sometimes it just needs a KICK in the @$$

[smokeeter]

I decided to get out to the club today and do a little shooting with it being such a nice day. Today I was shooting my smokeless Savage with a large shank Brux .45 barrel.
I was using some .458 300 grain Hornady bullets that I had modified to a spitzer profile full form sized , and my standard 70 grain charge. The group would fit nicely into a 3 in. circle which would be fine for minute of deer but these rifles are capable of much better accuracy than that. I decided to try some 73 grain loads that I had and immediately after the first shot I realized things were looking up, after the initial shot which was 1 in left of centre. I adjusted the scope 4 clicks to the right and proceeded to produce a nice cloverleaf.
Everything else was the same, just the increase in powder.
This gun was built to handle this charge easily ( don't try it in your gun if it hasn't be designed for it).
Sometimes like everything else we just need a kick in the @$$ to get things going.

here's the bullet


here's the first group


here's the final group

[boogaloo]

Nicely done.

[Big Jack]

Looks like it is getting right where you want it!

Have you tried a heavy load of 3031?

Should push it from 2700 to 3000 FPS.

[smokeeter]

I haven't tried any slower powder than the 4198 or equivalent , I was trying to squeeze as much out of a pound as I could. plus my barrel is possibly a little short to ensure all of the powder is burnt.

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

Smokeless powder muzzle loading guns rule!

I like everything about my Savage 10ML ii except for the weight. lol

[RS460]

That is great shooting. What velocity are you getting from that load? My Savage 10ml II is a .50 cal. and I shoot 67gr of H4198 with a 325 gr Hornady FTX in Harvester black crush rib sabots. I get 2250fps and 1.5" groups. BTW, I like your modified bullets. Is it a difficult process to modify the bullets?

[smokeeter]

I have chronied the 70 gr load and velocities were 2650 , I haven't done the 73 gr load but I suspect it'll be 2800ish.
The bullets are formed with some custom dies and a 4 ton hydraulic press.

[RS460]

That 73gr load with your custom made bullets and a range finder makes for a solid long range deer gun. Did you buy the dies or make them yourself?
I plan on converting a .50 cal Remington 700Ml to .45 cal. I want to shoot swaged Hornady 325gr ftx's at 2600fps for my long range deer gun.
I like what you're doing. Good work

[mrgrtt123]

It seems like you had so much fun just by looking at the bullet holes in the pictures.