Challenges of loading non lead ammunition

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Finally got round to loading up some 203gr Peregrine VLR4s in my 300 Norma Magnum
Treated myself to some fresh Lapua Brass.
Quickload is a bit ambitious on overall length putting it at 93.47mm
In practice with bullet with driving rings that are in relief it is better to keep the rings in the neck for stability and concentricity than chase the lands.

I settled on 89mm
QL indicated a decent velocity/pressure range using RS76
Between 87.5gr up to 89gr in 0.5gr increments
Three rounds is plenty to give an indication of potential
If the charge needs tweaking it can be done either side of the 0.5gr increment
In practice it rarely does

I laid the three round charge levels in my new Praesidia Magnum 50 round ammo wallet
In theory this was meant to make it easier for me.....

Off to the range
First round impacted slightly left or POA
Second round...same hole
Third round....same hole!

In the interest of not wasting components I stopped there.
I then realised I had the charge levels mixed up and had actually jumped into the middle of the lower charges.

More than happy with that, just need to make some more and chrono them
May explore a node either side but suspect these are pushing 3150fps
Not always this lucky but it doesnt have to be complicated or involve loading long OAL cartdridges
I just need to get a VLD seater pin to avoid the unsightly (but clearly ineffective) ring on the ogive

This is a lightweight stalking rifle
Built on a Sako TRG-s with a Sassen 24" sporter barrel threaded at 14x1 to give you an idea of the profile
One of Ronin's (Andy Massingham) builds
I am running the standard stock with a Jet-Z compact mod
Now wearing a 5-25x56 PM2 but the rifle is no heavier than a sporter in any other calibre/cartridge

Now just have to test them
If they work anything like as well as the 136gr in my 308 this should be a good combination

 

[JockStalk]

I’ve certainly found the fox bullets fine and accurate, easy to load for.
But I’m thinking with that rig and load they must be tough deer in Embra Ed

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I’ve certainly found the fox bullets fine and accurate, easy to load for.
But I’m thinking with that rig and load they must be tough deer in Embra Ed

This is my Fox load

 

[User00040]

I’ve certainly found the fox bullets fine and accurate, easy to load for.
But I’m thinking with that rig and load they must be tough deer in Embra Ed

Shoot the deer through a strainer!

 

[Dalua]

In practice with bullet with driving rings that are in relief it is better to keep the rings in the neck for stability and concentricity than chase the lands.

Interesting stuff!
What does the bit I've put in italics mean, though?

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Rings in relief means the only part that is groove diameter is the ring
It means the bullet rides on approximately 1-2mm.
Very low friction, low pressure and allows faster powders to be used in shorter barrels due to lower starting pressures
Engagement into the lands can be as little as 20-25kg pressure

Most monolithic bullets have grooves cut into the shank where the 60-70% of the shank remains and is groove diameter
Requires more engagement pressure to deform the bullet into the lands but presents a much more stable shank for the neck to grip onto

 

[Selous]

Holy moley that is a very serious Sika rifle!! We need pictures of the setup and the deer that it collects

 

[kenbro]

Ed;
What distance did you shoot 3 through the same hole?
Nice shooting whatever.
Ken.

 

[Dalua]

Rings in relief means the only part that is groove diameter is the ring

I think that's what I found confusing. Is it perhaps an engineering expression?

Anyhow, I understand that these bullets have a smaller proprtion of groove-diameter surface than others, because a greater propotyion of the shank has been turned down from groove- to bore-diameter.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Correct
The rings stick up “in relief” rather than removed grooves

Ken
Bang on 100m

 

[JockStalk]

I think that's what I found confusing. Is it perhaps an engineering expression?

I think “in relief” in this term owes more to art than it does engineering. Comes from releivare, to raise, where surfaces are carved back leaving the sculpted picture raised above the background. So the bearing surfaces have as much to do with michaelangelo as they do eduard rubin

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I think “in relief” in this term owes more to art than it does engineering. Comes from releivare, to raise, where surfaces are carved back leaving the sculpted picture raised above the background. So the bearing surfaces have as much to do with michaelangelo as they do eduard rubin

as these bullets are a work of ****ing art it’s entirely relevant…..

Its also not limited to art and defines anything that has been modded, carved or machined to leave a element that projects from a larger surface.
But I digress…

 

[kenbro]

Correct
The rings stick up “in relief” rather than removed grooves

Ken
Bang on 100m

Doesn’t get better than that whatever the bullets.

 

[paul o']

Not wishing to stop Ed getting out of the shop door today ! but my first Fox load data was crap ?? So I fired off a message to him for help and just as fast he sent me his new data . I then Loaded to this and first three rounds were in the same hole over N160 & 2nd three rounds also were just a one hole group over R22.
So in 9 rounds my wasting of costly copper bullets was over
Hats off Ed

 

[Heym SR20]

Reading many posts, and with my own experience is it fair to say that most of these copper bullets are inherently accurate and much less sensitive to slight variations in load.

Given that they are turned from a solid bar, rather thumping a copper jacket around a piece of lead wire and then forcing it through a series of dies, it’s hardly surprising.