Guys I took my little 250 Savage AI out for some load tests today. When I was finished I decided to crack a few into 13 inches of stacked newspapers and magazines that I had at the range, in a cardboard box.
The launch speed of these Interlock 117g BTSP loads was 2900fps. I fired 3 shots into the stack from 15 yards. A pretty harsh test considering the dry paper and short range.
Well did not expect any of the bullets to fully penetrate the stack, considering it was dry and consisted of not only newspaper but also some glossy magazines and catalogues that were quite stout.
As it turned out, two of the projectiles penetrated the whole stack including the cardboard box, as well as fully penetrating the 15mm particle board backstop I had behind the stack. The one that did not fully penetrate stopped against the very last glossy magazine right at the back of the stack.
The three bullets recovered (the ones that went through the particle board were recovered against a further board a few feet behind the first one) measured in expanded diameter and retained weight as follows...
.544 inch 43g
.718 inch 70g
.463 inch 52g
The one that expanded the most, predictably was the one that did not fully penetrate, and retained a good bit of the core attached to the jacket. The bullet that weighed only 43g had the core separate.
The picture here is the 3 recovered bullets in the order described above...
The below shows the "wound channel" at 4 and 8 inches into the stack...
The next image is the holes punched in the particle board backstop...
Thoughts: I reckon the performance was pretty impressive in the circumstances. This particular load is a consistent 0.75moa performer. Dry newspaper and glossy magazines are a harsh test medium. And while I know 15mm particle board is hardly an oaken bow, it is not to be sniffed at either.
I am going to do some load testing with the 110g AccuBond, which I am excited about. I will do a head to head test between the AB and the IL and post it here.
The launch speed of these Interlock 117g BTSP loads was 2900fps. I fired 3 shots into the stack from 15 yards. A pretty harsh test considering the dry paper and short range.
Well did not expect any of the bullets to fully penetrate the stack, considering it was dry and consisted of not only newspaper but also some glossy magazines and catalogues that were quite stout.
As it turned out, two of the projectiles penetrated the whole stack including the cardboard box, as well as fully penetrating the 15mm particle board backstop I had behind the stack. The one that did not fully penetrate stopped against the very last glossy magazine right at the back of the stack.
The three bullets recovered (the ones that went through the particle board were recovered against a further board a few feet behind the first one) measured in expanded diameter and retained weight as follows...
.544 inch 43g
.718 inch 70g
.463 inch 52g
The one that expanded the most, predictably was the one that did not fully penetrate, and retained a good bit of the core attached to the jacket. The bullet that weighed only 43g had the core separate.
The picture here is the 3 recovered bullets in the order described above...
The below shows the "wound channel" at 4 and 8 inches into the stack...
The next image is the holes punched in the particle board backstop...
Thoughts: I reckon the performance was pretty impressive in the circumstances. This particular load is a consistent 0.75moa performer. Dry newspaper and glossy magazines are a harsh test medium. And while I know 15mm particle board is hardly an oaken bow, it is not to be sniffed at either.
I am going to do some load testing with the 110g AccuBond, which I am excited about. I will do a head to head test between the AB and the IL and post it here.