damaged meat

[accubond]

A buddy and I just got back from a whitetail hunt. We both use Tikka T3 lite 7mm/08 rifles. We both handloaded Nosler AccuBond bullets with Hodgson H4350 powder. He uses 46 grains while I use 48 grains of powder. Three of the deer were shot with my rifle and one deer was shot with his rifle. The amount of tissue damage on the three deer shot with my rifle and bullets was far more when compared to the tissue damage from his rifle and bullets. Animal size, shot location, distance etc. were relatively the similar. Anybody got any explainations / comments. Thanks

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Did your buddy miss bone?

 

[accubond]

ya, he got bone. In fact a rib deflected the bullet

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Have you chronographed both guns?

 

[accubond]

no we have not chronographed either gun. I suppose that there could possibly be enough difference between the two guns and/or 2 grains of powder. One difference is the Accubonds, both 145 gr, are from different boxes of bullets.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

The difference in velocity will make a bigger difference then the bullets comming from two different boxes of bullets. In addition, small differences can make a big difference in the field.

 

[accubond]

I suppose 2 grains of powder increases the velocity to a point where bullet impact causes substanially more damage. Also, I doubt that there is much difference between rifles. They are both new. Too bad we will have to wait until next year when I can try a handload with 46 grains from my rifle. thanks

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Or just shoot one a couple of hundred yards further out! :grin:

 

[FOTIS]

Just a prediction but..........


Cartridge : 7 mm-08 Rem.
Bullet : .284, 140, Nosler AccuBond 59992
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch or 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch or 558.8 mm
Powder : Hodgdon H4350

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 86 36.80 2232 1549 28808 7564 85.3 1.460
-18.0 88 37.72 2291 1631 30784 7838 86.8 1.420
-16.0 90 38.64 2350 1717 32904 8106 88.3 1.380
-14.0 92 39.56 2410 1805 35179 8367 89.6 1.342
-12.0 94 40.48 2470 1896 37625 8619 90.9 1.303
-10.0 97 41.40 2530 1990 40256 8863 92.2 1.262
-08.0 99 42.32 2591 2086 43089 9095 93.3 1.223
-06.0 101 43.24 2652 2186 46137 9316 94.4 1.184
-04.0 103 44.16 2713 2288 49439 9524 95.4 1.147
-02.0 105 45.08 2774 2392 53002 9718 96.3 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 107 46.00 2836 2500 56864 9896 97.1 1.077 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 109 46.92 2897 2610 61049 10058 97.8 1.044 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 112 47.84 2959 2722 65603 10202 98.4 1.011 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 114 48.76 3021 2837 70557 10326 98.9 0.980 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 116 49.68 3083 2955 75970 10431 99.4 0.949 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 118 50.60 3145 3074 81891 10514 99.7 0.920 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 107 46.00 2985 2769 68672 9786 99.9 0.996 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 107 46.00 2639 2165 46461 9435 89.7 1.181

 

[accubond]

Interesting! The energy is quite a bit higher for the 48 grains. That extra energy might be enough to cause the difference in tiisue damage. Where are those data from? Thanks

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I thought that 48 grains look a little stiff!
Any pressure signs with that load?

 

[accubond]

Yes, there are slight pressure signs. Flattening of the primer! I think I might take the remaining bullets apart and relaod with less powder. I got the maximum load (48 gr) from either Hodgson or Speer.

 

[YoteSmoker]

Work up to 46 grains IMR 4350 and stop on that. You'll be in love! Figure on about 2800 fps and very accurate loads.

 

[JD338]

AccuBond,

Welcome to to forum. Sounds like you have a high pressure load. Keep in mind that if you shoot that load during the summer months, pressures will be even higher even though this is a Hodgdon Extreme powder.

As for tissue damage, I think what you are seeing is what an extra 200 fps can do. Of course, hitting bone creates secondary projectiles which will really tear things up. Unless you are in a controlled test environment, its difficult to duplicate results.The 140 gr AB is doing its job well.

JD338

 

[257 Ackley]

Another suggestion may be to go to a little faster powder like R-15. That is what I use for my 7mm-08 and have had great results. I tried both 4350 and R-19 as well, and could never get the velocity where I wanted to be before pressure signs started showing up. You will not have the pressure problems that you have now and will be at about 90% case capacity by the time you have a good load worked up. My data is for the 140 Swift A-frame, but it should work very similarly. I would share the data I use, but am on the road traveling this week in Montana and don't have it with me. (There will be alittle "side trip" to the Cooper facility coming up on Wednesday!! :grin:

 

[accubond]

thanks to everyone for your forum contributions.