Category Archives: Rifle Tests

Tests of new Rifles

Marlin 45-70 IMR 4198 Powder/w Hornady Bullets. Data here. Update

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IMR 4198 is an excellent mainstay powder for the 45-70. I shot this powder today but loads just under max. All grouped ok at 1 to 1.5 inches at 50 yds. 250g MonoFlex grouped best at 1 inch and SD was 5.3.

Three Shot groups taken at 50 yds with Ruger Marlin 45-70 SBL 19 inch Barrel : Hornady Manual used 22 inch barrel.

UPDATE:  I also included Momentum calculations. 

https://calculatorfriend.com/bullet-momentum-calculator

Hornady 250g MonoFlex Best Group 

Load 47g Manual says vel  2100 fps  

Avg Vel. 2080.5 fps  Diff manual vs actual 20fps

SD 5.3

Muzzle Energy 2444 ft-lb

Bullet Momentum  10.27 kg·m/s

Note for comparison: A 175g 7mm bullet traveling at 3000fps has a momentum of 10.37 kg.m/s. Identical to this load. Hmmm!

Hornady 300g FNHP

Load 46g manual says 2000 fps

Avg Vel.1900.5 fps Diff manual vs actual 100 fps

SD 34.1

Muzzle Energy 2438 ft-lb

Bullet Momentum 11.26 kg·m/s

Hornady 350g RNFP

Load 43g Manual says 1800 fps

Avg Vel 1761 Diff manual vs actual 39 fps

SD 9.4

Muzzle Energy 2445 ft-lb

Bullet Momentum 12.17 kg·m/s

I shot a 400g FP and found the MV at 1413 fps. Momentum was 11.16 kg·m/s. Lower than the 350g due to significant velocity differences. To equal the 350g momentum, the 400g bullet needs a velocity of 1550 fps.

Thus, the 350g appears better at penetration than the 400g at 1413 fps and the 350g has a flatter trajectory. 

Conclusion: 250g MonoFlex with 47g is best load of these. The 350g Load comes in second. The 300g load was worst. The 300g loads need work to find best loads with different powder.

I do like the MonoFlex all copper said to retain 95% of weight and won’t over mushroom on deer.

On bear, it looks like the 350g Round Nose Flat Point would be a great black bear round with minimal mushrooming and great momentum/penetration

Good Shooting! 

New Marlin 1895 45-70 SBL First Shots Out-Of-The-Box

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For those who read my last article, I shot this brand new Ruger USA made Marlin 1895 45-70 right out of the box with Hornady 250g MonoFlex® gilding copper bullets.  

Hornady LEVERevolution 45-70 Government Ammo 250 Grain Hornady MonoFlex Polymer Tip Lead Free Box of 20

First, with iron sights, I used the rear peep, and black tip of the front sight on the first shot and hit 3 1/2 inches low out of the bull. See Target below.

 

Ok, I realized, I should have used the slightly lower green bead on the front sight, so I covered the bull with the green bead. Shots 2 and 3 grouped 1.5 inches in the bull.

Next, I mounted my Leupold VX 2×6 on the Picatinny rail and shot three shots at 50 yards (no wind) and grouped all three shots in 5/8 inch at 2x power.

I was impressed.

I moved the target out to 75 yards and shot another three shots, grouping 1.0 inch and increased magnification to 6x power (max).   

The Hornady three shots chrono an average of 1953 fps with a standard deviation SD = 3.1 fps out of my Garmin. Wow!! 

Here is the JBM Ballistic table below for the Monoflex with 100 yd zero.

 

