Blended Metal Bullets - RBCD
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Depends what you want it for. I never tried the handgun rounds, But the .308 stuff wasn't real impressive. Yeah it's pretty fast but it is also light for caliber so a good fart will blow it way off target. If I remember right the 308's were 110grn and I couldn't get better than 5" grouops at 100yds. I think the speed was part of the problem. They fouled the barrel pretty badly and it looked like the bullets were actually skipping the grooves, The barrel was a fast twist so we tried another gun with a standard barrel but it didn't seem to make much difference accuracy wise. At 25-50yds they were fine but beyond that it was hit or miss. They flew all over the place. and as far as expansion I didn't see anything that a hollow point or ballistic tip won't do. Especially not for 50$ a box. For a hand gun they may work but I just can't see them being worth it.
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Thanks for the feedback Jeremy.
I'm thinking defensive pistol.
From what I've read reviews & results toward RBCD manufactured 'blended metal' ammo are all over the place civilian and military.
They are the only folks currently available commercially offering blended metal technology although it's up for question as to whether their product is actually a blended metal...
- Janq
I'm thinking defensive pistol.
From what I've read reviews & results toward RBCD manufactured 'blended metal' ammo are all over the place civilian and military.
They are the only folks currently available commercially offering blended metal technology although it's up for question as to whether their product is actually a blended metal...
- Janq
What caliber and defensive pistol type use are you talking about,personal or professional?Janq said:
We play with a lot of bullets in many diff calibers factory and handrolled so if you give me some idea of the performance you're looking for I might be able to point you in a good direction.
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Yeah I saw that and located a person who posted tests he did of their product includingbisecting a sample followed by a metallurgy test.Jeremy said:
Definitely a silcone ball behind a lead nose within an otherwise hollowed bullet.
I shoot .45 ACP and only own 1911s.
I was ony curious to see if any professionals here have tested this stuff as I have no clients who have. I wouldn't cary this ammo myself as it could be construed as being a 'killer' bullet (I know...stupid) and would stick to conventional & normal ammo for my own nonprofessional purposes.
Thanks for all the feedback and dialogue!
- Janq
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I've got no reloading skills as current.Jeremy said:
"The Devastator family; the 9mm/.38 356637 HP, the 10mm 401638 HP, the .44 Magnum 429640 HP, and the .45 ACP 452374 HP."
"452374 HP loaded into the .45 ACP, along with 2 recovered bullets, and a Colt 1911"
http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=7
- Janq
Handloading isn't hard, especially for handguns. Straight wall cases are pretty simple. If you do a fair amount of shooting it's cheaper and it's fun to make your own loads with components that you can't by factory loaded. You say you have no handloading skills but you have the internet so that's kinda a moot point.
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Yeah I know and understood, but the internet doesn't eliminate my fear of tossing about with gunpowder and bullets.Jeremy said:
I plan to hook in with Damn Yankee sometime soon to get a live in person tutorial & demo toward the specifics and realities.
- Janq
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While looking into this subject I came across the following article toward a product from Aguilla:
- JanqGunWeek.com said:Hard-Hitting, Lightweight .45s From South of the Border
by R. K. Campbell
Not many shooters are familiar with ammunition from below the Rio Grande. Other than a few dozen surplus Argentine .45s-which performed very well-my experience has been limited.
This has changed recently. I have been able to examine the products of Industrias Tecnos, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican company involved in the manufacture of shotshells and rimfire and centerfire ammunition. Tecnos was founded in 1961, originally under the name Cartuchos Deportivas de Mexico, S.A. A main shareholder is Remington Arms Co.
The broad line of handgun and shotgun ammo is distributed in the US by Centurion Ordinance Inc. (11614 Rainbow Ridge, Dept. GWK, Herlotes, TX 78023. Phone: 210-695-4602; fax: 210-695-4602; on-line: www. aguilaammo.com).
Worldwide Supplier
Tecnos has significant experience in the cartridge manufacturing industry. Tecnos markets their ammunition worldwide and supplies ammunition to the armed forces of several nations. Three production lines with some 400 workers are kept busy in this pursuit. The plant is located at Km. 6 on the road from Cuernavaca to Tepoztlan, in the beautiful Cuernavaca Valley.
Products include .410-, 16- and 12-gauge shells and a broad range of pistol cartridges.
There are many interesting products, including short-case, reduced velocity buckshot loads. These loads use a special purpose short case that allows for a larger magazine capacity. A six buck load at 1,100 feet per second (fps) is advertised for law enforcement.
An interesting rimfire loading is the .22 Sniper Subsonic. This load uses a heavy 60-grain bullet. (Previously, Lapua held the heavyweight .22 title with a 48-grain load.) Claims are made about this load which, while exhibiting higher initial drop than other .22 loads, has more energy and accuracy than other loads to 200 yards. More about the .22 SSS load in a later issue.
Not to +P Specs
Among the most interesting and potentially useful loads available from this company is the new Aguila High Power .45 ACP loading. While labeled High Power, this load is not loaded to +P SAAMI specifications. It is very much in a standard pressure category, but produces high velocity. The company's description includes these notes:
"The bullet has very high penetration capabilities in hard surfaces, consistently perforating a -inch ballistic polycarbonate plate plus 12 inches of ballistic gelatin. However, it transfers all of its energy into soft targets, when shot in ballistic gelatin."
