SML Bullet Captures

[ElDiablo]

After a “spectacular” result with one of the loads below on a close range (40 yard) javelina this spring, I decided to do a little bullet testing in the past few weeks.

Here are the results of some recent bullet captures using smokeless in a .45 SML. All bullets fired from a 24” .45 McGowen (smokeless-rated) Omega and Cheddite 209s. All bullets knurled lightly. Caught at 25 yards basically using the @ronlaughlin method (carpet/1/4” plywood/water jugs). These are full-powered charges not reduced as Ron uses. Each gallon jug measures 5 3/4” of water. Muzzle velocities measured with a Magnetospeed.

1. Fury 240 OT .40/HLBS with 57 gr of H4198: 2537 fps. Bullet caught in 3rd jug. Approx 167 grains of fragments recovered.




2. Fury 240 OT .40/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7: 2726 fps. Bullet caught in 2nd jug. Approx 122 grains of fragments recovered.



3. Fury 225 .40/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7: 2711 fps. Bullet caught in 2nd jug. Approx 185 grains of fragments recovered.





4. Fury 225 .40/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7. Bullet caught in 2nd jug. Approx 145 grains of fragments recovered.



5. Barnes 195 .40 expander/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7, at 2650 fps. Bullet caught in 4th jug. 151 gr core and one broken petal recovered.






6. Barnes 195 .40 expander/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7. Bullet caught in 4th jug. 165 gr core (with one petal intact) and two broken petals recovered.

 

[Mike3888]

Great report, just what I’m interested in especially the 240 Fury’s. That’s gonna be the first bullet I test. Got my Brux from Mark yesterday but no time as of now to brag about it. It’s super sweet.. Just catching a break in the middle of roof on my garage..

 

[Ninering62]

After a “spectacular” result with one of the loads below on a close range (40 yard) javelina this spring, I decided to do a little bullet testing in the past few weeks.

Here are the results of some recent bullet captures using smokeless in a .45 SML. All bullets fired from a 24” .45 McGowen (smokeless-rated) Omega and Cheddite 209s. All bullets knurled lightly. Caught at 25 yards basically using the @ronlaughlin method (carpet/1/4” plywood/water jugs). These are full-powered charges not reduced as Ron uses. Each gallon jug measures 5 3/4” of water. Muzzle velocities measured with a Magnetospeed.

1. Fury 240 OT .40/HLBS with 57 gr of H4198: 2537 fps. Bullet caught in 3rd jug. Approx 167 grains of fragments recovered.

View attachment 33399
View attachment 33398

2. Fury 240 OT .40/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7: 2726 fps. Bullet caught in 2nd jug. Approx 122 grains of fragments recovered.

View attachment 33400

3. Fury 225 .40/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7: 2711 fps. Bullet caught in 2nd jug. Approx 185 grains of fragments recovered.

View attachment 33405

View attachment 33401

4. Fury 225 .40/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7. Bullet caught in 2nd jug. Approx 145 grains of fragments recovered.

View attachment 33402

5. Barnes 195 .40 expander/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7, at 2650 fps. Bullet caught in 4th jug. 151 gr core and one broken petal recovered.

View attachment 33407

View attachment 33403


6. Barnes 195 .40 expander/HLBS with 70 gr Reloder 7. Bullet caught in 4th jug. 165 gr core (with one petal intact) and two broken petals recovered.

View attachment 33404

WOW! Thanks for a great range report El D.

 

[Ninering62]

Great report, just what I’m interested in especially the 240 Fury’s. That’s gonna be the first bullet I test. Got my Brux from Mark yesterday but no time as of now to brag about it. It’s super sweet.. Just catching a break in the middle of roof on my garage..

Thats awesome, well keep us posted with what you do with your new Woodman Omega.

 

[10acres]

I’m surprised the Fury bullets kind of exploded like they did.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

Great thread! Thanx for taking the time to create and post it.
I stopped experimenting with bullets for my SML a while back. I found that the Barnes 250 and 290 gr TEZ's does everything I need for a hunting bullet. Accuracy and performance at short range and long. One tough bullet. I know not everyone's gun will shoot them as well as mine does. Me thinks I got lucky.

