I’ve settled on the X-Bullet for my 95 Winchester in 405. I worked up to the max load listed by Hodgdon, 55 grains Varget with the 300 grain X-Bullet (Hornady cases, Winchester WLR primers). This gives me an average 2150fps, almost exactly what the data suggested it would and about what I get with the factory Hornady flat nose loads. This load is accurate in the extreme in my rifle, tearing one big ragged hole at 100 yards. I hope to use this on Lion in the Moyowosi this summer.

I got some Woodleigh 400 grain solids and made up a couple of pilot rounds to check fit. When crimped at the cannelure I got it to fit into the magazine well enough, but the throat is too short to accommodate the longer bullet. Since I was running out of time for the hunt this summer I tabled the experiments with the heavier bullets for now.