New Pro Hunter w/ Barnes TAC's

[Omega45]

I recently purchased a new Pro Hunter frame only. My friend at the gun shop I bought it from threw in a good deal on a Bellm trigger job, FREE. Trigger breaks at 2.25lbs with no creep. The laminated thumbhole stock and forend set came from Cabelas. I took it out today on its maiden voyage with my .45 TC barrel and TBML 3-9x40 scope and it loves the Barnes 155gr TAC bullets in a blue Harvester smooth sabot ignited by a regular CCI primer at 100yds. 100gr of BH209 has it moving around 2200fps according to my Chrony. My buddy recently recovered a 155gr TAC bullet he fired into wet phone books at 100yds and it only lost a few grains, last picture.

I tried Win209's and they were squeeky clean, so clean my son asked me if they had been fired while I had them laying on the bench. My group with the Win209's was pushing 2-2.5 inches. When I switched to the regular CCI's the group pulled together.

On another note today I was in a bind and wanted to clean my barrel at the range and only had patches that were soaked in Rusty Duck Black Off. They worked great. It was a quick clean-up. I am not even sure if they even sell Rusty Duck anymore.

[Gm54-120]

Ive really enjoyed shooting them too. I use the MMP tan sabot though because it fit my Elite better. My Original DISC 45 has a tighter bore so i will probably be using the Harvester Smooths in it. Those light bullets need a tight sabot with BH209 to get more fps. I was in the 2300fps range with 105gr of BH209 and i THINK WinT7s or Win209s. I would have to recheck my data but groups were similar.

Mine were blowing the petals off the bullet with that load on wet phone books and weighed 140gr afterward.

This was either my modded version or stock with 90gr BH209 in a MMP tan at 90 or 100 yards. We moved the bench during the day to stay in the shade.

[scottycoyote]

sweet setup. So you like the bellms? ive been thinking about having one done to mine

[Omega45]

Yes the Bellm trigger spring makes for a nice pull. My blued Pro Hunter has just a #3 Bellm spring and it breaks at 2.75lbs. I put the #3 spring in myself, its pretty easy following Mikes instructions. This new one had the honing done and I think a #2 spring installed. It also has the Bellm 50lb hammer spring for faster lock time.

I will try some MMP tans next trip. At 110gr BH209 with Barnes 195's the petals blew off the MMP's for me last year in my Omega. The Encore has a 26" barrel yours probably a 28"? I would not think 2" would make mine 100fps slower.

[Gm54-120]

Sabot petal loss is not an indication of sabot failure. One of my most accurate high end loads always peels off petals. Failed sabots look kinda like a twisted helicopter blades and/or the center is blown out.

My old Accura 45 shot like CR*P with either Harvester because the bore was .452. The MMP worked fine for me in all but the hottest/heaviest bullet loads in a .451 bore. Mine are actually from Hornady but i think they are the same as the MMP tan unless its a different polymer. They look identical.

[Omega45]

I have some tans to pull from a package of Barnes 195 grainers. The blue Harvester's load semi easy. The Barnes .400 TAC's definitely load easier then the Hornady SST's in the same Harvester smooth blue sabot for me.

[quake]

Nice looking rifle, Omega45. Good luck with your load experimentation.

[Gm54-120]

Originally Posted by Omega45

I have some tans to pull from a package of Barnes 195 grainers. The blue Harvester's load semi easy. The Barnes .400 TAC's definitely load easier then the Hornady SST's in the same Harvester smooth blue sabot for me.

Thats what i ran into also. Knurling them between 2 files sometimes fixes that if you dont have other sabots. You shot the PR QTs, those are a MMP sabot too and shot fine correct? I think Carlos shot some too with good results.

Its kinda weird how just a different weight or bearing length can change how well a sabot performs. I do get better groups with 180gr XTPs with the MMP by far but using a 200gr SST its not as much difference until i push the limits.

BTW i ordered some of those Speer 40-180gr "short barrel" bullets just to compare them on paper.

[MountainDevil54]

love the stock on it

[Omega45]

GM54-120

Yes the PR QT Bullets in 250gr shot good using 100gr BH209. I do not think I recovered any of them sabots. Sometimes I forget to look. The lead bullet in the MMP tans load pretty easy in the TC bore. Recoil is a little heavier with the 250's though. I have some PR 240gr Dead Centers and some 215 QT's to test to.

Here was another thing I noticed today. My Chrony sits maybe 4ft off the muzzle. I place it there due to the way the range slopes down off the benches and for fear if I place it further out I will put a hole through it. I found pieces of BH209 in the Chrony tray today when I was packing up. They were broken pieces not whole. There were not many but enough for me to notice.

Where did you find the 180gr Gold Dots in stock at? I saw the 180 SB had a slightly better BC. then the regular ones.