|
|
Post by Lee Martin on Feb 8, 2013 13:21:46 GMT -5
I'm an avid 50 BMG shooter and have been using Hodgdon's H50BMG for the past few years. I noticed a while back they're now offering US 869 and touting it as a strong BMG propellant. Has anyone used it in the big 50 or other large magnum cases? If so how does it perform and how does it differ from H50BMG? -Lee www.singleactions.com"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time" |
|
|
|
Post by curmudgeon on Feb 8, 2013 16:08:08 GMT -5
Lee have shot both powders you mentioned as well as 5 or 6 other of those slow burning propellants designed for the 50BMG and 20MM. When testing a new or different propellant I'd usually start about 205 grs. and incresed in 5 gr. increments until I reached the velocity, of the standard GI ball round. Then tested for accuracy. started at about 500 yds. USED the Hornady Match for accuracy. A bit pricey but very accurate.   |
|
|
|
Post by buckheart on Feb 8, 2013 21:40:15 GMT -5
Lee is your BMG a Martin made?
|
|
|
|
Post by curmudgeon on Feb 8, 2013 23:34:42 GMT -5
No, its the old Iver Johnson action, with a special S/S bbl. Got from Kent Lomont...
|
|
|
|
Post by curmudgeon on Feb 9, 2013 8:43:19 GMT -5
That S/S bbl is chrome lined, part of a shipment to the Swiss gov't. After 8K rounds you can hardly tell its been fired.  |
|
|
|
Post by Lee Martin on Feb 9, 2013 11:17:04 GMT -5
Lee is your BMG a Martin made? We're shooting three 50 BMGs. The first two are my dad's and the actions, trigger mechanisms, stocks, and brakes are home-built. One is fit with a Wilson barrel, the other is a Douglas. My .50 is a State Arms:  Lee - like you I've had excellent results with Hornady's 750 gr A-Max. Over 225.0 grains of H50BMG it goes 2,800 fps and is very accurate. That same charge with the Barnes 800 grain solid posts 2,750 from my 36" barrel. Still accurate but not quite as stellar as the A-Max. I may give US 869 a try. It's a tad slower than H50BMG and Hodgdon claims 250.0 grs of it will push 750's to 2,944 and the Barnes 800 solid to 2,900 fps. We'll see what my chronograph shows. I hope to get my .50 to the range tomorrow. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time" |
|
|
|
Post by bradshaw on Feb 9, 2013 12:56:25 GMT -5
Jon Powers and his wife visited in the 1980's with his falling block single shot .50 BMG. Jon Powers is from Holly, Michigan, not to be confused with Ron Power of gunsmith/custom handgun/tool & parts fame.
Jon Powers designed and built a gas operated, rotating bolt pistol chambered for the .44 Remington Magnum, which resembles a very muscular Colt Woodsman. Early on, JD Jones wrote up the "Magmatic" (think that's what Powers called it). Way I heard it, Israeli Military Industries tried to buy a gun from Jon Powers, who refused to sell, as the "offer" was far from generous, and would have pushed Powers aside.
IMI went on to buy a much blockier design from another Michigan machinist, which was put into production in Israel as the Desert Eagle.
The Jon Powers underlever single shot is a masterpiece of machining, with an incredibly smooth action. Powers even machined the beautiful walnut butt and forend. The butt is removable via long finger latch flush with the comb. We shot the rifle at 1375 yards with a variety of Powers' handloads, along with military ball, tracer and, as I recall AP. Some of the tracer ricochetted off the rock, carving a ruby flare a quarter mile high in the sky.
Jon Powers loaded .50 BMG ammunition on a huge progressive press he made, copying the Star Progressive. As I recall, seeing the press at Powers' home in Michigan, it had 8 stages.
David Bradshaw
|
|
|
|
Post by curmudgeon on Feb 9, 2013 15:52:55 GMT -5
Yes it was called Magmatic, JD and I did quite a bit of shooting and testing primarily Handguns over the years, I remember him talking about the Magmatic but I never got to shoot one, shortly after I got involved with the Auto Mags. I'll bet that 8 station for the 50BMG was a thing of beauty. I had a St.ar set up for the 300 Weatherby. Bought it from the owner of the Star Co. Primarily they were a builder of Sprinkler systems. The Star loader was the living end back in the day. I think every major Police Dept in the World used one one time or other.
|
|
|
|
Post by stevemb on Feb 10, 2013 10:31:34 GMT -5
Got to shoot one of them things at a course a few yrs back. Were some guys just home from the worlds largest litter box there. They warned of detached retinas from the bolt action .50BMG. Were happy with the self loaders. The 20 and 25mm were a rumor then. Probably out now. stevemb
|
|
|
|
Post by bradshaw on Feb 10, 2013 12:32:10 GMT -5
stevemb.... Some years ago a writer brought up a then-new Barrett semi-auto .50 BMG. Recall a long recoil system, or at least a long "short recoil" system. Magazines held at least ten, perhaps 14 rounds. Rifle had a big scope with mil dots, which came in handy.
We shot ball, a bit of AP, and I recall a McMurdo solid brass spitzer. Doped the rifle at 100, then 300 yards, and cut down a maple destined for firewood.
Next, we unlimbered the Barrett on rocks at 7/10 mile to a mile. We drove across the valley and I set up TinMan on a rock pile, where we could easily spot shots. The writer wanted me to shoot first, he behind me on spotting scope. From Barrett bipod I took a SWAG, to include a very light breeze, and squeezed. I did not quite get the big rifle back on target before the hit, something I'm used to with the .338 Win Mag at similar distance.
"Hit!" yelped the writer. TinMan was leaned back, the silhouette about half erect size. We drove across the valley. The bullet had punctured the groin. The write was elated, as he was working up a story.
"Not so fast," said I. "One shot does not a group make." And so it was. I shot a group of 4-1/2 feet. I never checked the scope for parallax, but I think the rifle gave about all it had. You are correct on the semi-autos soft recoil.
David Bradshaw
|
|
|
|
Post by Lee Martin on Feb 11, 2013 9:21:14 GMT -5
I touched off 40 rounds yesterday and spent $122 in the process: 40 Hornady 750 gr A-Maxs = $80 9,000 grs of H50BMG powder = $30 40 CCI primers = $12 Fun gun to shoot however. At 100 yards I could put 5 shots in 1.5". Those groups drop when I extend the sessions to 200 - 300 yards. At 100 the bullet isn't fully stabilized. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time" |
|
dmize
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,825
|
Post by dmize on Feb 11, 2013 13:46:41 GMT -5
I remember back when the 50 craze started,reading somewhere that a 50 doesnt reach full potential untill 600 yards.
|
|
|
|
Post by toroflow on Feb 11, 2013 17:09:03 GMT -5
Lee, you need some WC867 or WC872 powder! $48 for 8 pounds (and its not pull-down). Makes for MUCH more reasonable 50BMG shooting!
|
|
|
|
Post by Lee Martin on Feb 11, 2013 17:28:38 GMT -5
We've shot the surplus powders and they work fine. A little more variability than I like from jug to jug but you can't beat the price. For accuracy though I tend to use H50BMG or AA8700. I also plan on giving US 869 a try. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time" |
|
Dennis
.30 Stingray
Posts: 112 
|
Post by Dennis on Feb 12, 2013 13:37:00 GMT -5
I’m just getting setup to load the BMG so this is all new to me and good information to have.
Of course this isn’t a good time to find components for any type of loading, the 50 included. I did find H50BMG and US869 locally to start with. I wanted to load the Hornady bullet but can’t find any. Anyone have input on the Barnes TSX 50 cal bullet?
Dennis.
|
|
