Designing the 2-diameter paper patch bullet.

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

I always hold my 18-twist .45s to 1.440" maximum and 1.430" is good too. I cut Brent's first prolate for an 18-twist, one for him and one for me, but at that length they only weighed about 490 grains. We both felt that was too light for long range. Brent had me cut a longer version at 1.520", but that would not shoot in his 18-twist because it was too long. He rebarreled to a 16-twist and that long bullet shot very well for 3 or 4 years, until whatever the problem is that he has had popped up. I haven't spoken to him so I don't know if he has resolved it yet or not.

For me to get to a stable length in for an 18-twist and have the weight something I could live with for long range I just capped his prolate design with a 1/3 caliber nose radius and still pretty much maintain the 50/50 shank/nose lengths. This design will weigh 520-525 grains at 1.435" OAL. That is what I have found to be the best bullet in my two long range rifles. I played with other versions but none work as well as this design.

Too slender of a nose like I see on other bullets being used can cause trouble in switchy winds, especially head winds. They'll work well sometimes and give you fits other times. With just enough weight in the nose this one holds up better when the winds are making other people scratch their heads.

I am pushing it just below 1300 fps and I think I would be better off with just a bit more speed. That might be just what I need to bring those 900 yards score up a little. It seems I can shoot in the high 80s or mid 90s at 1000 and in the mid to high 90s at 800, but I'm struggling in the upper 70s and low 80s at 900. I've been here before with GG bullets and I think I upped the fps a bit and things got better at 900. I need to review my notes from my .45-90 GG days and see what I did.

I should up the powder charge with my 1 1/2 Swiss and find the second sweet spot with more compression. If that proved to be in the 88 grain range I'd be pretty happy. That should give me 1340 to 1350 fps and that just might do it. I can't tell much at 200 yards so there may have to be some more load development at some matches this year. Just when I had decided to leave everything alone too! I guess it never really ends.