nvbroncrider
Handloader
- Aug 20, 2011
- 3,085
- 4
Wow that's interesting.
RL 33 in a 7 STW
- Thread starter ksubuck
- Start date
OU812":2gsg1tew said:
Not wanting to be a smart butt here, I would be LIVID if that happened on an elk or othe BG animal I spent money and more importantly time on.
I agree with Bill. Could be a bullet failure but that would scare the crap out of me. If I was straight up guessing I'd bet the bullet is at the ragged edge of stability at your elevation.
OU812
Handloader
- Apr 18, 2006
- 2,099
- 2
Me too Scotty. I know bullets "fail" per our expectations upon impact from time to time but I don't ever want an epic failure before the bullet gets to it's intended destination.
I have heard of bullets keyholeing but to come out of know where seems odd. Have you weighed the bullet to see if it's an odd weight? I am real curious as to what might have been the root cause.
I have heard of bullets keyholeing but to come out of know where seems odd. Have you weighed the bullet to see if it's an odd weight? I am real curious as to what might have been the root cause.
- Thread starter
- #24
The problem is that I will never get to examine the exact bullet as it is buried in the backstop with millions of other bullets. Also, I unfortunately did not weigh every bullet in this box which might have caught this bullet if it was an oddball.
I wonder if the core might have been cracked, or if it was under-filled with lead which might have allowed the nose of the jacket to fold off to the side. But for it to hit exactly in line with the point of aim seems about as likely as a lightening strike. Other opinions are that the bullet was tumbling ass-over-head all the way.
Regardless, I have shot over 500 Bergers of various dimension and have never had a problem until this. I have sent 120 from this lot down the tube and this is the first question. These have been easily the most accurate bullets I have ever used.
Since I am just screwing around trying to build a load that fits the mag, I am asking them to jump big and I wonder if that plays a role here.
I wonder if the core might have been cracked, or if it was under-filled with lead which might have allowed the nose of the jacket to fold off to the side. But for it to hit exactly in line with the point of aim seems about as likely as a lightening strike. Other opinions are that the bullet was tumbling ass-over-head all the way.
Regardless, I have shot over 500 Bergers of various dimension and have never had a problem until this. I have sent 120 from this lot down the tube and this is the first question. These have been easily the most accurate bullets I have ever used.
Since I am just screwing around trying to build a load that fits the mag, I am asking them to jump big and I wonder if that plays a role here.
- Thread starter
- #25
Finally made it back to the range with this load. A wise man suggested I not jump the VLD as much so I went back out towards the lands and ran some groups around 0.050 through 0.080 off which is where I had good luck in the past. Magic! All 4 groups were right at a half MOA.
Final load is 86.5 grains RL33 0.080 off the lands. Runs slightly over 3100fps. Now just have to verify in cold temps, may have to add a little powder to keep the velocity up when it is cold.
Final load is 86.5 grains RL33 0.080 off the lands. Runs slightly over 3100fps. Now just have to verify in cold temps, may have to add a little powder to keep the velocity up when it is cold.
