Hawk Precision Bullets-Anyone use them??

[Minnesota1]

I've been kicking around going with Hawk Precision bullets. 

http://www.hawkbullets.com/maintest.htm

For my 358 JDJ pistol they claim they can make the jacket thinner and thus help with expansion at lower velocities plus they claim they are more accurate than nosler bullets, which I am currently using.  Has anyone tried these bullets?  What has been your experience with them?  To get the thinner jacket I have to order 3 boxes of bullets so I don't want to spend $120 unless I hear they are what they claim to be.

Thanks,

Bob

[MePlat]

I will say this.  You NEED to talk to JD about any copper tubing or homogeneous constructed bullets especially Hawk.  While they are good bullets their thin jacketed bullet will slug up under firing and will set up more pressure due to their dead soft annealed jackets and pure lead cores.
Also some of their RN styles have paralled sides with more bearing surface than others of the same weight,  Example the 458 cal 500 grain bullets with .035" jackets have more bearing surface than Hornadys of the same weight even though the Hawks are shorter over all lenght wise.
BE CAREFUL and you will be okay

Just call JD.  That is the smart thing to do.

[Reed1911]

Considering you will be changing bullets, you'll need to start back at the lowest recommend charge and work your loads back up. No need to call JD, he 'should' tell you the same.

In any case, yes Hawk bullets are VERY good quality bullets, they are right up there with Berger in terms of accuracy AND they have the added benefit of expanding very well.

[BS]

I will say this.  You NEED to talk to JD about any copper tubing or homogeneous constructed bullets especially Hawk.  While they are good bullets their thin jacketed bullet will slug up under firing and will set up more pressure due to their dead soft annealed jackets and pure lead cores.
Also some of their RN styles have paralled sides with more bearing surface than others of the same weight,  Example the 458 cal 500 grain bullets with .035" jackets have more bearing surface than Hornadys of the same weight even though the Hawks are shorter over all lenght wise.
BE CAREFUL and you will be okay

Just call JD.  That is the smart thing to do.

As stated above...............the bullets do upset..........I have recovered and measured the length of rifling, it is longer on the fired bullet.
I shoot them out of my 41-240......14" barrel.........the 300 grainers are at 2100 fps...............the .035 jacket shoot much better than the .025s. I think they have too much upset!

They do shoot very good and put nice holes thru deer.

I also shoot 300s with a .035 jacket out of my 40-90 wildcat rifle.................[.416] at 2500fps...............3 shot groups of 3/8" at 100yd. 

NO-BS

[MePlat]

REED1911 is correct there is no need to call JD.  Although I did on another subject and copper tubing bullets came up and I am glad it did.
Hawk FULLY anneals their jackets and as I understand it Barnes only anneals enough to keep the copper from work hardening.
I have tried Hawk round tips in a 375-06 JDJ with no problems but the round nose bullets are ENTIRELY a different situation.
If using ROUND TIPS just drop back 10 percent and WATCH CLOSLEY pressure signs.  Better still work up over a chrono and when close to conventional bullet velocity stop going up.
I was using round nose bullets with the .035" jacket and was down 4 grains of powder and was still matching the velocity of the Hornadys in the same weight.  That was 5 percent down.  I started 10 percent down and that only gave me 5 percent to work with.
When that soft jacket and pure lead core starts to getting swatted in the behind it seems (to me at least) the pressure jumps quickly out of proportion to the amount the charge is increased.
I would recommend on the ROUND NOSE bullets to drop back 15 percent and work up.
That is what I would do when using ROUND NOSE HAWKS in other calibers from now on.
Of course what do I know?  I have just used them and chronoed my loads going up but that doesn't mean anything.

[Minnesota1]

I would be using the spitzer's.  Do you think they would have the same issues as the round nose?

Thanks,

Bob

[MePlat]

I've only shot a few of his 50 cal 700 gr spitzers and know nothing about the smaller caliber.
Just start at least 10 percent low and watch for pressure jumping out of proportion to the amount you increased the powder charge.
If you know the characteristics of the powder and how it performs as you go up with a conventional bullet you will be able to detect any abnormal jumps as you increase the charge.
I check out bearing surface by sticking the bullet in the muzzle and letting the rifling scribe a light mark on the circumference of the bullet and then measure the length form the mark to the base of the bullet.  I do this on a conventional bullet and compare the two.  If the Hawk has the same bearing surface or less then 10 percent reduction should be enough but if it is more I THINK (me only) that 15 percent is good enough.
If you are using just starting charge with a conventional bullet and then use a Hawk with a  10 percent reduction should be enough in any case.  Now if you are using max with a conventional bullet then 15 percent may be in order.
Really you have to use the ole brain at times.   Common sense rules at times.

[HHI-7420]

Why not just use rem. 200gr. cl rnd. nose or pointed. Round nose are excelent out to 200-250 yds. Or try Jhalcot"s hornadys-they too should be great. Besides, they are a lot cheaper also!  Pat

[Reed1911]

Why not just use rem. 200gr. cl rnd. nose or pointed. Round nose are excelent out to 200-250 yds. Or try Jhalcot"s hornadys-they too should be great. Besides, they are a lot cheaper also!  Pat

Better accuracy is my reason.

[HHI-7420]

Reed 1911, how much accuracy do you need from a "hunting only" round(this is what I consider it to be)? With mine I can get 2-1/2" to 3" at 200. It's not a ground hog round, but it would sure knock em dead.  Pat

[Reed1911]

Reed 1911, how much accuracy do you need from a "hunting only" round(this is what I consider it to be)? With mine I can get 2-1/2" to 3" at 200. It's not a ground hog round, but it would sure knock em dead.  Pat

As accurate as I can get. It makes little difference to me if it is for paper or hunting or steel at 20yds or 200yds if I can adjust the load a little and shrink the groups then that is the load I will use. Just because there is no one keeping score behind me doesn't change my expectation of accuracy. I do not use a wind gauge or a laser distance measure, so if I can be completely confidant in my ammo than any small changes of distance or weird wind in odd terrain out in the field will make that much less of a difference. Is it needed in 99% of the shots we take out there? Of course not. I like to get rid of as many variables as possible (within reason).