Thread: Maker Mucking About

Originally Posted by Tahr

Dead pig.
Maker are hopeless at communicating.

Ok. It's not just me then.

I butchered the pig this morning and this is what I found of the projectile. Two petals and the base weighing 79 grains (of 110). Any other bits may have been in the discarded guts.

Interesting that the bullet is a flat base but it is clearly now quite concave?
And a photo of the entry wound, the bullet angling in from the rear.

It has left a huge hole behind the ribs. About 10cm away from the main entry (4 o'clock) is another wound where I found one of the petals against the skin. The hole it made to get there I could put my finger through. The second petal I found in the oven dish I was putting the meat in so not sure where that ended up in the animal.
Although the shot didn't kill the pig instantly (not surprising considering shot placement), it disabled it immediately and looking at that entry wound, all I can say is that they Maker mess.

I just found the 3rd petal on the ground near where I processed the pig. So final tally....
Total weight recovered 102gns (of 110).
Weight of base 32gns
Weight of petals 24gns, 24gns, 22gns.

Second pig shot with the 110gn BLK TRex. This one was running too, but broadside, and I hit it just behind the shoulder at about 25 yards. It didn't break stride but nosedived into the ground 15 yards further on.
The bullet penetrated over an inch of shield and then carried on, breaking 6 ribs. One petal was found close to the entry.


I recovered the base and another petal under the shield on the opposite shoulder.

The diaphragm was awash with blood when I gutted it (a few minutes later). The other two petals must have been discarded then.
Total projectile weight recovered, 74.5 grains. Base 27gns, petal1 23gns, petal2 24.5gns.

These obviously work. My only reservation is the lack of retaining weight in the pieces recovered. I am not sure if this is an issue or not but I may back off the velocity a bit and see what happens. They are designed for 300BLK velocities (around 2400fps? MV) and I am driving them closer to 3000fps and don't intend to use them at ranges much over 100 yards.
At 300BLK velocities they would be great for a reduced recoil load in the 308win.

They working just great from what I'm seeing lol....but yeah back it off a little n see...nothing to loose and milder report n recoil is always nice.

Hi team,

sorry a bit off topic but has anyone loaded the 62gr in 223 with H335? Got 100 sitting here and waiting for this weather to clear but unsure on starting load. Thought I go 20g to be safe and work my way up?


Cheers,
JaSa

@Tahr?

Originally Posted by Shearer

@Tahr?

I use 25grns BM2

Good evening,

Done a bit more searching and Hogdon list for a 62gr projectile 22-24gr of H335 and Nosler 23-25gr of H335.
Alternative Hogdon list 21.6-23.7 of BM2 and Nosler 21.5-23.5 of BM2.

Since Tahr is running it on 25gr I have hope to go a bit higher with the H335 than the 25gr but since we are dealing with a full copper projectile, I will start low. By the way, the stock you can buy from Ammo Direct at the moment definitely comes from two different production lines. Two very consistent batches in projectile length measured from ogive to end with a difference of 0.01 in length between those two. Not enough to worry about but very noticeable. Will keep you posted how they go.


Cheers,
JaSa

Originally Posted by JaSa

Good evening,

Done a bit more searching and Hogdon list for a 62gr projectile 22-24gr of H335 and Nosler 23-25gr of H335.
Alternative Hogdon list 21.6-23.7 of BM2 and Nosler 21.5-23.5 of BM2.

Since Tahr is running it on 25gr I have hope to go a bit higher with the H335 than the 25gr but since we are dealing with a full copper projectile, I will start low. By the way, the stock you can buy from Ammo Direct at the moment definitely comes from two different production lines. Two very consistent batches in projectile length measured from ogive to end with a difference of 0.01 in length between those two. Not enough to worry about but very noticeable. Will keep you posted how they go.


Cheers,
JaSa

My guess is Maker must have turned on an extra CNC machine or two to turn out the quantity that was ordered and each was making them to a slightly different spec. Specifically just with those 62's - haven't heard or noted any problems with any of the others. Still screwed us a bit really.

If you get any problems with neck tension, email me at work and I'll sort you out with some fresh ones. I've been though and sorted them.

Originally Posted by Tahr

62 grn Maker TRex. Look the deal. Tested them in my .223 today. 100 yards.

Attachment 264353

25 grns BM2 and 27 grns CFE223. 25 thou off lands.

First 4 (right hand dot) CFE223. I dont have much luck with that powder

Second 4 (left hand red dot) BM2 show some promise. Double grouped - probably 'cos I fiddled with the bipod and changed position? Top 2 first, then a fiddle, then bottom group.

Attachment 264354

I will try the BM2 again but Im fairly confident they will be ok if I do my bit.

just check your bedding or your hold that string up and down seems to be consistant

As expected from a solid copper bullet out of my 223, pretty finicky to load. Since there are no pressure signs, will explore loads past 24.5gr and also dive a bit deeper in the area between 23.5 and 24.0gr. It's for a bush load under 50m so won't be spending too much time on load development but putting them to the test on some animals instead.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I use 25grns BM2

Just loaded my first batch with same. Unique grooves in the projectile. Looks a mean pill loaded. Dark and evil.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Just loaded my first batch with same. Unique grooves in the projectile. Looks a mean pill loaded. Dark and evil.

Were any loose in the neck?

Originally Posted by Pommy

My guess is Maker must have turned on an extra CNC machine or two to turn out the quantity that was ordered and each was making them to a slightly different spec. Specifically just with those 62's - haven't heard or noted any problems with any of the others. Still screwed us a bit really.

If you get any problems with neck tension, email me at work and I'll sort you out with some fresh ones. I've been though and sorted them.

Difference in diameter too. It's a bugger cos Ive got 3 lots of 50 and have mixed them. Some in spec and some out. I just put the loose ones to one side and shoot them at paper. My loose ones rotate when seated but don't pull in or out.