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Post by Yankee Bill on Mar 29, 2016 20:22:05 GMT -5
I was finally able to get my new Apex Conversion (The Woods Assassin) out to the range today. It was a beautiful day 51 deg. @ 9 AM and got up to about 62 deg. at 2:30 PM when I had to quit shooting. I decided to focus strictly on shooting 195/200 gr. Saboted bullets today, as it is likely the last fairly cool day that I'll have an opportunity to get to shoot before the heat sets in here in VA. I waited 10-15 min. between shots all day today, and my barrel never felt warm to the touch.
I loaded up a bunch of Vials with 31-33 gr. of N-110 and had some 200 gr. XTP's / 200 gr. SST's and some of the " bad lot" 195 Barnes with me. I couldn't get the 195 Barnes to shoot at all, tried knurling them, straight from pack, different powder weights etc. and they wouldn't group so I gave up on them due to the limited time I had to shoot today.
I decided to try to work up a hunting load with the 200 SST'S. I only used the XTP's to get the gun on paper and for fouling shots. The holes in these targets with tape covering them is from me messing with some of the 195 BX's earlier.
I quickly found that my gun doesn't like the SST's knurled with these loads I had with me, so I shot my groups with them not knurled. For the time being 32 gr. N-110 for the 200 SST's seemed like the sweet spot, so I settled on that for shooting my groups today.
On the left target below, the 3 shot group was my 15th, 16th & 17th shots of the day. I decided to re-prime my spent modules after shooting that group while my barrel was cooling. The next 2 shots on that target (#18 & 19) after I re-primed didn't group with the first 3 shots. At first I thought it was due to different lot #'s of the primers, but then I decided to swab the barrel and see what happened. After swabbing I shot 1 fouling load of 32 gr. N-110 / 200 XTP at the bottom right of the left target.
Next I went to target #2, same load 32 gr. N-110 / 200 SST. It was getting close to when I had to quit for the day and I wanted to sight that load in for 1" high @ 100 yds. After a 3 shot group on this target I adjusted the scope and shot 2 shots in the bottom left of it. Made one more scope adjustment and shot bottom right of target. With my limited amount of trigger time I'll call that 1" high @ 100 yds. for now.
  
Anyhow, I'm very happy with the results of "The Woods Assassin's" maiden range trip today. And although the 200 SST's will not be my first choice for hunting this fall, I know I at least have 1 load worked up that will kill a deer Graveyard dead at the ranges I hunt. But I hope to be able to use a new run of the 195 Barnes instead, if they get the current problems worked out by then.
I'd also like to take a minute to thank Jeff for putting together the exact rifle that I wanted. I LOVE MY GUN  
YB
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Post by Hank on Mar 29, 2016 20:34:26 GMT -5
Glad to see you were able to get out and shoot her today. Looking good...
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Post by itneverends22 on Mar 29, 2016 21:00:37 GMT -5
YB,
Looking good, looks like a good day at the range..
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Post by Yankee Bill on Mar 29, 2016 21:58:26 GMT -5
Thanks guys,
Yes it was really nice to finally get out and shoot the gun. It even made the 2 hr. trip each way with construction delays seem almost tolerable Lol.
I'm far from being what anyone would consider a great shot, and I'm shooting off an older Caldwell Rock rest and the rear bag that came with it is not very stable, I need to upgrade that.
But I have no doubt that in more capable hands, and with the right load, this gun will be able to shoot 1 ragged hole groups @ 100 yds.
YB
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Post by hillbill on Mar 30, 2016 3:50:20 GMT -5
YB
don't be afraid to hunt with the 200 sst, its a good bullet. I have killed many deer from 10 yds to 356 and it will surprise you with its performance.
Good start on a fine deer stick!
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Post by schunter on Mar 30, 2016 6:16:25 GMT -5
Nothing like a great first outing. The Apex makes a nice little deer stick...
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Post by Yankee Bill on Mar 30, 2016 11:52:31 GMT -5
YB don't be afraid to hunt with the 200 sst, its a good bullet. I have killed many deer from 10 yds to 356 and it will surprise you with its performance. Good start on a fine deer stick! Yeah Bill,
I'm going to try to kill a couple of deer with them this year, and may even end up using them the whole season. I just had my heart set on using the 195 Barnes with this gun, but I certainly can't count on that right now.
I'm just thankful that I've got this SST load worked up and the gun is ready to hit the woods, the 195 BX's would just be a bonus at this point.
I still plan on messing with some Sabotless 250 TEZ's before the season to see if I can get them to shoot, so we'll se how that goes.
