Bullet Question????
 

I was noticing in the Cabelas shooting catalog that Hornady has a 350gr. XTP Mag 50 cal pistol bullet with a diameter of .500. Could this bullet be shot from an muzzleloader say a 50 Cal Encore with a 1/28 twist barrel with 100 gr of powder a MMP ballistic bridge as a gas seal and the bullet on top without a sabot. Would the bullet expand to the rifling? Does the encore have to tight of a barrel to attempt this. Just curious. Isn't the Encore barrel in 50 cal oversized to .501? Anyone with thoughts on this? If this could be done, I would think this would be an excellent load in states that don't allow sabot use.

RE: Bullet Question????
 

You're meaning ... shoot it like a conical? Well it would be unlubed if it would go down the bore. And what would expand to grip the rifling? I am not sure if it would work, but I would doubt it. Instead I would look for a pure lead conical to match the bore diameter of your rifle. Something nice, heavyand long but not over an inch in length...

RE: Bullet Question????
 

I could not find it in the muzzleloader section are you sure it isn't for reloading pistol rounds?

RE: Bullet Question????
 

This is probably a bullet developed for the new .500 S&W caliber. I think these are going around 1900 out of a long barrel handgun. SO if they would shoot, the bullet is designed to expand atmagnum MZ velocities. Problem is that - one of two scenarios isvery likelygoing to happen: the bullet is going to seat so hard you will need a hammer to get it down the bore. Or its going to fall down the bore - and fall back out if you tip the muzzle down and jiggle it.

If by some stroke of luck it is exactly the right size where you could seat it and not worry about it falling out, I would expect the heat and pressure of a magnum charge might cause the bullet to obterate enough to fillthe lands and grooves. I'm not sure if I would use the MMP sub base. It's going to take a fair amount of heat and pressure to upset a jacketed bullet. I'mthinking you don't want to insulate it from the powder charge like a lead bullet. If you felt compelled to try it and report your results, I would be most appreciative. :) Be careful, though. This is uncharted territory.

RE: Bullet Question????
 

I doubt if it would work worth spit to be honest with ya. But I've not tried it either. You would need to find a tight barreled .50 and that would be luck of the draw with most brands. My guess is that XTP mag has a pretty good jacket and it wouldn't expand well at all. Bullets I've looked at and thought might work in the manner you describe are the Rainier lead-safe line. The copper on those is mostly a pretty thin coating best I can tell.

RE: Bullet Question????
 

txfireman

I really do not think that a modern jacket bullet - even a 50 cal bullet would obturate enough to grab the rifling of the barrel symetrically enough if at all to give you the needed rotation for stabilization. Shooting a copper plated - soft lead type bullet such as a PowerBelt certainly will but a bullet designed for a 50 cal.

This is an example ofa Speer Gold Dot






50 CalGold Dot HP 50 Action Express






Part Number
Caliber

Wt. Gr.
Wt. Gm.
Box Count
Bullet Coefficient

4493
50 Cal
300
19.44
50
.155




Sectional Density

Diameter in.
Diameter mm
Construction

.171
0.5
12.7
Uni-Cor®


I would think - if it would even stay in the barrel after you put it in - it would rattle it's way out and or off the powder very easily -unless the y make a gas check for it.

Just a guess... with no experiance..

RE: Bullet Question????
 

NO,NOand no;It would be dangerous to try you would most likly end up with a barrel obstruction explosion.
But if you want to shoot 50 cal pistol bullets get a 54 cal inline with the MPP purple sabot they shoot real good and are devestating on big game I have a 54 barrel for my System one TC and have used it ever since they first became available never have had a blood trail problem it leaves a gapping hole on exit. My favorite load is 140 RS with a 300 gr Widener 50 cal pistol bullet. Lee

RE: Bullet Question????
 

Thanks for the info, one of those questions I had running around and wanted to ask you guys that know more than me. The barrel obstruction possibilities are too enormous to try. One of those think out loud things. Thanks fellas.

RE: Bullet Question????
 

Some of the smokeless shooters are using pre-engraved jacketed bullets without sabots. I almost brought up the danger potential as well but have been curious about this for a long time. I'm thinking a guy could get away with a bore RIDING Rainier with a gas seal at the rear. But there is risk (I really cannot testify to the risk myself as I don't know anyone that's tried such a method) and the first few shots should probably be "string fired" from behind a tree.

Given the low cost and great performance of good lead conicals there is not much reason to take the chance.

RE: Bullet Question????
 

I got to thinking about this today, and remembered I have a couple of sample Ranier .500 Smith and Wesson bullets that I got at the SHOT show back in February. It is made like the Speer Gold Dot; in that it has a lead core with the jacket electroplated over the lead - making it one homogenous unit. This bullet measures 1/4 thousands of an inch over .500 (.50025). The Powerbelt bullets I have around here measure from .499 up to about .4995. I tried seating one of these bullets in my 22.5" Black Diamond, and it wouldn't drop down the clean barrel - but seated with very little effort. I rapped the muzzle forcefully on a hard rubber mat over the concrete floor several times, and the bullet moved forward about 1/4 of an inch. I'm thinking if the barrel was fouled, it would have stayed put. I understand the only reason the Powerbelt bullet has the plastic skirt on it is to keep the bullet from falling back out the muzzle.

I just might try this tomorrow. I tried a similar bullet a few years back - a sabot jacketed shotgun slug that measured .501". It seated withlight pressure and actually shot pretty well. Unfortunately, the only way to get those slugs was to disassemble Federal Premium shotgun slugs. I had about 25 I got for free - but really don't want to have to go out and buy more. Yes, I may give these .500 S&W bulletsa try. Txfireman, I'm sure,was thinking the same thing: potential way to get around the Coloradorestrictions on sabot rounds during the MZ season.