrel two-shot group at 100 yards causes powder charge to be 120 grains in one barrel and 135 grains of Goex FFg in the other. Charges are ignited by CCI #11 Magnum caps. Muzzle velocities are, give or take, 1325 fps. . . . And yes, recoil is severe.
I am confident that modest-range destructiveness - that is, the ability of a single shot piercing both lungs without hitting scapulae or vertebrae to down [nearly] immediately any animal in Montana - is significantly greater than my from hard cast LFN-GC 45/425/1750, a smokeless powder load, shot from my 45-70. . . . BUT at what distance does the 45-70's significantly greater velocity and sectional density overtake my 72's performance? OR will my .72-caliber bullet maintain its advantage past my 165-yard self-imposed shooting limit? Is there available any mathematical formula to aid in this evaluation?
***
MY TEST
I shot two sets of three bullets at 15 yards into [the same] dry Encyclopedias duct taped together. Length of each book set was 18 inches. Test consisted of shots at two sets of test media for each bullet. The double rifle shot one bullet bullet from each barrel to account for its two bullets. Each set of books was large enough to allow three shots to be far enough apart to not contaminate any other test shot.
1. 45-70 bullet air dropped, Brinnell 16, penetrated about six inches. Peripheral damage area was about two inches in diameter surrounding the hole with little damage beyond bullet's penetration. The bullet did not expand significantly and fragmented with three small pieces separating from the main projectile. Penetration was straight.
2. 45-70 bullet air dropped then heat treated, Brinnell 28, penetrated about 3.75 inches, shattering into many small fragments. Peripheral damage area was about two inches in diameter surrounding the hole with little damage beyond bullet's penetration. Penetration was straight.
3. .72-caliber bullet penetrated slightly deeper than #2, about four inches. Bullet separated into two pieces, about three fourths-one-fourth in terms of weight per piece. Bullet nose flattened on itself to 1.25 inches on the larger piece. Peripheral damage was five inches in diameter. This "destruction" appeared to be significantly more disruptive - that is, damaged material surrounding the hole was a mess - including additionally about two inches beyond or forward being crushed. Penetration was straight.
I suspect this thread may be more appropriate in a different forum? Please move it if you believe that it should be elsewhere.
*****
My title is not as accurate as one might anticipate. I have created this thread because I am building a single barrel muzzleloading rifle for "long range" hunting, long range for me and the rifle being 165 yards maximum.
I have been shooting a .731-inch (front driving band) 775-grain [short] cast 30:1 bullet in my .72-caliber muzzleloading double rifle. Regulating barrels to a six-inch both-barrel two-shot group at 100 yards causes powder charge to be 120 grains in one barrel and 135 grains of Goex FFg in the other. Charges are ignited by CCI #11 Magnum caps. Muzzle velocities are, give or take, 1325 fps. . . . And yes, recoil is severe.
I am confident that modest-range destructiveness - that is, the ability of a single shot piercing both lungs without hitting scapulae or vertebrae to down [nearly] immediately any animal in Montana - is significantly greater than my from hard cast LFN-GC 45/425/1750, a smokeless powder load, shot from my 45-70. . . . BUT at what distance does the 45-70's significantly greater velocity and sectional density overtake my 72's performance? OR will my .72-caliber bullet maintain its advantage past my 165-yard self-imposed shooting limit? Is there available any mathematical formula to aid in this evaluation?
***
MY TEST
I shot two sets of three bullets at 15 yards into [the same] dry Encyclopedias duct taped together. Length of each book set was 18 inches. Test consisted of shots at two sets of test media for each bullet. The double rifle shot one bullet bullet from each barrel to account for its two bullets. Each set of books was large enough to allow three shots to be far enough apart to not contaminate any other test shot.
1. 45-70 bullet air dropped, Brinnell 16, penetrated about six inches. Peripheral damage area was about two inches in diameter surrounding the hole with little damage beyond bullet's penetration. The bullet did not expand significantly and fragmented with three small pieces separating from the main projectile. Penetration was straight.
2. 45-70 bullet air dropped then heat treated, Brinnell 28, penetrated about 3.75 inches, shattering into many small fragments. Peripheral damage area was about two inches in diameter surrounding the hole with little damage beyond bullet's penetration. Penetration was straight.
3. .72-caliber bullet penetrated slightly deeper than #2, about four inches. Bullet separated into two pieces, about three fourths-one-fourth in terms of weight per piece. Bullet nose flattened on itself to 1.25 inches on the larger piece. Peripheral damage was five inches in diameter. This "destruction" appeared to be significantly more disruptive - that is, damaged material surrounding the hole was a mess - including additionally about two inches beyond or forward being crushed. Penetration was straight.