Trajectory
Input Data
Manufacturer: Hornady Description: MonoFlex®
Caliber: 0.458 in Weight: 250.0 gr
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.175 G1 (ASM)
Muzzle Velocity: 1953.0 ft/s Distance to Chronograph: 10.0 ft
Sight Height: 1.50 in Sight Offset: 0.00 in
Zero Height: 0.00 in Zero Offset: 0.00 in
Windage: 0.000 MOA Elevation: 0.000 MOA
Line Of Sight Angle: 0.0 deg Cant Angle: 0.0 deg
Wind Speed: 10.0 mph Wind Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Speed: 10.0 mph Target Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Height: 12.0 in
Temperature: 59.0 °F Pressure: 29.92 in Hg
Humidity: 0 % Altitude: 0.0 ft
Vital Zone Radius: 5.0 in
Std. Atmosphere at Altitude: No Pressure is Corrected: Yes
Zero at Max. Point Blank Range: No Target Relative Drops: Yes
Mark Sound Barrier Crossing: No Include Extra Rows: No
Column 1 Units: 1.00 in Column 2 Units: 1.00 MOA
Round Output to Whole Numbers: No
Output Data
Elevation: 6.466 MOA Windage: 0.000 MOA
Atmospheric Density: 0.07647 lb/ft³ Speed of Sound: 1116.4 ft/s
Maximum PBR: 209 yd Maximum PBR Zero: 180 yd
Range of Maximum Height: 102 yd Energy at Maximum PBR: 809.5 ft•lbs
Sectional Density: 0.170 lb/in²
Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 1967.9 1.763 2149.4 0.000 0.0 ***
25 -0.1 -0.4 0.2 0.7 1857.8 1.664 1915.6 0.039 6.9 26.4
50 0.7 1.3 0.8 1.5 1751.9 1.569 1703.3 0.081 14.2 27.2
75 0.7 0.9 1.9 2.4 1650.5 1.478 1511.9 0.125 22.0 28.0
100 -0.0 -0.0 3.4 3.2 1554.2 1.392 1340.6 0.172 30.2 28.9
125 -1.6 -1.2 5.4 4.2 1463.4 1.311 1188.5 0.221 39.0 29.8
150 -4.3 -2.7 8.0 5.1 1378.8 1.235 1055.1 0.274 48.3 30.7
175 -8.1 -4.4 11.2 6.1 1301.0 1.165 939.5 0.330 58.1 31.7
200 -13.2 -6.3 14.9 7.1 1230.9 1.103 840.9 0.390 68.6 32.7

 
12-Mar-26 17:09, JBM/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi

Overall, I’m very impressed with both the rifle and Hornady ammo. Note the 1.6 inch drop at 125 yards.

I shot 17 rounds in one sitting at the range and my shoulder is fine.

Deer are the main target here out to 175 yards for 1000 ft-lbs. On black bear, I think 50 yards would be my max distance with 1700 ft-lbs delivered energy for full penetration. 

Good Hunting!

Spring into a Marlin Lever Action Model 1895 SBL 45-70 – Testing Soon

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I have been looking and waiting for the right big game 45-70 lever gun to talk to me and I think I found it.

The Ruger made Marlin Lever Action Model 1895 SBL 45-70 is a stainless, easy and fast-like “butter”  levering rifle with a 19 inch barrel. There is a shorter version but will share on that later.

I put a deposit on it as I wait for more snow to melt. I will reload this cartridge. 

 What makes this rifle so special is that it is,… well you’ll have to wait till I get it and take it to the range for me to share. 

More Soon…

 

 

New Vortex Venom 5-25x56mm Tactical MRAD FFP Riflescope Review – Out of The Box

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The $494 dollar Vortex Venom did not disappoint me Out of the Box! It boasts an excellent light gathering 34mm tube. I purchased medium Vortex rings too which worked very well.

I “bore-sighted” my CZ457 MTR 22lr rifle and Venom scope.today at 50 yards easily and set my elevation for 50 yard zero with Wolf Match Extra bullets.

Once complete, I set elevation’s and tested for 100 and 150 yards. I was impressed again with clarity of the crosshairs and overall brightness for the price of this competition type scope.

Below, my last 150 yard Wolf Match Extra group for the day. It is a 2 inch group with a little wind. If I discount the flyer, the group is 1.25 inches. The Wolf Match lot has an SD of 7 and a faster bullet at 1135 fps. 

I had a great day today largely because of very little wind, say 5 mph crosswind and my CZ shot well. I am ready…

A day later, I shot a 0.71 inch 5 shot group at 100 yds with SK Match Ammo. Nice! I settled on SK Match for competition. Average velocity 1091 fps SD 5.4

Good Shooting!

 

 

Browning XBolt “Speed” 7mm Rem. Mag.- Likes and Dislikes – My Grade?

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X-Bolt Speed

Browning X-Bolt 7mm Rem Mag with 1:9.5 twist in a light 6 lb 13 oz mountain-rifle configuration. Fluted, sporter-weight 26 inch barrel with radial muzzle brake. Cerakote Smoked Bronze finish. Composite stock with highly versatile Browning OVIX Camo.

https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/x-bolt/x-bolt-speed.html

My retail cost. $1349 with Browning Scope Mounts.

This is a hunter’s rifle. It is meant to hunt in any weather anywhere.

As a mountain rifle this would be great to carry high on a mountain or in a valley out as far as you are comfortable shooting.

It is not glossy, but made for a serious hunter looking for stealth.

It is not designed for target shooters with heavy guns and bull barrels and light triggers to shoot holes in holes, but never the less can shoot sub-MOA for some loads and powders up to heavy bullets like175 grain Nosler’s I have tested. 

