Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles E-Tip Chamber Pressures

My rifle is being repaired so I haven�t ordered my Nosler E-Tips yet. Nevertheless, I inquired if the Nosler Reloading Guide #6 provides any data on the 7mm E-Tip. Here is Nosler�s reply:

�Reduce any data in the # 5 or #6 guide 2 grains for the E-Tip maximum
Also seat the bullet a minimum of .050" off the rifling.�

I interpret this advisory to mean that the E-Tip is less malleable than lead-core bullets and may generate higher chamber pressures. It appears that maximum loads for E-Tip bullets are less than that of comparable lead-core bullets and that some amount of free-bore or bullet-jump is advised to reduce starting pressures.

Comments?

Sounds like Barnes advice........

You need to use the middle load as your maximum with the E-Tips! Be careful with them............

Bob

From what I saw playing with the 180 etip in my 300 win mag I would recomend that you start your loads at 5% under the max you are shooting with the same wt of another brand of bullet. I think you'll hit your full tilt velocity at about 2-3% below other "max's". YUP--the e tip is alot like the barnes xbt's that were on the market before the xlc coatings and the tsx bands. That long bearing surface takes up cartridge space AND has more friction going down the barrel...thus the reduction in charges are needed.

I'd use 200gr starting data for the 180 E-Tip; Max will be close to Max for a 200gr. BT pill, generally speaking.

Of course a Chrony will help....

I think the length/bearing surface has more to do with it than friction or fouling..

In my .300 Win Mag with 26 inch Lilja tube I could only push the 180 gr. E-Tip to just over 2800 fps before pressure signs (very hard bolt lift) appeared. This was using H4831sc at about 5 or 6 grains less than book max.

I'm sure it's a fine bullet as most Noslers are, but I think I'm gonna stick with the TSX or TTSX if I want to use an all copper bullet. I've had no problem getting full velocity out of the Barnes bullets and they're very accurate to boot.

Delta...good info and interesting feedback. My first tests with the 180 in a 24" savage/stevens 300 win mag I got 2890 with 72 grains re22. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get up to or close to 3000 with some "work up". Other posts on the 30 cal from other shooters it seems they make up to their normal velocity about 2 grains under their normal loads. On the 150 e tip for 308 it seems it acts pretty much like a normal 150 grain bullet.
I guess it just shows that every gun is different and we should all be wary of this new bullet as we load.

I had no problem getting 3000fps with 150g Etips in a friend's Savage 24 inch .30-06 at less than max charge of IMR4064.

Good deal to get same velocity with less powder.

Not sure how that happens though.

I got to almost 3,000 with the 180 and 73.5 grs RL-22 in a 300 Win.. Same load as my 200 Sierra BTSP and 200 Partition loads (the 200's clock 2,850) from 24". Regular 180 gr. loads use close to 76 grs. RL-22.

The 150 ran over 2,700 with 45.5 grs. RL-15 in a 308 Win. 22", just like other 150's do...

By seating a longer bullet to the same ogive O.A.L. makes the combustion chamber smaller, and increases pressure which increases velocity. Less powder, same velocity.

In other words, a 158 flush wadcutter atop the same powder charge as a 158 WLN seated into the cylinder throat of a 38 revolver will produce two different pressures and speeds....

It seems that some other brands of all copper bullets have grooves in them now. The Barnes bullets were solid with no grooves and now they have them. The GS bullets from Africa have been around for a while now and most of them have grooves.

Nosler may in development.
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GS HV bullets

Many folks dont' understand the relationship of pressure to speed generally speaking. Damn redneck idiots around here dang sure didn't when Barnes first came out.

I had no trouble getting 2950+fps safley in a 1:9 twist 24" 280 Rem with 150gr E-Tip and RL22.....

The velocity I am getting with 30 cal, 150 and 180gr e tips in my 300 ultra and win mag are about what I would expect for the powder charges.
They also dont seem to be to fussy.

BTW savage99, E tips are not solid copper bullets. They are made form guilding metal and they do not have the fouling issues that solid copper and pure copper jacketed bullets have. At leats thats been my experience from actually loading/shooting them.

Here is my question to Nosler sent today.

"What are the starting and maximum loads for your E-Tip
bullets?

Are the loads the same as with other bullets?"

Here is the answer received today.

From: Nosler Catalog (Catalognosler.com)

Sent: Thu 10/16/08 12:14 PM

"Reduce any of our published max loads 2grs. for the E-Tip max.
Also a minimum jump of .050" to the rifling."