BFR 460S&W stabilizes a 740 grain bullet.

[Whiterabbit]

Interesting experiment, or so I thought. Since the 3" cylinder for the BFR is so ridiculously oversized (funny how the 2.3" cylinder for the S&W X-frame is so undersized), thought it would be interesting to see how heavy we could go before the bullet destabilized and tumbled. 1 in 16 twist, the people here smarter than me suggested 350 grains would be about right.

Well, I hit 740 grains today and there were no 1.6" long sideways holes like I was expecting. I don't intend to try anything longer. I still have about a quarter inch of cylinder left, but seeing as the biggest 50 cal bullet available on the market is 700 grains, I think 740 is enough, yes?

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65955&d=1364705832
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=67574&d=1366042296

Anyways, cast boolits are fun. I'm giving up on jacketed bullets. Haven't bought any in years, no plans to start again any time soon.

Now to wait for those maurauding T-rex to come through the neighborhood. I can take out 5 at once.

[Tatume]

Hi Rabbit,

I have a small quantity of 720 gr boolits that I was shooting in the 458 Win Mag. They are very punishing. I was getting 1600 fps, and ran them as high as 1800 fps, but those were overloads. I would hold them to 1600 fps if I was to do it again.

Take care, Tom

[Whiterabbit]

golly, at 1600 fps these would be punishing in a 5lb pistol. I would have a tattoo in my forehead the exact shape and size of my front sight!

No, these are going quite a bit slower than that!

[Andrew Mason]

what is the velocity of those puppys?

[missionary5155]

Greetings
That is one big chunk of lead. At what range were you popping those holes through that defensless target ?
Mike in Peru

[Whiterabbit]

50 yard target. Zero load development. It's kinda uncharted territory for the 460, so the loads were the "well in the safe range" type. The goal was to see if they'd make round holes or 1.6" long horizontals, and make sure I could shoot them without being called Mr. nine-and-a-half for the rest of my life. I have an enormous amount of headroom to go based on lack of pressure signs and perceived recoil (a 44 mag recoils more!)

SWAG is around 800 fps, I didn't bother to shoot over a chrono for this go. That'll be the next batch, ill ratchet up the powder at the same time, see if they tighten up a wee bit. The "hottest" load actually had two holes show an inch apart, but the third round is the one pictured above, 5-6 inches high. So, doesn't count. The group shown was the best, though I wasn't shooting groups specifically.

Kinda slow, but I'm sure as heck not lining up to get shot with it.

[nhrifle]

I wanna shoot that.................

[44man]

Now you understand why the BFR has the proper twist rates.
But that is just a crazy boolit that will deplete your lead supply FAST.

[Whiterabbit]

Agreed, my plinker will be 500 grains. shoots as well as the 425 and does it without the gas check. Calculated it, 75 grains of lead is cheaper than one gas check. This was done partially to see if I could do it, partially to try to find the upper limit of the boolits the BFR twist is capable of running. I won't find that value. 740 is my own imposed limit. No need to try 900.

And though I'll probably only hunt with 290 grain bullets (thank you very much, lead-ban-happy California), and plink with 500's, its not gonna stop me from trying to get my hands on a 750 grain custom mold. I'm thinking BPCR design with lots of bore ride and moderate meplat.

But yes absolutely, I do understand now that the BFR has the proper twist rates! Tore half my hair out trying to duplicate X-frame loads and having ZERO luck. Stopped trying to be someone else, and golly it came into it's own.

[subsonic]

Have you had any success with higher velocity loads? Like around 1300fps with any of the other boolits?

[Whiterabbit]

I can shoot the 425 grain ranch dog around there to 100 yards and it's more accurate than I am. I can shoot 500's about there but it gets close to my level of recoil tolerance. 1300 is probably around max for a 550 or 600 grain bullet.

All of these put round holes in the paper. Only time I see tumbling actually, is with PB bullets below 340 grains.

[lksmith]

Now you understand why the BFR has the proper twist rates.
But that is just a crazy boolit that will deplete your lead supply FAST.

You Betcha! 9.46 boolits per pound of lead YIKES!

[Area Man]

... I won't find that value. 740 is my own imposed limit. No need to try 900.

Wuss

:kidding:

[Whiterabbit]

Wuss

:kidding:

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash3/161958_124425420954369_3333846_n.jpg












:kidding: