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Gentlemen, I present... the ".220 REDLINE"

OK gents...SHOTS FIRED!!!

Given the mid 30's temp here, figured to load some 80Amaxs right off the bat, to see if they'd actually stabilize from the REDLINE's 1:9 twist...

Short answer: NOPE!
First round down @ 50yds to get scope dialed in resulted in a hole in the paper the shape of a rice kernel :eek:

Since I was already at the range, i proceeded to shoot ten rounds...just to get some brass fired & ready for future ladder testing. Here's shots 6-10 @ 100yds: (gray grid is 0.5")
lnCoq4S.jpg


Sooooo, that does it for the 80s !!!o_O

No worries, though. It was a calculated risk to go 1:9, and hope the velocity would account for the 'marginal stability' of an 80 grainer. I'm perfectly happy being able to launch a 70-75 at warp speed, without potentially having over-revved EVERYTHING from a 1:8...

Navigating uncharted waters here, so its all good! Gonna pull these 80s & stuff some 75Amaxs down in their place. Also, will try a baby ladder test with some 75JLKs. They are some slippery sleek bullets with very little bearing surface, so those suckers should poke round holes...:)

One thing's for certain, the .220 REDLINE is alive & kickin'!!! Stand by for updates...
 
Did you chronograph that load by chance ? - I've followed your thread & am interested to see how things go.
Are you planning to try a 1-8" twist barrel in the future ?

-Ron-
 
Didn't bother with the chrono. If the bullet won't spin in my AO, I don't care how fast it'd go. Granted, I loaded a 'safe' (~53Kpsi) load, according to QL projection, and I know that 80AMAX is long on OAL and bearing surface. Hence, the reason to start testing with that 'extreme', if you will...

Based on my previous thoughts regarding bullet integrity/RPM concerns, I'm still good with the decision to go with the 1:9. Maybe, even more so, now? Will know better tomorrow, if/when the 75s poke round holes...

As stated, I'd rather be able to keep a 70-75 grain bullet happy & intact, than run the risk of major excess RPM #s from a 1:8. It's a juggling act, but I'll figger it out and have fun doing it!!!
And, IF... say, a 69TMK/70VLD/75VLD/JLK/AMAX will clear the '3850' fps hurdle by a good measure, I'd choose it over an 80grainer goin' slower, anyway... ;)

1x fired cases resized easy as pie, just had to swap a smaller de-capping stem into the SAUM die in order to clear the smaller neck of the REDLINE. Primer pockets are tight as new...

Just built a 10round ladder test with a jammed 75 JLK, and LOTSA Retumbo. I'll have the Magnetospeed runnin' for that, NO DOUBT ;)
 
Didn't bother with the chrono. If the bullet won't spin in my AO, I don't care how fast it'd go. Granted, I loaded a 'safe' (~53Kpsi) load, according to QL projection, and I know that 80AMAX is long on OAL and bearing surface. Hence, the reason to start testing with that 'extreme', if you will...

Based on my previous thoughts regarding bullet integrity/RPM concerns, I'm still good with the decision to go with the 1:9. Maybe, even more so, now? Will know better tomorrow, if/when the 75s poke round holes...

As stated, I'd rather be able to keep a 70-75 grain bullet happy & intact, than run the risk of major excess RPM #s from a 1:8. It's a juggling act, but I'll figger it out and have fun doing it!!!
And, IF... say, a 69TMK/70VLD/75VLD/JLK/AMAX will clear the '3850' fps hurdle by a good measure, I'd choose it over an 80grainer goin' slower, anyway... ;)

1x fired cases resized easy as pie, just had to swap a smaller de-capping stem into the SAUM die in order to clear the smaller neck of the REDLINE. Primer pockets are tight as new...

Just built a 10round ladder test with a jammed 75 JLK, and LOTSA Retumbo. I'll have the Magnetospeed runnin' for that, NO DOUBT ;)
Fredo,
My guess is, the 69 SMKs will do fine. There is such a difference in shooting those than the 75 Amax. I believe it'll shoot em !!!
 
OK fellers!!!

First, the bad news...

75AMAX didn't shoot much better than the 80 AMAX. Given 30s temps and -DA values ASL today, they just don't wanna stabilize in the 1:9. 75 Amax holes were more round than the 80s, but group size was in the 2-3" range @ 100yds. On the encouraging side, speeds for a mild load was averaged 3680 fps...not too shabby...;)

Now...the GOOD NEWS!

The little ladder test with the 75 JLKs turned out nicely! Shots clustered into a nice little group, with perfectly round boolit holes :) As i hoped, that slippery sleek, low bearing surface JLK was a better match for the 1:9 Brux.