It is worth the money! Read on…

What I like most? 

  • Does it shoot? Yes and decent MOA and even sub-MOA groups too depending on the bullet.
  • The 60°bolt throw in the X-Bolt is extremely smooth and cycles like lighting, I have shot dozens of rifles and find the bolt throw and smoothness… first class.
  • Overall weight 6lbs 13 oz. is amazingly light to carry.
  • The fluted sporter barrel in Smoked Bronze Cerakote and is well made, handsome and ready for any fowl weather.
  • I was immediately impressed with how fast it cycles for a second shot. Like lightning!
  • The removable beefy 3 shot clip is exceptionally well made of composite material and audibly clicks when installed.
  • The composite stock has texture along with the cool OVIX camo and grip swell. 

What I like least?

The trigger adjustability needs improvement. However it is a crisp 4 pounds.

Twist rate could be a bit faster. I would have preferred a 1:8.5 twist which manages improved heavier bullet stability but it still shoots 175 grain for long range.

My Test Conclusion

It shoot sub-MOA for 140 grain bullets and is stable in twist to shoot up to 175 grain Nosler bullets that I have shot 1 1/4″ at 100 yards. 

An acquaintance hunted Africa with me years ago and took a 1000 + pound Blue Eland with one shot from his 7mm Rem Mag and a 175 grain bullet. It was a heart shot! 

My best moose bullet so far is Nosler 168g ABLR with initial sub MOA 3/4″ group at 3005 fps.

I shoot without a muzzle brake and recoil is surprisingly moderate but I am used to shooting big magnum’s. 

My Overall grade without including the trigger is a solid A.

With trigger as is, gets an A minus. I will add a Timney in time.

I am taking this Browning rifle to hunt moose in Newfoundland this September and will write about the hunt. 

Good Hunting!

© Copyright 2023

Browning X-Bolt Speed 7mm Rem Mag with Hand Loaded IMR 4831 Powder and 168g Nosler ABLR for Moose

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X-Bolt Speed

My Browning 26 inch 9.5 twist rifle barrel likes hand loaded 7mm 168 grain Nosler ABLR with a hot load of IMR 4831 per Nosler web load data. I chrono’d an average of 3005 fps. Wow! These are cookin’ !! COAL was 3.255 inches. No pressure signs except the primer was a bit flatter… as expected. Three rounds measured 3/4 inch but more testing will firm that up. I will change the trigger to a Timney at some point as it is impractical to easily adjust with a 2mm Allen wrench on a sealant filled screw. If you like 4 pounds for a factory trigger it works, for some hunters, not me. All my rifles are set near 3 pounds. 

Research with Bryan Litz Applied Ballistics Book finds that  the Nosler 175g ABLR Form Factor of 0.94 is considered low drag but the 168g ABLR is considered VLD Very Low Drag with Form Factor of 0.896 thus holding its energy better at long range than the 175g ABLR.

Assuming I use the 168 Nosler ABLR for long range Newfoundland moose hunting, I can reach out in a large open terrain tundra-like bog with my BOG tripod Death Grip to steady the shot out to 600 yards.

Distances I will practice this summer, in prep for the hunt, is out to 600 yards. With a 300 yd zero, at 100 yards the bullet is 3 inches high and 150 yards is 4 inches high, dead-on at 300 yards and Max Point Blank Range is 376 yards. At 600 yards terminal energy is 1822 ft-lbs and still traveling over 2200 fps. At 400 yds it holds a truck-load of energy at 2200 ft-lbs. Just have your laser rangefinder at hand and be ready for a follow-up shot. The 60 degree bolt throw is a big plus for very fast second shots.

Below is the JBM ballistic report for the Nosler 168g ABLR at 3005fps and zeroed for 300 yards.

 

