It?s time to finish the theory of smokeless muzzle loading and move on to what can be expected in practice. It is apparent that a 50 caliber smokeless rifle (muzzle or breech loader) is a very powerful weapon. It should be no surprise that some of the useful loads shoot to considerable energy.
For our purposes let us consider the loads by bullet weight. For shooting bullets with sabots (the only method in 50 caliber) there are two weights of bullets most commonly shot, the 250 and 300 grain models. We will spend most of our time with these weights but will discuss others as well.
For shooting a 250 or 300 grain bullets one should never dismiss the possibility a factory suggestion would work. For shooters wanting no more than 2300fps with a 250 grain bullet or 2200fps with a 300 grain bullet Xmr-5744, VV N110, and Imr-SR4759 will reach these speeds at a good pressure and low recoil level. For those who want faster bullets speeds they can be had as well and the following will provide a good deal of helpful advice on how to get there.
Shooting a 250 grain bullet past 2350fps (to a maximum of about 2700fps) requires a slower burning powder than the factory three listed above. Most powders are too slow burning to reach the required speed and pressure within a reasonable load level but there are a few exceptions. Those include VV N120, H-4198, Alliant Reloader #7, and Imr-4198. If you wish to shoot 4198 I highly suggest the Hodgdon H-4198 product because it is much easier to ignite than Imr-4198 and thus less likely to have problems with loose fitting sabots.
To get the most out of a slower powder you need the proper sabot. I?ve found the MMP HPH-12 or the Harvester short black high pressure sabots will handle the task. Once you have the sabot then it?s a matter of choosing a proper load level
Each powder will likely show accuracy at different speeds. I recommend a spread of 4 or 5 grains of each different powder to allow some adjustment for accuracy. When shooting N120 the load level will be slightly less than the other three mentioned powders. For a 250 grain bullet N120 will likely be most accurate from 62 to 67 grains. The other three powders will shoot more charge weight.
For H-4198 and Reloader #7 best loads generally run from 68 to 73 grains for a 250 grain bullet. The level you choose should be tempered by the fact that crossing the 70 grain load level means you will be taking the recoil from a load going 2600fps with a 250 grain bullet. That?s about the same as a 375 H&H. The British 3/8? is noted for taking game as big as elephant so you have an idea what to expect.
As you can see from this load shot with 74 grains of H-4198 under a 250 grain SST 75 or more grains of powder would still be in the proper pressure window but my shoulder can?t take it.
I?m not giving data for Imr-4198 not because it won?t work or people don?t shot it (a good many do) but I think H-4198 is a better suggestion. If you must, Imr-4198 will shoot slightly faster than its? H brother so use about 1.5 or 2 grains less for the same result.
All four of these powders will work excellently with 300 grain bullets as well. The only thing that has to be changed is the suggested charge levels. For N120 best results are had between 58 and 63 grains. For H-4198 and Reloader #7 a good suggestion would be between 65 and 69 grains. The same 2 grains less than H-4198 is a good idea for Imr-4198.
I have listed only a few powders for 250 grain bullets. Some of you may be aware that others (10X, N130, Xmr-2015, and H322 to name a few) will work. However to have the proper pressure you?d have to shoot even more powder than I?ve suggested so far. More than 75 grains of powder seems like an excess to me and the recoil is larger as well. Still you will see these powders used in the cases where a very low pressure load is a virtue.
As a final part of this chapter I think it?s important to note shooting a bullet heavier than 300 grains is not only possible it is easier in all respects than shooting very light weight bullets. The reason should be obvious: 50 caliber smokeless rifles are designed to shoot heavy (in comparison to smaller caliber rifles) bullets. All load data for a 50 caliber rifle starts with 300 or 350 grain bullets that only gets heavier from there. So I have a few suggestions for shooting really heavy bullets. These loads could be used on heavy or dangerous game.
A 350 grain bullet can be shot at a very great speed with a moderate pressure from a 50 caliber smokeless barrel. I suggest H322 as a good powder for this purpose. 74 to 78 grains works very well except if your shoulder is sore. At about 2300fps this load offers power at only a moderate pain investment. However the same powder could be used up to 2500fps. I won?t shoot it but perhaps someone would volunteer.
You could go to an even heavier bullet. The following image is a 400 grain Speer flat nosed bullet in an orange MMP sabot shot ahead of 75 grains of Imr-3031.
The load is still on the low edge of our pressure window despite moving the 400 grain bullet to 2080fps. Bringing the load to maximum pressure would surly make 2250fps and pass 4200fpe. That would cure about anything beset on gnawing, tromping, or scratching a hunter into a bad day.
Accuracy can be very good when shooting heavy bullets as this target shows. The bullet was a 400 grain Speer FN with 75 grains of Imr-3031 as a load.
