Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,495
- 4,682
Tested at 48 degrees Fahrenheit today, from my 24" Ruger Number One "Tropical" .37 H&H magnum. Is it acceptable to shoot a "tropical" rifle on a snowy range?
The range, my secret bullet test facility here in central Washington:
.375" bullet launching device - the Tropical (aka My Bear Gun):
A loaded cartridge - yes, this rifle seems to have a LOT of freebore, allowing me to seat the big bullets well out. This one is loaded in a Winchester case with 75 grains of H4350 for a muzzle velocity of 2521 fps:
And the bullet! Recovered from the 6th water jug, expanded to .67" dia, and now weighing 171 grains.
I got a mess of these bullets on a sweet deal, and found more at a local shop, marked at a great price. They shoot accurately, I have no trouble whacking the 12" gong at 300 yards with them, using my 200 yard zero. Expansion and penetration look pretty doggone good to me. 300 grains counts as a lot of bullet in my book - even though this Hornady is a typical cup & core design, it held up pretty well. I'd hunt it!
Guy
The range, my secret bullet test facility here in central Washington:
.375" bullet launching device - the Tropical (aka My Bear Gun):
A loaded cartridge - yes, this rifle seems to have a LOT of freebore, allowing me to seat the big bullets well out. This one is loaded in a Winchester case with 75 grains of H4350 for a muzzle velocity of 2521 fps:
And the bullet! Recovered from the 6th water jug, expanded to .67" dia, and now weighing 171 grains.
I got a mess of these bullets on a sweet deal, and found more at a local shop, marked at a great price. They shoot accurately, I have no trouble whacking the 12" gong at 300 yards with them, using my 200 yard zero. Expansion and penetration look pretty doggone good to me. 300 grains counts as a lot of bullet in my book - even though this Hornady is a typical cup & core design, it held up pretty well. I'd hunt it!
Guy