Trajectory
Input Data
Manufacturer: Nosler Description: Accubond Long Range Spitzer (G7)
Caliber: 0.284 in Weight: 168.0 gr
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.353 G7 (ASM)
Muzzle Velocity: 3005.0 ft/s Distance to Chronograph: 10.0 ft
Sight Height: 1.50 in Sight Offset: 0.00 in
Zero Height: 0.00 in Zero Offset: 0.00 in
Windage: 0.000 MOA Elevation: 0.000 MOA
Line Of Sight Angle: 0.0 deg Cant Angle: 0.0 deg
Wind Speed: 10.0 mph Wind Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Speed: 10.0 mph Target Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Height: 48.0 in
Temperature: 45.0 °F Pressure: 29.92 in Hg
Humidity: 0 % Altitude: 0.0 ft
Vital Zone Radius: 5.0 in
Std. Atmosphere at Altitude: No Pressure is Corrected: Yes
Zero at Max. Point Blank Range: No Target Relative Drops: Yes
Mark Sound Barrier Crossing: No Include Extra Rows: No
Column 1 Units: 1.00 in Column 2 Units: 1.00 MOA
Round Output to Whole Numbers: No
Output Data
Elevation: 6.548 MOA Windage: 0.000 MOA
Atmospheric Density: 0.07859 lb/ft³ Speed of Sound: 1101.3 ft/s
Maximum PBR: 376 yd Maximum PBR Zero: 318 yd
Range of Maximum Height: 174 yd Energy at Maximum PBR: 2318.7 ft•lbs
Sectional Density: 0.298 lb/in²
Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 3009.8 2.733 3378.7 0.000 0.0 ***
50 1.4 2.8 0.1 0.2 2938.4 2.668 3220.4 0.050 8.9 17.0
100 3.4 3.2 0.4 0.4 2867.8 2.604 3067.5 0.102 18.0 17.2
150 4.3 2.7 1.0 0.6 2798.0 2.541 2920.0 0.155 27.3 17.4
200 4.0 1.9 1.8 0.8 2729.1 2.478 2777.8 0.209 36.8 17.6
250 2.6 1.0 2.8 1.1 2661.0 2.416 2640.9 0.265 46.6 17.8
300 -0.0 -0.0 4.1 1.3 2593.7 2.355 2509.2 0.322 56.7 18.0
350 -3.9 -1.1 5.6 1.5 2527.4 2.295 2382.5 0.381 67.0 18.3
400 -9.2 -2.2 7.4 1.8 2462.1 2.236 2260.9 0.441 77.6 18.5
450 -15.9 -3.4 9.5 2.0 2397.7 2.177 2144.1 0.503 88.5 18.8
500 -24.1 -4.6 11.9 2.3 2334.2 2.120 2032.2 0.566 99.6 19.0
550 -33.9 -5.9 14.6 2.5 2271.7 2.063 1924.8 0.631 111.1 19.3
600 -45.4 -7.2 17.6 2.8 2210.3 2.007 1822.1 0.698 122.9 19.6
650 -58.7 -8.6 20.9 3.1 2149.8 1.952 1723.7 0.767 135.0 19.8
700 -73.9 -10.1 24.6 3.4 2090.3 1.898 1629.7 0.838 147.4 20.1

 
25-Jan-23 07:58, JBM/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reloading the 7mm Remington Magnum for my Browning X-Bolt w/ New Norma Brass

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I purchased Norma Brass this January for reloading my new Browning Rifle for moose hunting. There were no other Brass manufacturers available on the Internet, that I could find at the time… but glad I bought them.

I purchased a lot of 50, packed in plastic bags and boxed. How did they weigh-out? 

Accordingly, I weighed 10 case random sample and did a Standard Deviation, Average and Extreme Spread. 

Std Dev.  0.74 grains

AVG Wt. 214.83 grains

Extreme Spread of 2 grains in the ten cases. That is excellent!

 

 

 

I took a photo of the flash hole from inside this unsized case. Notice that there is no apparent burr. Some manufacturers like Norma drill the flash hole instead of punching. Drilling is better!

I found this informative review below of Norma Brass on line. 

Norma 7mm Rem Mag Brass Review

 

Adding the primers with my press was much more difficult as they were new and difficult to seat. The good news is that these primer pockets will firmly hold the primer and make reloading the case less susceptible to loose primers. Norma says the brass can be reloaded  up to 10 times according to the above article. 

I used my RCBS Rock Chucker Press, RL-22 powder and loaded Nosler 7mm 175 grain AccuBond Long Range. The bullets are boat tail thus I thought it would make it a bit easier to press the bullet.  They still pressed hard but did not hurt the case.

I shall chamfer the inside of case necks on the next batch to make the bullets press easier. 

I shot enough to zero at 100 yards (groups 1 1/4″) then chronographed them at 2615 fps. I expected a much faster bullet. I was hoping for 2900 fps says Nosler data with 1:9 twist and 24 inch barrel. My barrel is 1:9.5 twist with a 26 inch barrel. Accordingly, I will experiment with powders to see what I can safely wring out of these bullets. Inspecting the fired case and primers look normal. 

The trigger still pulls heavy for me (4 lbs) and soon I will have a Timney to swap out the factory trigger. 

I also loaded some Nosler 168 grain ABLR’s with IMR 4831 and they chrono’d at around 3005 fps and grouped at 3/4 inches at 100 yards. I liked that load!

This round may turn out to be better for long range moose than the 175 ABLR.

More Soon!

