Eagan 243-MX-2, 6x45

[ktw]

This was a small run group buy cut by BaBore using a nose-pour cherry owned by madsenshooter (thread) (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=69594).

My previous 6mm experience was with a 243 Winchester (long since traded off). More recently I picked up a 6x45 Contender Carbine barrel with a 1 in 12 twist. In both of these cartridges I found that both the Lyman 245496 and the RCBS 24-95-SP need to be seated pretty deep into the case due to short necks and short throats. The Eagan design intrigued me as a bore riding design with a relatively short bearing surface and long bore riding nose and a weight that should work in a 1 in 12 twist. (I have since noticed that the Saeco #243 also meets these criteria)

The Eagan was spec'd for Linotype and cast marginally small for me on the bands and too small on the nose in wheelweight alloy. I made do by seating gas checks in a .244 H&I die and at the same time bumping up the nose to .a bore-riding .2360" by adjusting the lubesizer depth stop. I used a top punch for RCBS 24-95-sp which removed most of the flat point. I oven heat treated to ~ 26 BHN and then ran them through the lube-sizer again for lube.

These were some fairly rough rejects but should give a better idea of what the top punch did to the nose profile while bumping up the nose diameter
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g232/ktwna/reloading/eagan-nose.jpg

I finally had a chance to shoot these this week. Still snowed out of the 100yd+ range but I did make it back to the 60 yard range. This is my first experience with the bullet and I am pleased with the results, particularly in light of the velocities I was able to achieve. Half the groups gave me < 1 moa on 4 of the 5 shots. I don't think I've reached a velocity ceiling for the alloy with either of the powders tried to date. I plan to re-run each series in 10 shot groups and increase the power charges by another grain.

Eagan 243-MX-2 .244/BSSG/htww (wt sorted +-.1gr)
TW72 Brass (+-.2gr)/CCI400
60 yards, 5 shot groups
Powder . Charge . Vel(FPS) . SD .. ES .. N .. MOA
--------------------------------------------------------------
H414 .... 24.0 ..... 2189 ..... 73 .. 170 . 5 .. 1.53
H414 .... 24.5 ..... 2260 ..... 57 .. 137 . 5 .. 2.07
H414 .... 25.0 ..... 2334 ..... 40 .... 87 . 5 .. 2.23
H414 .... 25.5 ..... 2334 ..... 21 .... 49 . 5 .. 1.18
H414 .... 26.0 ..... 2395 ..... 40 .... 81 . 5 .. 2.25

BLC2 .... 23.0 ..... 2226 ..... 48 .. 112 . 5 .. 1.68
BLC2 .... 23.5 ..... 2274 ..... 73 .. 183 . 5 .. 1.75
BLC2 .... 24.0 ..... 2340 ..... 24 .... 58 . 5 .. 1.95
BLC2 .... 24.5 ..... 2393 ..... 28 .... 71 . 5 .. 1.67
BLC2 .... 25.0 ..... 2422 ..... 17 .... 46 . 5 ...1.97


24.0 gr H414
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g232/ktwna/reloading/eagan-24-h414.jpg

Couple of of the BLC-2 loads
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g232/ktwna/reloading/eagan-BLC2.jpg

-ktw

[Casting Timmy]

It'll be interesting to hear how it does at the longer ranges. I have thought that the Saceo would be something worth considering buying. I just haven't heard any feedback on them.

If this bullet does good for you, I might have to add a new mold for testing to my collection.

[ktw]

I was pretty happy with how the first 50 worked out. I am now working on bumping/heat treating a couple hundred more. The next range session will be 100 yards.

I'm not terribly happy with the as-cast sizing and having to bump the nose, although it's definitely better than having a too fat bore riding nose to work with.

-ktw

[madsenshooter]

Wow, you sure know how to modify a bullet ktw! Your data will give me some idea as to starting loads for my 6mm/30-40 Krag. Capacity should be about the same as the 6mm Rem. It'll fit for me without the modifications in my Obermyer. Timmy, a friend and I are nearing production using blank Lee mould blocks, single cavity only to begin with, so stay tuned, I'm the only source for this mold, other than finding a used one. ktw, by all means keep us informed, my Krag is getting there, barrel is chambered and I just found some .405 brass to use for forming the wildcat.

Oops, re-read the post, got the idea you were using the 6mm Rem somewhere along the way, now I see, 6x45.

[thumper,eh?]

ktw, would you please elaborate on how you "bump" up the nose and do it with consistency? I've cast for a long time but am not familiar with the "bump" part.
Thanks

[ktw]

I am oven heat-treating these, so I run them though a lubesizer (RCBS) to seat the gas check without applying any lube. After heat treating I run them through again to apply the lube.

By trial an error I set the "stop" on the sizer to give me the desired nose diameter when I compress the bullet by lowering the handle all the way down to the stop. I do this while seating gas checks prior to heat treating. I can vary the nose profile slightly by using different top punches.

The bore-riding portion of the nose is not fully supported in the sizing die and the nose does not expand uniformly under compression along it's entire length. In my experience the portion at the base of the ogive grows in diameter faster then the portion lower down on the nose. I aim for desired boreriding diameter at the base of the ogive.

There are better ways to do it, namely with a proper nose-bump die. Those are light duty swage dies that only work the nose of the bullet. I don't have one. It is my understanding that someone like Buckshot can make you one to order. Those support the boreriding section of the bullet with the die body and give you a more uniform nose diameter along the entire length of the bore-riding section.

-ktw

[thumper,eh?]

Thank you ktw. It appears you are getting great results even with the possibility of inconsistent nose movement/compression.
I'll have to check into this further. Thanks again.

[45 2.1]

What is the weight and length of the Eagan copy? I and some others are setting up for a 6x45 in a semi-auto platform. There will be molds cut for this when I get the rifle and some throat slugs...........

[ktw]

Eagan 243 MX-2 as cast (acww): 85.1 gr, 0.801" OAL, 0.235" bearing length

0.795 OAL after I compress and gas check them.

Not a big fan of the nose pour design on a bullet diameter this small. It's not hard to bend them when cutting the sprue.

My VV carbine barrel:
Maximum bearing length: 0.374" (base of neck to base of a jacketed bullet seated backward to lands).
Boreriding diameter: .2360" (heat treated WW), .2365" (air cooled WW)

I'd go for a bore-riding design that didn't exceed my bearing length limit, gave me .244-.245 on the lands and .2360 on the nose in acww.

-ktw

[45 2.1]

My VV carbine barrel:
Maximum bearing length: 0.374" (base of neck to base of a jacketed bullet seated backward to lands).
Boreriding diameter: .2360" (heat treated WW), .2365" (air cooled WW)

I'd go for a bore-riding design that didn't exceed my bearing length limit, gave me .244-.245 on the lands and .2360 on the nose in acww. -ktw

If you would send a good lead throat slug with case attached, i'll see what I could do to match the throat with ours.

[ktw]

If you would send a good lead throat slug with case attached, i'll see what I could do to match the throat with ours.

Will do. pm me an address.

-ktw

[kirb]

I would ike on of these if any one has the cutter and wlling to cut one

Kirb