Varmint Bullet for 300 BLK

[dellet]

It sure is, my jr. science kit says this thing defies just about every conventional thought most shooters have about - well , ballistics in general. Let's try that formula in say a 6 twist, 12 inch barrel running around 2700 fps plus and see if it works. I doubt it works for everything, most things but 300 blk tends to defy the logic of many, many shooters.

I tested the 85 grain bullet mentioned above to over 390,000 rpm. 2750 fps in a 1/5. made it to 200 yards, did not try past that. It does lift 20 pounds of gel off the table when it hits at 2500.

24-2450 fps is quite common with the 110 Vmax or Varmageddon, that's 250,000 rpm in a 1/7. More and more 1/6 coming out all the time that pushes it to close to 300,000. 308 in 1/10 needs 35-4000 fps to hit those spin rates.

 

[GSPV]

Test the RPM idea in ballistic jelly. It might improve terminal effects. I know from sad experience what happens when you push thin skinned bullets hard in a 220 Swift.

But, in general, terminal effects are based on forward velocity, not radial.

 

[dellet]

Test the RPM idea in ballistic jelly. It might improve terminal effects. I know from sad experience what happens when you push thin skinned bullets hard in a 220 Swift.

But, in general, terminal effects are based on forward velocity, not radial.

Then I mis understood your original statement,

I agree that speed provides the energy to either open an expanding bullet, or cause one to break apart, but design and materials will determine the amount of energy, therefore speed needed.

Tests in gel do point toward a bullet being more likely to come apart at a higher spin at less velocity. Generally shedding its jacket or tumbling. General thoughts being that the rate of deceleration puts more stress on the faster spin. Slowing a faster spin in the same distance.

There has also been a couple of jacketed bullets not make it to the 200 yard mark and some expanding solids came apart leaving the muzzle at low velocity with high rates of spin. Which goes back to bullet design being more of a determining factor than velocity.

The amount of kinetic energy potential a bullet has, is almost pointless, unless that potential is harnessed. So a 150 grain bullet at 3000 fps with 3000 pounds of energy on entrance, that exits at 2000 fps with 1350 pounds of energy has dumped 1650 pounds over 20”. A different 150 grain bullet at 2300 fps and 1750 pounds of energy that stops at 16” has dumped more energy over less distance.

Bullet design is more important than velocity. But nothing beats shot placement.

 

[GSPV]

The OP was asking about bullets that would expand violently at range in a 300 BLK. The problem there *is* velocity. There just isn’t enough capacity with the BLK that *any* Bullet design will expand at range. Just ain’t happening

 

[dellet]

The OP was asking about bullets that would expand violently at range in a 300 BLK. The problem there *is* velocity. There just isn’t enough capacity with the BLK that *any* Bullet design will expand at range. Just ain’t happening

Sorry didn’t realize he was trying to go past 500 yards. In that case you are correct.

 

[#40Fan]

500 yards in my BLK? 150 yards max is all I was shooting. Trying to kill some rabbits and prairie dogs without worrying about the bullet flying where it didn't need to go.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

TAG

 

[rebel]

500 yards in my BLK? 150 yards max is all I was shooting. Trying to kill some rabbits and prairie dogs without worrying about the bullet flying where it didn't need to go.

No, but some of the bullets dellet an I mentioned will expand at 300 yards no problem with proper loading techniques and a bit of testing. This has been our wheelhouse for about the last 8 years. Pushed the limits of that little cartridge, far more than folks here realize. It's not a BR cartridge but it is very accurate. For deer, treat like a 30/30 but for rabbits, pop 'em at any distance. Hell, Id try one at 500 yards with my CZ. No one would know it if I missed - everyone would know it if I killed

 

[rebel]

I have only tried two bullets, but both have failed the ricochet test. 125 grain Speer TNT and 110 grain Sierra HP. Each will just poke a hole in the animal and go bouncing off into the distance at 300 BLK speeds. Next trip to the LGS I'll see if I can find some Nosler 110 grain Varmageddon bullets to try, but not going to get my hopes up.

Anyone have experienced recommendations?

To the OP, I have killed varmints out to 300 yards with a 300 BLK. For deer, I killed at 98 yards. Some of the suggestions you have here in this thread are based on experience, some theory and some on just plain BS. If ricochets are a real concern, then don't hunt where your hunting. Otherwise, my suggestions I'll stand by as I have personally used them.

 

[dellet]

500 yards in my BLK? 150 yards max is all I was shooting. Trying to kill some rabbits and prairie dogs without worrying about the bullet flying where it didn't need to go.

As long as you hit the target, no problem.

The 85 grain bullet I mentioned earlier is a solid copper expanding type bullet. It has full expansion 2.5 diameter, down to about 1400 fps. At 150 yards, 2800 fps MV, you have an arc of less than 2”. Depending on sight height, .75” high at 75 yards, and 1” low at 150 with a 125 yard zero. That should be adequate for pest control. May not be the bullet if you want rabbit stew.

There are more and more bullets designed to work at velocities obtainable in the cartridge. Inside 200 yards with medium sized game it’s perfectly capable. Speer has a 150 gold dot that is 1/2 MOA capable, double diameter expansion at 1600 fps, easily loads to 2200 fps in a 16” barrel, still has over 1000 pounds of energy at 200 yards and stays within a 3” vital radius. That’s the same basic trajectory as a 110 Barnes with 150 pounds more energy on impact.

The lighter bullets like the 85-90 grain are capable of 223 velocities in a shorter barrel, but do not have the BC capability so range is shorter and you need to be better at dope and distance calculations.

This brings things back to what GSVP brought up. Energy. Just because a bullet will expand at low velocity, doesn’t make it a good choice. The Barnes will expand out to 500 yards at 1350 fps. I would not trust it on anything more than a varmint with only 400 pounds of energy and a 30 degree entry wound.

As with any cartridge choose wisely, match distance, game and bullet with your ability. No problem.

It’s an interesting little cartridge that has more capability than most would imagine.

 

[Huckleberry75]

The 110gn Varmageddon''s have performed very well for me. Knocked out several coyotes, feral dogs and a few deer. Canid's have been DRT. Deer have either been DRT or tipped over within 20-30yds. This is out of a 16" Ruger American ranch, Ww brass and lil gun.