Bullet test #2

[bamawoodsman]

Tested 3 bullets at 100 yards. They are left to right the hornady ftx .500 300 grain, Barnes xpander .500. 275 grain and the Barnes spitfire 250 grain tez .452 I was using 71.1 grains (Weighed) of fffg 777 and a cci mag primer I was very pleased with all 3. The ftx penetrated 3 jugs and stopped in the 4th The xpander penetrated 2 jugs and went thru and busted the back of the third jug And stopped in the 3rd. The tez stopped in the 4 th jug. There was nothing in front of the jugs. They just hit jugs and water.

 

[HC]

Most all bullets will mushroom hitting just water.

 

[bamawoodsman]

I’ve shot a couple that didn’t. Powerbelt 295 and Barnes 275 xpb 460 s& w didn’t. I can’t afford ballistic gel. So imo animals are mostly made up of water.

 

[GM54-120]

Ive used both the 50cal FTX and the 50cal 275gr Expander on actual deer harvests. Both blew through the deer like butter in 54x50 sabots. Internals were shredded and hearts were mangled. In the case of the Expander vs the TEZ it is simply expanding faster so it slows down faster after impact. Once a bullet gets through the initial hide/muscle, the rest is not nearly as tough to plow through until it reaches the other side. Not a whole lot of water/tissue in lungs and a heart is fairly tiny.

Its hard to compare the 275gr XPB with its tiny little HP and the fact its made for more velocity. Its a very poor choice unless you can shoot it much faster. In that case i can assure you it DOES expand.
225gr XPB left......275gr right. Both shot over 2200fps

 

[bamawoodsman]

Glad to hear from someone with actual experience on animals with the bullets I’m interested in hunting with.

 

[GM54-120]

The 50cal 275gr Expander is a great bullet for 54cals if you want a monolithic bullet. Personally, the Speer 50cal 325gr JHP kills just as well and cost 1/4 as much. Its a near perfect match for moderate ML speeds. Some people even load them in 50 Beowulf for deer hunting. Its made for 500A&E and expansion is very reliable.
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/17371

 

[bamawoodsman]

Yes. I actually shot that very bullet twice yesterday but failed to catch it It looks like a killer. I’m going to try to catch it next time I shoot.

 

[GM54-120]

That 325gr Speer is what Tony Knight shipped with all 54cals back in the day. The jacket is bonded so dont get confused if some call it jacketed. Its a UniCor like so many Speer bullets. If i had to choose one 50cal bullet for my 54-120 it would be that Speer. Underwood Ammo loads that same bullet to 1870fps in 50 Beowulf so its basically a perfect match for a ML. Alexander Arms used to sell them also.

 

[bamawoodsman]

Yes I read about it and bought a box. I’m going to try them again next time I shoot. I’m actually shooting a 50. I’m cutting the petals off a 50 cal black sabot and loading them under the Speer as a bridge base I’m getting great accuracy doing that with the 275 xpander.