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

I think it would be hard to find a lead core bullet, even bonded, that would hold up to those velocities at 25 yards. Maybe a Barnes original?

 

[ElDiablo]

I think it would be hard to find a lead core bullet, even bonded, that would hold up to those velocities at 25 yards. Maybe a Barnes original?

As I’ve said before, the problem with many of the made-for-bullet-to-bore-shooting bullets is that they are thin jacketed and soft lead. Bonding doesn’t help them much.

Nosler partition or Swift A-Frame would do great I think. They are on my list to test. I also think the bonded 300 gr Shockwave would do much better. Whether any of these would be accurate is another question.

 

[mckbcat2000]

Swift A-Frame. If you look way back in Ron's testing a person by the name of buckhtr77 provided Ron a few of those to test. They performed great. Now, this was at Blackhorn 209 speeds. My Dad and I both have SML built by Arrowhead. We tinkered with the Swift A-Frame one day and it was a B!T*H getting that bullet to give at all in the sizer. We got it really close and then had the first one stuck in the barrel trying to get it down. I gave up at that point with those. I'd like to use them as most of our deer are 200 and in, and you can get them in 325 (I have half a box of those). My Dad did kill a deer with one out of his Omega at 160 yards. Bullet recovered looked exactly like what you see on their website!! Any suggestions on getting the size well enough to be usable would be welcome.

Thanks for your info.

 

[mckbcat2000]

Lastly, I was the person that sent those A-Frame to Ron, that's why I can remember that.

 

[Decay]

Great write up and photos. Thanks.

Did you recover and photograph the bullet from the javelina?

Have you tested the Fury’s to learn what the maximum velocity is before they fragment? Or, said another way, at what maximum velocity they stay together in your test medium of carpet plywood and water? As in most load development, one starts at lower velocity and works up with powder volume. Was there a point where you had both accuracy and non fragmentation?

 

[Decay]

Where can I buy the Barnes 45 cal expander? I can't find any for sale. I have a voice mail message into Barnes asking, but I don't know if I'll ever get a call back.

 

[ElDiablo]

Where can I buy the Barnes 45 cal expander? I can't find any for sale. I have a voice mail message into Barnes asking, but I don't know if I'll ever get a call back.

Are you looking for .45 cal bullets or .40 cal bullets? The .40s are very scarce. I found a bunch at a LGS. The .45s are avail on Barnes site.

 

[ElDiablo]

Great write up and photos. Thanks.

Did you recover and photograph the bullet from the javelina?

Have you tested the Fury’s to learn what the maximum velocity is before they fragment? Or, said another way, at what maximum velocity they stay together in your test medium of carpet plywood and water? As in most load development, one starts at lower velocity and works up with powder volume. Was there a point where you had both accuracy and non fragmentation?

I haven’t done any of that kind of testing yet. No, the bullet went off into outerspace.

 

[Decay]

Thanks. What’s LGS?

 

[ElDiablo]

Local gun store

 

[Decay]

Thanks

 

[DannoBoone]

Thanks for taking the time for testing and posting. This reveals the reason I went to all copper a few years ago. It's more of a trick to get most of them to shoot accurately, but when you do......

 

[10acres]

Which bullet did you use on the Javelina? I’m gonna guess the Barnes.

 

[jsteurrys]

Great thread! Thanx for taking the time to create and post it.
I stopped experimenting with bullets for my SML a while back. I found that the Barnes 250 and 290 gr TEZ's does everything I need for a hunting bullet. Accuracy and performance at short range and long. One tough bullet. I know not everyone's gun will shoot them as well as mine does. Me thinks I got lucky.

I have had real good luck getting both of these Barnes bullets to shoot sub-MOA out of my .45 McGowen barrel SMLs. They are all I use for deer hunting since 2013.