As for ladder test details, only got thru a few shots before noticing obvious signs to STOP. Last round I shot had a slight resistance upon bolt lift, with a 'click' at the top before extraction. Upon inspecting brass, a mild ejector swipe and slight primer cratering was evident. We all know that means STOP!

But yeah...here's the fun part! Ladder test with Retumbo, in 0.5gr steps. Check out these velocity numbers from a 75 grain boolit!!! :cool:
l67NhVQ.jpg


Yep...ya read that right 3941 fps! :rolleyes:o_O:)

That, gentlemen, is some SERIOUS speed from a 27" barrel. And...at the ridiculous MV, the 75 JLK is revvin' ~315,000 RPM from the 1:9 twist. IF I'd went 1:8, it'd be in the ~355,000 RPM range :eek: and doubtful the 75 would even make it to the target...

Soooo, I'm tickled pink now! Got some good data to extrapolate from, and on the way to finding a good load with the 75 JLK. Still, will order a box of 69 TMKs and 70 VLDs, just to see how far over 4,000 they'll go. Cuz, now I know they will...;)

Lots of fun work to do! But, yeah... almost 3950 from a 75 grainer??? That's whoopin' azz on my .22-243AI to the tune of 350+fps, and that .22-243AI is one BAD mama-jama...

Stay tuned for more! Should have the REDLINE's GameScout stock in hand, soon. Quick bedding job on that won't be any trouble. Then, back to load testing and dialing on a decent, consistent load to take afield. Gonna be a fun Spring, woodchucks BEWARE!!!
 
Glad to see things coming together Fredo!
Can't wait to see a blasted chuck in the next couple of weeks:)
Matt
 
My pleasure, guys, this is all fun for me! Humbled to have an audience to share with. So, THANK YOU all !!!

F.w.i.w...
To add some input as to how 'heavy' the air is here, current DA readings at the nearest airport is hovering around ~ -2300 ft. Yes, that's a negative value!
Not trying to diminish the importance of 'stability factors', but to add that those 75 & 80 AMAXs were flying through some soupy thick air. I've seen negative DA values up at the farm (~1,200' ASL), but nowhere near as low as where the local range is at...

Just sayin' the 1:9 / 80 grain relationship might have been more 'friendly', given a warm sunny day up at the farm. No matter though, I'm over it! Have proven now that the 75 JLKs will fly through 'gumbo' from the 1:9, and do it with a vengeance! That's one good thing about not 'over-twisting' a bullet...seems like more FPS is allowed?

Anyhoo, I will test some 69 TMK and 70 & 75 Berger VLDs in the near future. Have a sneaking feeling that final choice of bullet for the .220 REDLINE is going to come down to how it performs on any given critter...

I'll be compiling all future testing data and writing up Part Two of the .220 REDLINE for my friend Daves blog at http://coyotestuff.com/
 
I don't know if it would hold together, but it would be interesting to see what kind of accuracy/speed you could get out of a 60grn v-max.
 
I have a 1:12 twist barrel in queue for my .22-243AI, and lots of 60 JLKs to test in that, when the time comes. IIRC, the 60s would hafta clear 4150 in order to justify the 1:12, over the present 1:8 throwin' 75s I'm shootin' now @ 3585 fps...

The REDLINE is shakin' out to be a whole nutha level of beast! The ability to deliver a 'heavy for caliber', high b.c. bullet safely to target at such extreme MV is just what I was hoping for! As a comparison, my friend's .243 Catbird pushes a 70 N-Btip in the 3900 fps range (RL-22), which is unreal! Considering the b.c disparity alone, the REDLINE will have that level of performance covered, nicely ;)

Other tidbits:

Measured capacity of five, 1x fired REDLINE brass: 70.95 grains h2O , for an average. Me likey!

Tightened up a ladder test to 0.3gr steps for the 75 JLK /Retumbo, and built three matching ladders for the sake of repeatability. Will fire those at distance, in hopes of dialing into a 'flat spot' in vertical. Based on the charge ranges I narrowed down to, they'll still be in the 3900 fps range...

Also, haven't even touched RL33 yet! If the relationship between Retumbo & RL33 remains consistent across different cartridges, might be a safe to assume that RL33 might add yet even more velocity??? Man, just thinking of a 75 @ 4,000 fps is enough to make a grown man giggle!

First things, first. Get a decent, consistent load developed. Lighting up the chrono is one thing, but I wanna see where things 'settle' into a happy place. That's what really counts!
 

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