Appreciate your input.
Thanks,
YB
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Post by Yankee Bill on Mar 30, 2016 12:04:01 GMT -5
Nothing like a great first outing. The Apex makes a nice little deer stick... Thanks SC,
Yeah, I can't wait to get her into the woods. The weight and handling differences between this Apex and my Laminated Henry Ball 10ML - II are like night & day. Not to take anything away from the Savage, as it's a fine gun and I still like it. But it will now be relegated to other duties  .
YB
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2016 13:40:52 GMT -5
I haven't hunted with my bolt muzzle loaders in a couple of years. It is hard to beat a single shot conversion for ease of carry, etc I hunt with 250 bonded shock waves and haven't had one make it 50 yards.
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Post by dannoboone on Mar 31, 2016 2:25:56 GMT -5
I second what Bill said. You're getting good accuracy with the 200SST, and at
the speeds you are shooting, there will be no "bullet failure" and they will be
just as lethal as the 195BX. Even though I'm a BX fan, accuracy comes as
number one.
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Post by buckstuds on Mar 31, 2016 6:35:38 GMT -5
Good shootin. You should be between 2200-2300 fps with that load.
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WGK
Full Member
Posts: 154
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Post by WGK on Mar 31, 2016 7:39:47 GMT -5
YB the secret to getting the 195 Barnes in my Apex was a wool wad under the sabot. It made a huge difference in my gun. And the tighter it loads the better it shot. I have to knurl them big time to get them to load tight in my gun.
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Post by Yankee Bill on Mar 31, 2016 8:18:07 GMT -5
I second what Bill said. You're getting good accuracy with the 200SST, and at the speeds you are shooting, there will be no "bullet failure" and they will be just as lethal as the 195BX. Even though I'm a BX fan, accuracy comes as number one. Appreciate the input Danno,
It's always good to hear another vote of confidence.
Avoiding bullet failure with the SST's is exactly what I'm trying to accomplish by working at the lower end of the powder charge spectrum. I brought charges of 31 gr. - 33 gr. of N-110 to the range with me.
31 gr. was giving me slightly larger groups than the 32 gr. in the pics I posted. And once I saw that 32 gr. was grouping so well I didn't even bother to shoot any of the 33 gr. loads as I wanted to keep my velocity to a minimum.
I know that You, Bill and several other guys here have a lot of experience with the .40 / 200 gr. SST, so I really value your opinions. I'm feeling much more confident about using this load now.
Thanks again,
YB
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Post by Yankee Bill on Mar 31, 2016 8:28:26 GMT -5
Good shootin. You should be between 2200-2300 fps with that load. Thanks Lyman,
I was guesstimating somewhere around 2100-2200 fps, so that's good to know.
Appreciate the info.
YB
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Post by Yankee Bill on Mar 31, 2016 8:34:04 GMT -5
YB the secret to getting the 195 Barnes in my Apex was a wool wad under the sabot. It made a huge difference in my gun. And the tighter it loads the better it shot. I have to knurl them big time to get them to load tight in my gun. Hi WGK,
Was that with using 195's from the "good lots" of bullets, or the current runs that are having issues?
Thanks,
YB
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Post by jims on Mar 31, 2016 10:08:42 GMT -5
I have never had any troubles with the 200 SSTs either in performance or accuracy.
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Post by Yankee Bill on Mar 31, 2016 10:52:52 GMT -5
I have never had any troubles with the 200 SSTs either in performance or accuracy. That's good news Jims,
Thanks. YB
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WGK
Full Member
Posts: 154
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Post by WGK on Apr 1, 2016 9:53:29 GMT -5
No that was using a good lot of bullets. They are an Awesome hunting bullet.
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Post by dannoboone on Apr 1, 2016 13:22:06 GMT -5
I once did recover the jacket of a 200sst from under the skin on the exit side of the shoulder. It had gone through both scapula and clipped the underside of the spine. Spinal shock dropped him like the hammer of Thor. Admittedly, the load was a little hot with a MV of 2700fps. Due to brush between the 8-pointer and me, the shoulder shot was the only one afforded.  |
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Post by Yankee Bill on Apr 1, 2016 13:39:35 GMT -5
Wow, these sure seem to hold up A LOT better than the early run .45/250gr. SST's I used in the .50 Cal. back when they first came out.
Based on the retention of your bullet jacket there @ 2700 fps, they may likely perform "Textbook" @ the 2200-2300 fps I'll be running them at, with, as you said, no failure. That's very encouraging, thanks for sharing.
YB
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