Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles .50 Beowulf - Lil' Gun Powder

Rain finally quit this afternoon and got the gear set up.
Lil' Gun powder/335gr Rainier Plated bullet:
35.0gr - 1787/1872/1847fps -- 1835fps avg
36.0gr - 1906/1848/1865fps -- 1873fps avg
37.0gr - 1940/1848/ ? fps -- 1894fps avg
Velocity jumps around a bit with each load but have heard this from others when using this powder.
However, at 50yds the target had one ragged hole chewed out of the center; shooting from a solid benchrest position. Am below the factory recommended max of 37.7gr with this powder and there are no excessive preasure signs. Do not believe we will have to go to the max to get an avg velocity of 1900fps, which is our goal with this bullet.
Best Wishes <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Upped the powder charge this afternoon:
37.2gr - 1864/1945/1967/1864/1917 = 1911fps avg
No further powder charge increase will be used with this combination.
The factory lists 1900fps at 37.7gr.
Now if I can just master this Red Dot sight as it is really fast onto target.
Will try other bullet and powder combinations as time permits. The weapon is fully functional at this point, for what we want.
Best Wishes

sounds good!

just curious what you will mainly use it for?

Mr. Blammer,
Please bear in mind that I have a soft spot in my heart for the CAR-16 as a result from extensive use in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. I am very comfortable carrying one. However, as I am certain you well realize, it (5.56mm) leaves a bit to be desired when confronting something larger than a two legged critter at close range.
We will enjoy carrying it on WalkAbout at our ol' homestead. It will also be carried when following up wounded Grizz in the thick stuff. Some of my neighbors are actually worse shots than myself ( especially under stress), though some find that hard to believe. Prior to this I carried a Marlin 1895 converted to .50 Alaskan by Wild West Guns. A very effective weapon in the thick stuff.
Sorry to have rambled on.
Best Wishes

Yes, I have an AR in 223 and your right, not too good a weapon for the mean and nasties you may encounter, specially those with teeth and claws!

They are light and comfy to carry, and the added "whoop ass" of the 50 Beowulf is a definite bonus!

I was kind of wondering if you'll be deer hunting with it also?

But a general carry rifle sounds like a great idea, in your neck o the woods.

I suspect it could get "pricey" to plink with all the time....

Yes Sir, it would be a little pricy to plink with (mostly, the lost brass) extensively. Under those circumstances we leave the 5.56 top assembley attached with a .22 long rifle adapter installed. Can shoot to our heart's content. But at my age, have decided not worry about the occasional lost piece of brass and just enjoy the day, shooting the random stump that may pose a threat to my well being while on walkabout.
As for deer, we can buy beef much cheaper than what it would cost to pursue Blacktail Deer on one of the Islands, up here. Too bad as we really enjoy hunting them and they taste gooood! Do believe it would serve well on the critters, otherwise. Probably as well as the old tried and true .45-70.
Best Wishes

It is a beautiful morning (10:00am when shots were fired) with a bright sky and soft breeze. Sighted in and shot for group at 100yds with the 37.2gr load. With the 2MOA Dot intensity turned up enough for good contrast against the bullseye, it seems to be covering about three inches at this range. Please bear in mind I am still learing to use this thing correctly.
Anyway, the group spanned 3 3/8 inches center to center, shot from a solid bench rest position. May try dropping the powder charge a bit, just for the heck of it. And/or go up a few tenths as we are below the 37.7gr factory load.
Of course this is still a new barrel and not broken in as yet. Then there is the option of shooting around 02:30am when it is not quite so bright out and the Dot intensity can be reduced, resulting in a smaller and more sharply defined Dot.
Best Wishes

Windwalker,
I have a Beowulf with a Holosight and had problems getting Lil Gun to shoot consistently for me in mine. Accurate 1680 was recommended by rost and the guy at Alexander Arms but I've yet to shoot it beyond two sighters to find out what it might do, but they cut a figure eight. Anyway the range I shot those two at was supposed to be clear and then some workers walk out from behind a building a few hundred yards up from the berm. This was a private range in Texas that I was on to hunt so I took those two touching for good and went hunting. I may have just been in bad form, but the misses that afternoon were noticeable, so I don't know if the load's a good one or not. I just haven't had the time to get back out with it, and certainly hope the misses were me. I was shooting a Barnes 325 over about 45 grains of 1680. I might mount a scope for the next time out, even though I do have a lot of trust in the holosight. Once I get back to the range with it I'll let you know what happens.

Mr. RickyD,
Good to hear of your experience and will look forward to more of the same. Thought we would play with the Lil'Gun a bit more, breaking in the barrel, and then move on to another powder. Our Barnes 325 and 375gr should be here by the end of the week, I hope.
Best Wishes

Gentlemen,
Yesterday: 37.0gr//3inch group @ 100yds - 1894fps avg
37.3gr//4 1/2inch group @ 100yds - 1962fps avg
As you may recall, the 37.2gr gave 3 3/8inch group @ 100yds - 1911fps avg.

Today: 36.0gr//2 9/16inch group @ 100yds - 1886fps avg
35.0gr//1 7/16inch group @ 100yds - 1833fps avg
Do believe we have our plinking and stump shooting load at 35.0gr. Considering my inexperience with the Red Dot Sight, am pleased with this combination.
Will now move on to the Barnes XPB 375gr and a suitable powder for a good WalkAbout load.
Best Wishes

Glad to hear your pleased with your results. 335 grains at 1800+ should take down most anything on earth out to 100 yards with good bullet construction and shot placement. It's just been too hot around here to even think about shooting but it won't forever. I'm getting anxious! Best wishes with those Barnes 375's. I may have to order some. I've tried the 250's and 325's. They will do the trick on most anything too, I feel. I still believe mine has 1" potential in it and will see if I can't get it out of it yet..................when it cools down! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />