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Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: Sabotloader on September 11, 2016, 02:00:22 PM


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Title: Making a full bore bullet from a Lehigh 50x350 Beowulf
Post by: Sabotloader on September 11, 2016, 02:00:22 PM
Had time on my hands this morning... football is starting and the dang Packers tried to give it away!!! but anyway thought I would try to show what I am doing with this particular bullet.

I picked up a box of Lehigh .500x350 CF bullets.  These bullets were built for the 50 Beowulf.  I am looking for an alternative to a lead or even copper bullet that I could use full bore.  Naturally I can not use it here in Idaho during ML season but during the normal rifle season I could.

I am a fan of the Terminal Ballistics of the Lehigh bullet... + in a discussion with Lehigh Dave he suggested that there was such a thing as a 'bore riding bullet'.  It does not have to fill the grooves to be accurate!  I did do some reading on Lutz Moeller and his bore riding bullets.  I was not convinced that an easy loading bullet with a gas check could be accurate - but today I am convinced that it can happen.  The bullet just needs a grip on the lands for rotation.

I have been using the Lehigh/Knight .50x325 ML bullet for a couple of years working to make it effective.  Some of these bullets 'factory sized' will fit in my bore with very little pressure - easy to push down with a gun rod (although a tight enough fit that they will not come off the powder).  These have shot very accurately for me.

In an effort to reduce costs - I found the Lehigh 50x350 Beowulf.  In my Knight Ulite - these bullets will slide slowly down the bore under their own weight.  Another reason I like the Beowulf - the bullet is built for a centerfire - so the bullet is manufactured to much tighter specs - which makes each bullet almost identical in weight and diameter. This makes it much easier to get a consistent knurl.

My first attempts were to knurl them between to files which worked but it was not consistent. + brass is much more difficult to knurl than copper or lead. I needed a better way!  Think I have found it - with some simple tools.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2F350%2520Knurling.jpg&hash=bc976ac2343800d1eaa6338a155e6056783ed4cb) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sabotloader/media/350%20Knurling.jpg.html)

I know it is really hard to see the small cut knurling lines in the bullet.  At the present time I am trying to do it with two cut lines - one near the base of the bullet and one at the top of the ogive.

The cut lines give me a bullet diameter of .501/.502 and works very well in my bore.

Hoping to get out to the farm early next week for velocity and accuracy checking of these newly knurled bullets...
Title: Re: Making a full bore bullet from a Lehigh 50x350 Beowulf
Post by: bankwalker on September 12, 2016, 10:05:47 PM
Very interesting. Can't wait to see the results!!
Title: Re: Making a full bore bullet from a Lehigh 50x350 Beowulf
Post by: jasnt on September 25, 2016, 08:48:23 AM
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