Hornady FTX Range Report

SHulion · 02-02-2009, 02:19 PM

I took the Encore Endeavor and some of the new Hornady FTX bullets to the range this weekend. I was using the .430/265 gr. bullet with the Harvester green and green crush rib sabots. The weather was about 55 - 60 degrees with little to no wind. I already had some tubes filled with 110gr/volume or 77/gr by weight of BH209so I decided that was what I would use on this trip. I first shot a fouling shot with a 250gr shockwave and a harvester Short Black sabot to make sure the scope was still on. It was, so I started shooting the FTX's.I noticed that the crushed rib loadedquite abit easier so I figured it wouldn't shoot as well as the regular with the BH209powder.I settled on the regular green sabot( I thought they were a little more consistent)and started to fine tune it a little and try to shoot a group.The first three shots were just to the left of the center line so I adjusted the scope 2 clicks to the right and shot the last two shotsthat cut thecenter line on the target about a half inch apart. Here are a couple of the targets.

Hornady FTX .430/265gr. / Harvester Green Sabot

Harvester Green Crushed Rib Sabot/265gr. Hornady FTX

tjj · 02-02-2009, 02:25 PM

Nice shootin, looks like the T/C likes that load. Were you able to recover any of the projectiles?

hunting junkie · 02-02-2009, 02:28 PM

Nice groups, how far where you shooting

SHulion · 02-02-2009, 02:42 PM

I didn't recover any of the bullets. I hope to try them out on either a hog or deer in our late muzzleloader season in the next couple of weeks.

The targets were 110 yards.

cayugad · 02-02-2009, 02:50 PM

those are some impressive groups and a good bullet load. Good range report there. And some real good shooting.

oldsmellhound · 02-02-2009, 02:57 PM

Definately a keeper. Those groups look really good. It should be a pretty flat-shooting bullet too. The only thing the jury is out on is terminal performance- I guess we'll have to wait on that. Thanks for the report.

SHulion · 02-02-2009, 03:18 PM

What do you guys think the muzzle velocity will be with this load. Any guesses?

lemoyne · 02-02-2009, 03:24 PM

I would guess about 2050 or 2075 fps. Lee

sabotloader · 02-02-2009, 04:15 PM

SHulion

Scott I shoot 110 of T7 and a 260 grain bullet...

Over my chrono I am getting 1860 fps @ 10 yards from the muzzle with T7.

SHulion · 02-02-2009, 05:09 PM

Thanks Sabotloader. I was thinking somewhere around 1900 fps. I hope this bullet performs as good on game as it does on paper. It's made for the 444Marlinin the leverevolution line. I would think I could push it as hard as I want. The 444 in pushing it at 2300 fps.