I have not covered every load possibility by a long shot but I hope this gives a picture of the great number of possibilities available.
For our purposes let us consider the loads by bullet weight. For shooting bullets with sabots (the only method in 50 caliber) there are two weights of bullets most commonly shot, the 250 and 300 grain models. We will spend most of our time with these weights but will discuss others as well.
For shooting a 250 or 300 grain bullets one should never dismiss the possibility a factory suggestion would work. For shooters wanting no more than 2300fps with a 250 grain bullet or 2200fps with a 300 grain bullet Xmr-5744, VV N110, and Imr-SR4759 will reach these speeds at a good pressure and low recoil level. For those who want faster bullets speeds they can be had as well and the following will provide a good deal of helpful advice on how to get there.
Shooting a 250 grain bullet past 2350fps (to a maximum of about 2700fps) requires a slower burning powder than the factory three listed above. Most powders are too slow burning to reach the required speed and pressure within a reasonable load level but there are a few exceptions. Those include VV N120, H-4198, Alliant Reloader #7, and Imr-4198. If you wish to shoot 4198 I highly suggest the Hodgdon H-4198 product because it is much easier to ignite than Imr-4198 and thus less likely to have problems with loose fitting sabots.
To get the most out of a slower powder you need the proper sabot. I?ve found the MMP HPH-12 or the Harvester short black high pressure sabots will handle the task. Once you have the sabot then it?s a matter of choosing a proper load level
Each powder will likely show accuracy at different speeds. I recommend a spread of 4 or 5 grains of each different powder to allow some adjustment for accuracy. When shooting N120 the load level will be slightly less than the other three mentioned powders. For a 250 grain bullet N120 will likely be most accurate from 62 to 67 grains. The other three powders will shoot more charge weight.
For H-4198 and Reloader #7 best loads generally run from 68 to 73 grains for a 250 grain bullet. The level you choose should be tempered by the fact that crossing the 70 grain load level means you will be taking the recoil from a load going 2600fps with a 250 grain bullet. That?s about the same as a 375 H&H. The British 3/8? is noted for taking game as big as elephant so you have an idea what to expect.
As you can see from this load shot with 74 grains of H-4198 under a 250 grain SST 75 or more grains of powder would still be in the proper pressure window but my shoulder can?t take it.
I?m not giving data for Imr-4198 not because it won?t work or people don?t shot it (a good many do) but I think H-4198 is a better suggestion. If you must, Imr-4198 will shoot slightly faster than its? H brother so use about 1.5 or 2 grains less for the same result.
All four of these powders will work excellently with 300 grain bullets as well. The only thing that has to be changed is the suggested charge levels. For N120 best results are had between 58 and 63 grains. For H-4198 and Reloader #7 a good suggestion would be between 65 and 69 grains. The same 2 grains less than H-4198 is a good idea for Imr-4198.
I have listed only a few powders for 250 grain bullets. Some of you may be aware that others (10X, N130, Xmr-2015, and H322 to name a few) will work. However to have the proper pressure you?d have to shoot even more powder than I?ve suggested so far. More than 75 grains of powder seems like an excess to me and the recoil is larger as well. Still you will see these powders used in the cases where a very low pressure load is a virtue.
As a final part of this chapter I think it?s important to note shooting a bullet heavier than 300 grains is not only possible it is easier in all respects than shooting very light weight bullets. The reason should be obvious: 50 caliber smokeless rifles are designed to shoot heavy (in comparison to smaller caliber rifles) bullets. All load data for a 50 caliber rifle starts with 300 or 350 grain bullets that only gets heavier from there. So I have a few suggestions for shooting really heavy bullets. These loads could be used on heavy or dangerous game.
A 350 grain bullet can be shot at a very great speed with a moderate pressure from a 50 caliber smokeless barrel. I suggest H322 as a good powder for this purpose. 74 to 78 grains works very well except if your shoulder is sore. At about 2300fps this load offers power at only a moderate pain investment. However the same powder could be used up to 2500fps. I won?t shoot it but perhaps someone would volunteer.
You could go to an even heavier bullet. The following image is a 400 grain Speer flat nosed bullet in an orange MMP sabot shot ahead of 75 grains of Imr-3031.
The load is still on the low edge of our pressure window despite moving the 400 grain bullet to 2080fps. Bringing the load to maximum pressure would surly make 2250fps and pass 4200fpe. That would cure about anything beset on gnawing, tromping, or scratching a hunter into a bad day.
Accuracy can be very good when shooting heavy bullets as this target shows. The bullet was a 400 grain Speer FN with 75 grains of Imr-3031 as a load.
I have not covered every load possibility by a long shot but I hope this gives a picture of the great number of possibilities available.
