Quote:

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> I'd be interested in seeing a comparison of these bullets with a 500 cast, 600 cast and 500 FMJ
> in order to demonstrate the utility of such bullets and of course what the best weight for a
> heavy cast .45 bullet is.

My usual penetration tests are done in the spring, when the new phone books come out. I collect the old books at work for "recycling" and do all my testing in a batch. I don't have enough left over to stop any of KDM's 720 gr cast bullets.

You mentioned that you use alternating water bottles and boards. Do you have penetration data for 500 gr bullets? If so, please post your testing procedure, and I'll duplicate it and test one (possibly more) of KDM's bullets. One datum (or a few data) do not a tread make, but it would be an interesting comparison anyway. At this point I can't fire a statistically significant sample.

Take care, Tom

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Tom: The thread ".375 Penetration" has a post of mine where I cite links to several tests I've run. I try to have as much fun with stuff as I can. Fun sometimes breeds a lot of learning, too!

Essentially, here it is:

One 1/2 inch thick piece of CDX plywood followed by one water-filled gallon milk jug followed by another piece of plywood followed by another jug, and so on. I shoot the jug/board setup from 20 meters. Generally, even premium, controlled expansion softnose bullets in a variety of calibers will be stopped in the 4th jug.

I'm guessing you better have 8 set up to handle the 720, maybe more? I also think that yaw if any will appear in this test as a difficulty in keeping the shots travelling true and shots might exit out the side if yaw exists on impact. This same phenomenon occurs with media-induced yaw when firing some spitzer FMJ's.

I have never shot a .458 rifle into my test, only .45-70 one load of which is cited in the material, I believe {a cast 402 grain HP}. Unfortunately, I do not have a .458 Win rifle or any other heavy to test.

Are you telling me I need another rifle...?

My .02¢ spin is that a good 500 grain cast bullet that could be shot for dirt cheap and provide identical sighting as the FMJ would be a very nice bullet for the guy that really wants to shoot his heavy alot and use it on some game. {IIRC, I think that was Jack Lott's reasoning for his buddy's setup in Thailand}. Can the 720 provide enough added performance to make sighting changes worthwhile?? KDM's investigation is very interesting to me and I suspect to many other readers also!