It was suppose to be cool this morning, so I ran to the Rock Pit to continue my experimenting shooting .50 cal. bullets.

The two bullets that I am working most with right are a couple of Barnes XPB bullets, a .500x275 grain and .500x325 grain bullets. Oddly enough they are not the same diameter. The 325's a about a thousandth less diameter and need to be knurled to load well in my tight Knight Wiseman barrel. And just one thing to verify a friend picked up some .500x275 grain Barnes expanders and they are the same size as the 275 XPB's.

These are the two quality bullets I am experimenting with at the moment. I also have a box of Speer 50x300 grain Deep Curls that feel like they will work equally well in these Knight bores



I did make it to the Rock Pit and it was not near as cool as I thought it might be... I forgot all that Basalt would be retaining the heat they have been collecting for the past several days.
I did decide to you the old Project Rifle again but I have removed the Laminate stock and put a composite stock on it for hunting.
I got the equipment set up and sort of had a plan for todays shooting. My main goal was to check velocities and compare the sabotless loads with the velocity of the 3 test shots using a bullet of near the same weight and a sabot.

I do say that I was somewhat disappointed in my first three shots, although accuracy really was not the goal, but it did and does make me wonder about the condition of the pitted bore on this rifle. The bigger problem was looking into the morning sun. This rifle still has the original hoodless front blade with the copper bead. Without the hood that bead kept showing a really bright star effect - really wish I had a hood. As the sun rose in the morning it become less of a distraction. Actually I want to repeat this whole experiment with a better sun angle... It somewhat worried me that it would get under the sun screens of the Chrono.

Here is a composite picture of the shooting trip and the components.



I really think the shooting this morning shows a lot of promise - wish I had not thrown a couple of the shots - so it would look better, but the velocity is there.



I am hoping to do this same shoot next week using either the new Ultra Lite or the

I like the group of the 325 gr Barnes. Perhaps some tweeking with the load? I didn't catch how far you were shooting. Either you didn't post or I missed it somewhere.

It was a 50 yard Chrono, actually it was closer to 60 according the range finder - but I had 50 on the mind...

The bore on the gun is questionable also but I want to use it for experimenting when I can...

Is this the first time you went from 100 grains up to the 110? I know you like hotter loads than I do but honestly I would tried reducing the charge. But that's what's nice about this sport, we can all do it our own way. Definitely decent groups with open sights anyway.

Art you are correct on both accounts - first time up to 110 with this rifle and I do like velocity - especially with a Barnes.

I probably should not say it this way I like accuracy but I want hunting accuracy first then if pin-point happens to be there also - Great.

I remember when UC told me I was crazy shooting a 503-460 Bull Shop with 90 grains of T7-3f.

Along with shooting my .58 yesterday I also had along my Marlin Guide Gun .45-70 to sight it in. I was shooting both Rem 300 gr HPs and Barnes 300 gr TSX. When I went up to bring in my target one of the Barnes bullets was lying on the bank in the loose dirt. (probably kicked up from subsequent shooting). That bullet really expanded nicely and with a moderate load too. I would not hesitate to use one on a hunt.

I think you're off to a real good start. Considering the sabotless group is as good or better than the saboted group tells me that there's a lot of potential. Have you tried the sabotless out of your UltraLite?

Either the Ultra Lite or maybe the Mountaineer are going next. I am getting a Kevlar stock for the Mountaineer - so it will probably be next....

What I really wish is that I had a magic wand and could make the bore in this MK all pristine again. I got the rifle in a trade and I really wish the owner had taken care of it.... not the guy I traded with, he got it a local gun shop and like me, we were hoping for the best..

I think it will be very interesting to see how the extreme spreads compare. Sabotless did better than sabots this time. I would imagine a closed 209 ignition might be even better.

I hope you get a chance to try some BH209 with the Mountaineer too. Its done surprisingly well in the 45s sabotless, especially with heavier bullets. Now, i wish i had sent you more of the Rem 385gr CLHPs.

I am really liking those 325 XPB's. The 385's would be huge, although they really are a nice looking bullet also.

Next time out I will take either the Mountaineer or the U-Lite, probably the Mountaineer - I have a Kevlar stock coming for it and that could change the way I look at the Mountaineer...