Got another opportunity to shoot today, so i grabbed the Extreme MHC and headed to the farm. Even though this was a last minute decision, there was a plan...
I really wanted to collect some velocities for some of the different .458 bullets that I had. Shooting through a chrono is really not my cup of tea, I spend more time thinking about not hitting the chrono than I do hitting the target. In fact normally when I shoot through a chrono I place the target @ 25 yards - well today I got a little braver and set the chrono five yards off the muzzle and the target at 75 yards.
The plan was to shoot 3 Sierra's as they are normally a very accurate .458/300 grain bullet, followed by the Lehigh .458/300 grain and lastly the .458/275 grain bullet.
As I indicated the Sierra is a proven bullet and even a the Lehigh .458/300 is a proven bullet by 45-70 shooters. I have read accounts of successful Buffalo, Moose, and Bear hunts using this bullet in a 45-70 but I did not know how it would perform from 1/28 ML. It is really a long bullet with deep rings around the body of the bullet. These rings do something a 45-70 rifle shooter but to be honest they bothered me a bit. The last bullet is a brand new bullet unproven for sure. The .458/275 grain MIGHT just be a great bullet but I really wanted to check the velocity of it vs a 300 grain bullet. Next trip I will shoot it at longer ranges and check its ability to fly accurately.
The Disc Extreme MHC is my designated elk gun (kinda replacing my Rem 700ml). I normally shoot 120 grains of T7-2f - a Nosler .458/300 grain partition in the MMP sabot. So with that set as the standard load I decided I would shoot that exact load today with the different projectiles. Here is what I did not compute into the equation... it was in the 70's here today - really to warm for me to shoot ML's but decided what the heck. It was 'T' shirt weather so that is what I wore to the farm to shoot. Well, let me tell you 120 grains/300 grain projectile ='s a bit of recoil - I never feel it when I am hunting - but today it was evident even when I switched to the 275's.
The other problem I had was patience - I have not got any and waiting for the barrel to cool was not cool with me. I am sure it cost be a bit of accuracy and a bit of velocity.
If you look at this target it looks like a dang shot gun hit it, but remember this is 3 different bullets and not all fly the same. On the whole shooting through a chrono on a very warm day - It really does work for me.
But, this is the best picture of the day... this is the target board from the last two trips to the farm. I call this efficient use of the board - at this rate it will last a long time - or it will go in a hurry if I go back to shooting PRB's...
