Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 50 Beowulf- 275 X bullets

Had a few hours of time this weekend. (first shot a coyote with a 325 speer-- definite bang flop at about 70yards. Entry wound was large-- about 2-3 inches. Exit wound could not see without digging. If it doesn't rain I'll go dig up the bullet one day. Its in a tank.....

Anyway was trying to get better accuracy going and speed.
Had tried Lil Gun and 325s. Ok but not stellar. Ordered 275x thinking speed would equal flatter for 200 yards.(big mistake not thinking of BC first..... but thats digression)

Anyway dug up some more data. Looking for IMR 4198, found H 4198 only. Started at 47.0 grains. 1675 give or take. 1.5 inch group. Then went all the way up to 51.0. No pressure signs and up to about 1850 IIRC. Funny thing every round from 47-51 was in a group no larger than 3 inches at 100 yards. Very forgiving. Not as fast as I was looking for.

Then I jumped back and loaded 38.0 Lil Gun and the 275X. Thinking 37.0 was about it for the 325s.... Anyway 38.0 showed a bit of pressure and a cratered primer. BUT gave 2140(or more, don't have notes handy) And just over 1 inch group.

Those X bullets shoot much better than the Speer 325s. My lab helped me dig up one out of the dirt. Perfect expansion, full weight retention. Should slice a big hole..... Hope to test on something next weekend.

Will be trying to reset some stuff on the gun later on so will live with the Lil Gun load at 37.5 for most of the season probably.

Just some info to pass along. IMR 4198 would have also been nice to test..... Next go round may do thinking on BC vs speed and buy heavier slugs.

Jeff

Good report. Keep us posted on the updates. I' have a beowulf upper on order.

I'm a little surprised the exit wound wasn't larger...

Did not actually search for the exit wound but it was not visible to me. I suspect the entrance wound was simply all the shoulder bones blowing back out that hole. And the fact that it basically exited behind the off shoulder. I don't expect any expansion from a coyote. I expect the bullet will be expanded due to the mud if I ever get time to dig it up before it rains(if it ever does again....)

Wished I knew how to post pics here. The coyote one is interesting. And the expanded X is cool as usual. Hopefully to have some pics from this weekends hunt if we get lucky. Have 2 guns with Xs. Nephew has a 45-70 with very similar X bullets.

Jeff

Finally, someone doing load work with the Beowulf. I'm considering building a Striker chambered for this cartridge with a 14" barrel to use for deer hunting, so keep the data coming. I know I'm going to lose some speed with the shorter barrel, but that's a worthwhile trade to assure the gun isn't too cumbersome in the field.

Assuming I can get 1900fps out of it with a 275gr Barnes XPB, I should be able to sight in at 150 yards and be 3" high at 100 and 7.5" low at 200 (based on what Sierra's ballistics software tells me). Given where I hunt, 200 yards is about the longest shot I'd ever see on a deer.

Jim

Remember I have a 16 inch tube so you won't be much behind my 2140 fps.

No luck hunting. One prime shot chance at proving penetration and expansion and I still needed a few more seconds to break the shot. Deer wasn't standing still that long though... To hot at 85 to be hunting anyway. Exceeded my bag limit on mosquitoes though.

Will be holding off on further load work till I revamp the gun some more after season. Xs shoot great.

Jeff