 

 

 

Sent email to Timney Triggers to Test Trigger for Browning X-Bolt- They Responded

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Hope to hear back from Timney folks. They Responded.

In just a week or two Timney will send a Trigger for the X-Bolt to test and share with readers, including my removal of the original trigger, replacement and hunting/shooting tests. You don’t need a gunsmith! The shooter has choices of pull weights set at the factory. Mine will be 3 pounds pull weight.

https://timneytriggers.com/browning-x-bolt/

I have had great luck with these triggers.

. Browning X-Bolt

Bullet Stability/Barrel Twist – Browning X-Bolt 7mm Remington Magnum – UPDATED

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I purchased a Browning X-Bolt for Christmas. Hurray! But bullets are a bit harder to find. I did find a 175grain Nosler ABLR bullet that I liked and purchased it but later calculated the bullets stability to be 1.37, just below the 1.5 military stability criteria in my 1 in 9.5 twist rate barrel. Bullet length included the polymer tip in overall length. Without the polymer tip as part of the bullet length, the formula now says the bullet is very stable. 

Experts argue about including polymer tips or not.  I will load some in a week or so.  

Lets take a look at this imperfect science…

It is known that barrel twist rate and a given bullets size, length, BC and velocity effects bullet stability. As a general rule bullets that are exiting the barrel have some yaw or as some say “yaw spiral” or gyroscopic effect.

It is the bullets “yaw” that can affect the grouping of a bullet, but yaw diminishes as it travels down range making groups tighter..

Calculators

You will need the length of the bullet below to enter this in the stability formula. Some folks subtract the polymer tip from bullet length. The JBM formula below takes the polymer tip into account. Measure the bullets overall length and measure the polymer tip length. 

https://www.jbmballistics.com/ballistics/lengths/lengths.shtml

https://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi

At typical 100 yard ranges your bullet may exhibit some yaw thus grouping may be somewhat larger than expected. I ran into this with the .243 Winchester and my former 338 Win Mag where yaw was pronounced with heavy, longer bullets. 

The good news is, this minor yaw will disappear at longer distances and stability and grouping improves, 

The only way to know how stable your bullet is, is to shoot some at temperatures and distances your going to hunt in.

Accordingly, I would fire them at 100 and 150 yards and then shoot out to my max hunting distance of say 500 to 600 yards for group. 

UPDATE

I had some Nosler 140g E-Tips and 7mm brass in my cupboard and eagerly loaded and shot them at 100 yards with 62g IMR 4831 powder clocking an estimated 2900 ± fps at the muzzle. Yes, that is a bit slow, but Nosler recommends working up loads with gilding copper E-Tips.

Below is the very first 100 yard 3 shot bench rest group. It measured 3/4 inch. Sub-MOA! Luckily there was no measurable wind and I used a COL of 3.24 inches where my bullets had at least 0.05 inches off the lands.

 

Can’t wait for my heavier bullets to arrive. 

Good Shooting!

 

Age of Hornady’s Precision Rifle Cartridges 6.5, 7mm, 300 PRC Target and Hunting?

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The truth is that the 6.5 PRC is faster than the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 7mm PRC is faster than the 7mm Remington Magnum and the 300 PRC is faster than the 300 Win Mag.

Having said that: Should hunters run out and sell the Creedmoor, 7mm Rem Magnum or the 300 Win. Mag?

I think not, if you own them already. I love my 6.5 CM but am open to the 7mm PRC.

Well, The Creedmoor, 7mm Rem and 300 Win have great accuracy and punch for hunting already.

These PRC cartridges were designed for long range target accuracy and are somewhat faster, kick a bit more, than the aforesaid cartridges but not enough to replace them as a hunting cartridge. Others think similarly. 

As for target shooters, ceteris paribus, (all else being equal) it takes a faster bullet to win a match against the wind at long range, where fractions of an inch make the difference in point score. The PRC’s were designed “first” for target, having no belt, extremely concentric and in some cases can shoot a heavier bullet with a rifle with a faster twist.  

But, for example,  if you don’t own a PRC rifle or load for the cartridge, getting a new rifle in a PRC may be a good choice as a hunter hand-loader.

Note, the PRC cartridges and rifles are not in every gun store at this time.  

I love my 6.5 CM for deer and thin skin game hunting but do not as of this writing have a 7mm rifle, so I am keeping that in mind.

There are only a few rifles in manufacture at this time for the 7mm PRC but more are coming. Still cant go wrong with a custom 7mm Rem Mag or Weatherby Mag or even a 280 Rem.

In the final analysis, the rifle quality may make the difference in my choice, not just the cartridge. 

More on this coming.

Good Hunting!

® Copyright 2022