The custom bullets arrived today. I loaded dummy rounds with a 35cal 220gr BBC (Beautiful Bullet Company - fake name) and a 35cal Speer 220gr bullet in each cartridge I plan to test. I'm researching my notes of load data to determine best loads to reach targeted speeds for each. Overall the goal is to present you a bullet that impacted wet newspaper at a given velocity. I believe I can achieve 1600-1800fps in the 357 Max, 1900-2000fps in the 35 Rem, 2200-2400fps in the 358 Win, and 2500-2700fps in the 35 Whelen.
The 200gr BBC .348cal bullets also arrived. I loaded 4 of them into empty cases and they chambered perfectly into my single shot rifle. All bullets were seated and lightly crimped in the cannelure. Next rounds of testing will be done by Bobmar for feeding through his Win 71. I also plan to load some using Hornady data and shoot them into the bullet box filled with wet newspaper. I'll record the velocity too.
Those bullets look great .........I'm in on both calibers .......Can't wait to see the results of your testing.....Thank you for giving us another bullet(s) option,and the best in your endeavors..........
Those bullets look great .........I'm in on both calibers .......Can't wait to see the results of your testing.....Thank you for giving us another bullet(s) option,and the best in your endeavors..........
My new to me Calfee xp-100 (which I’ve never shot) and 357 max contenders (10” magna ported and Armour Alloy) should like these. Looking forward to playing with these. I just received these 3 boxes of unprimed brass that is most likely older than I am. (I’m 52). Price sticker says $2.00😂
I had hopes to test bullets this weekend in wet newspaper but finding enough newspaper is proving difficult. I called the Yellow Pages and requested 100 local phone books but they only approved 20. That will get me started but won't last long when I'm stacking them 17" deep and they're only the local businesses not a full directory.
Anyone in Indiana sitting on a stack of old newspapers or magazines?
One more cycling and chambering test has been performed with 348 Win dummy rounds. Both the 220gr and 200gr bullets fed through a Winchester Model 71 but a few of them wouldn't chamber in my custom single shot. I suspect wear may be a factor. Winchester 71s haven't been produced in over 60 years and my chamber was cut just a few years ago. More testing will be done to ensure they feed and chamber before they will be offered for sale.
Hope you find more newspapers. Looking forward to the tests with 358 bullets. Dan.
I acquired a fair amount from a library today. Going to get more from other libraries tomorrow after I get back from Lexington, KY.
Anyone living between Columbus, IN and Lexington, KY who's sitting on a pile of newspapers and wants to unload them tomorrow is encouraged to PM me. I will drive my gas guzzler to you.