My New 50 Cal Wildcat

[sixonetonoffun]

Did see some 270gr powerbelt magnums while in town today picking up some patches and primers.

Really wanted to try em but... just didn't know what to make of that belt business.

That and gun money has to go to essentials while they are available.

[sixonetonoffun]

While searching for a powder to use with the Barnes bullets. I came to the conslusion that anything that works well in 458wm works well In the 500/375.

Bullet weights available are same same for the most part. Velocities are somewhat simular just slightly lower for the 500/375. Keeping in mind the 458wm has been subjected to 100-150 fps down loading.

Much like the 7rm though I believe for the 458wm it had more to do with old ammo and powder degradation.

[sixonetonoffun]

Still working on this load am close to calling it good. Want to try a slightly slower powder yet... but haven't as of yet.

3-shots each all lit by rem 9 1/2 primers.

375XPB & 78.5gr RL7
Avg. 2276 ES 7 SD3

375XPB & 79gr RL7
Avg. 2284 ES 19 SD 8

375XPB & 79.5 gr RL7
Avg. 2341 ES 14 SD6

Will try 78 & 78.5 see which shoots best. Velocity doesn't come easy with these bullets. Rather it does but the penalty is pressure. With RL7 2250-2275 FPS is pretty much as good as it gets. Really wanted to see 2350 with single digits but its not going to happen with this powder bullet combo.

[sixonetonoffun]

Ran the 78 & 78.5 loads. Again with rem 9 1/2 primers.

375gr XPB & 78gr RL7
Avg. 2259 ES 17 SD 7

375gr XPB & 78.5gr RL7
Avg. 2272 ES 10 SD 4

Still on the hot side but I really don't want to go any slower unless they just won't group. Overall @ 100yards these aren't as impressive as the price. Though I'm sure anything hit is going down or coming off.

Starting to think the Swift AF or Speer DeepCurls might be better bang for the buck.

The Lehigh Defense brass bullets might be worth a look. Maybe the brass wouldn't get so crazy much pressure for weight as the copper? Copper seems to start out about 100 or more fps slower then conventionals.

[sixonetonoffun]

For the fun of it I drilled one of the 375XPB's out and seated a 55gr .224 tipped Nosler bullet inside. Couldn't get if perfect but it was sort of proof of concept for a "controlled expansion higher bc bullet". Looks promising but I won't mess with it anymore without a lathe. My 5/8 drill isn't as concentric as I thought. Weighs 390grs +- and has a lovely orange tip. Something else I didn't know I needed! A mini lathe?

[SUTTERERMAN85]

Don't waste your time on a mini lathe. I know a guy...he doesn't have it anymore. I picked up an old south bend 9" for $200 more than a new mini lathe. Can thread, profile, and chamber barrel blanks and have built 2 suppressors so far. Waiting on another stamp for a 3rd.

On another note, thanks for all the testing you have done and sharing with us all.

Nick

[sixonetonoffun]

Nick sounds like you really went down the rabbit hole . Been reading your posts... maybe someday.


I was thinking small for small jobs like trimming these cases cleanly and precisely. Maybe turning a few brass bullets... adding bands to the barnes to make seating them long and tight easier.

I'm not from a manufacturing background so there is a learning curve involved. That and my wiring hasn't been updated . Anything requiring big amps is out for at least a couple years. Rural life ain't it grand? House was built in the 90's er 1890's..i'm 4th generation. House didn't have electricity until the 1950's. Hasn't been touched since. It's on my bucket list though. No clue if gen5 will keep the place but... would like to leave it better then I get. Real pink elephants do exist!

Figure someday when we collectively have some hard data maybe a pure load topic could be started simular to the hides maybe? Though would have to run it past management. Other options are readily available.

[SUTTERERMAN85]

The mini lathe will work for what you are wanting to do. I had the same thoughts and once I started learning how to use it I out grew it very fast, lol. I work on helicopters and grew up working on just about anything, cars, boats, motorcycles etc. I had no machining background either. Kinda the same thing when you have to fix something that is broken that you are unfamiliar with. YOUTUBE is dangerous, lol.

My 9" only has a 1/2 hp motor and runs off a std 110 volt wall plug.

Its pretty cool you live in a family house like that.

I need to get my thumper out soon. Been too long. I have been bitten by the suppressor bug and its bad!

[sixonetonoffun]

http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii554/sixonetonoffun/Mobile%20Uploads/20150627_144504_zps5hu9y3zr.jpg (http://s1259.photobucket.com/user/sixonetonoffun/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150627_144504_zps5hu9y3zr.jpg.html)

[sixonetonoffun]

So the biggest issue I have with the XPB's is the length. Being made to shoot out of a revolver. They would be fine in a controlled feed action. But pushing I come out short for firing or long for the mag. Ideal savage action would be a rum with controlled feed.

Can single feed short rounds loading into the claw and they extract fine. This is fine at the bench... but completely useless in the field.

[sixonetonoffun]

http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii554/sixonetonoffun/Mobile%20Uploads/20150628_115747_zpsrdjrgarn.jpg (http://s1259.photobucket.com/user/sixonetonoffun/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150628_115747_zpsrdjrgarn.jpg.html)

The 350 XTP launched at 2490 fps.
The 400 JSP lauched at 2200 fps.

The difference between catastrophic failure and perfect expansion is not so far apart. Choosing velocity for which the bullets designed for is very important.

Can't wait to try the 325gr AF's maybe they will offer more in the velocity catagory and less in the catastrophic failure pit.

[sixonetonoffun]

Shot the 375gr XPB, RL7 78.5 load with federal 215 M primers. Stll very flat but no piercing or backing out. Probably -.1 or -.2 on the charge would be good to go.

I tried 1 deep seated bullet literally sat in the case. Not sure what to make of it exactly but it was the most accurate depth of the rounds fired. 1" from poa vs 3" @ the canelure and 4" .061 off the rifling. Fluke?

Will revisit the idea of deep seating but it presents some challenges with respect to feeding and headspace.

For today I only wanted to verify if the load was safe for the softer primers. Which it appears to be.

[Blitzfike]

My latest experiments have been with virtually no crimp, fast powder and deep seated bullets. I can maintain head space better with that, and I've given up feeding from the magazine, I single feed each round. The slower powders are too erratic without crimp, depending on which bullet I am using as to how much neck tension I get. I'm going to try some of the RL-7 loads and see what they do for me here. Thanks for the good test info.

[sixonetonoffun]

Admittedly I wasn't sighted in for the load. But it was a suprise. Agree single feeds best without using a controlled feed action. Otherwise each bullet would require its own brass or adjustment to headspace.

[sixonetonoffun]

I need to get a more precision trimming method setup for this. Seems like I try to keep at 2.62 and wind up half of the time burning past to 2.61-2.615. tolerance is a bit tigher then that. The sweet spot seems to be .003 or tighter.

Was considering turning the sizer die up enough to leave a slight bump at the base to see if that would add just enough tension to prevent slipping forward to far. Yet still be able to close the bolt.

I saw ammoguide lists 50 b&m long loads with the 375gr xpb. Might have to subscribe to get a peak at what powders were used. Claim max loads from 2360-2450 with them from an 18" 18tw barrel.
My best load pressure wise has been 2270+

Hitting 2450 would yield 5,000 ft/pounds of energy :-) Starting to think 2450fps will be a milestone worthy of achieving.

[sixonetonoffun]

Another thought on reducing pressures. I use Dacron filler which from several sources has been shown to give higher pressures then the foam insulation or backing. Worth investigating further.

[Blitzfike]

Sent you a PM, what is the main difference in the 50 B&M long and the thumper other than case its made from?

[sixonetonoffun]

Its for all intents identical. I hadn't been aware of the 50 B&M Long until recently. It isn't one of the B&M commercial cartridges. They seem to have done it simply because it made sense.

Specs: 50 B&M Long
Bullet Diameter:
.500 in.
Max Overall Length:
2.950 in.
Rifling Twist:
1-in-18.0 in.
Rifling Lands:
6
Case Capacity (est):
93.6 gr. water
Primer Size:
.210 in.

NOMINAL PERFORMANCE
Bullet Weight:
500 gr
Muzzle Velocity:
2,120 fps
Muzzle Energy:
4,992 ft-lbs


The data is very useful for 500/375 HPDT enthusiasts. I enjoy reading the tips and experiments posted on the B&M site. Lots of it is a work in progress.
I particularly enjoyed the raw primer and filler data posted there. Its all just so practical and what most of us are trying to do as well.

Should find a way to thank them. The info shared is truely a golden nugget for big bore fans. I would love to put one of their lever gun cartidges together.

As a comparison the 500/375 easily replicates "Nominal Performance". Essentially twins here :-)

[sixonetonoffun]

Ruger basic brass = no fireforming to speak of. Slightly more case capacity. Not enough to brag about but...

No belt! (Is this really an advantage? Starting to see why being headspaced off a belt could be useful in push feeds.)

[sixonetonoffun]

Specs: 500/375 HPDT
Bullet Diameter:
.500 in.
Max Overall Length:
3.13 In.
Rifling Twist:
1-in-20.0 in.
Case Capacity (est):
109.5 - 110 gr. water/trimmed case 2.62+-
112 +- gr water @2.65 full length
Primer Size:
.210 in.

BtSnipers ql screenshot has more detailed specs if this isn't enough.