This is the idea many have strived for-hard target penetration and rapid expansion in soft targets. To an extent, modern loads have achieved this goal. Many loads have a good balance of expansion and penetration. Some penetrate more than we would like, and few designs can guarantee expansion.
The Aguila High Power load works because of a light alloy bullet of only 117 grains. The bullet has nearly the same profile as .45 hardball, but due to the light alloy construction and a very deep hollow point, the bullet has light weight and a long bearing surface. The light bullet makes possible a velocity of 1,450 fps from standard pistol barrels without excess pressure.
Test Results
We tested these loads at length, not only on the range but also for performance on light sheet metal and other light cover. The results were very interesting. First, we established that these loads are no danger to bullet-resistant body armor or steel reaction targets. The bullets penetrate no more than any other .45 load in standard vest material and probably less than most. Against steel reaction plates, they break up normally.
In ballistic gelatin, the load performs as advertised. Penetration is about 7 inches. The small shank is found at the end of the permanent cavity. The bullet does not expand. It simply breaks as it travels, leaving fragments behind. The fragments do not appear to leave the main wound cavity. While immediate energy transfer may occur, the permanent wound cavity is not larger than that produced by .45-caliber hardball.
Some authorities believe that once a bullet reaches 1,000 fps or more, tissue damage increases a great deal, whatever the bullet shape. Others believe energy transfer greatly aids in stopping a felon's attack. This may be true, but the only proof we have is that the bullet performs as advertised, breaking up in a relatively short distance. In an anti-personnel role, this load would seem to produce a more serious wound than hardball, and there is the potential for additional fragments to increase blood loss and damage.
This potential was not realized consistently in our test. Felt recoil was not excessive-standard for .45 ACP performance. Accuracy was good. At longer ranges, to 25 yards, the Aguila load struck to the point of impact in our service sidearm, which is sighted in for 230-grain loads. This is a big advantage, one not often realized by special loads.
Each fed round, chambered, fired and ejected with complete reliability. We fed several individual rounds up to a dozen times. There was no setback in the case, and no bullet nose deformation. These loads should be reliable in any modern .45 ACP pistol.
We fired a number of cartridges in a vintage Model 1937 Smith and Wesson
revolver. This gun usually strikes a few inches above point of aim with conventional 230-grain loads, but struck to the point of aim at combat ranges with the Aguila load. The High Power load's excellent characteristics may make it the top choice in this revolver as a home defense gun.
The Aguila High Power load may be more likely to break up on hard surfaces than .45 ACP hollow point loads, resulting in ricochet. On the farm, we have found .45 ACP non-expanding loads more than adequate for rodents, pests, and even chicken-stealing feral dogs. We sometimes use hollow points for this duty, simply because this is what is in the gun.
The Aguila load would be ideal for this duty. One of my friends had the unfortunate experience of KO-ing a fox he had been after for some time and having his hard cast bullet fully penetrate the animal lengthwise and strike a bovine, causing further loss.
Not for All Users
The Aguila load would be a good choice in many scenarios. However, if defense against larger animals or the occasional need to put down ill or injured animals is part of your scenario, and the animals are over 200 pounds, this is not the load of choice.
When firing the Aguila load, function was good as noted. However, we noticed more muzzle flash than is usually seen with modern loads. This flash can be distracting, and research into powder technology may be indicated. Many lightweight-bullet high-velocity loads exhibit this trait. In contrast, 230-grain JHPs seldom show any flash or even sparks.
The High Power load's penetration virtually equaled that of most 230-grain jacketed hollow point loads in light cover. It was not superior, but equaling 230-grain penetration is quite a feat for such a light bullet. Most 185- and 200-grain hollow point loads do not produce adequate penetration.
We have experience with other fast loads, such as the IMI 185-grain Uzi load. Fast, hard-jacketed bullets seldom penetrate more than heavy bullets. The velocity is there, but bullets of less mass seem to give up their energy much more quickly in penetration.
The Aguila .45 High Power load is interesting and certainly a good addition to the many choices we have in this popular caliber. Consider the plus and balance tables of your personal equation and choose accordingly: this load may fill a real need.
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Article source: http://www.gunweek.com/2000/feature0601.html
That is a smart thing to do, learning from someone who knows what thrie doing. But fear of gunpowder is very very bad for a reloader, dangerously so. Nerves and explosives don't mix You need to repspect it and what it can do but not fear it. If your afraid of it don't mess with it, it's not worth the risk.Janq said:
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27 Posts
Janq,
You have a good head on your shoulders and ample common sence. Powder won't go off unless it is ignighted. With a good scale and routine you won't make grenades instead of 45cal rounds. Like anyhting else, prep work is key.
Set up you bench ahead of time.
Set a block of time where you won't be distracted. No TV, Radio, Food/Drink, telephones, babyJanqs, etc.
Go slow.
Weigh everything.
Take notes.
Reloading is cheaper then buying factory. The ammo can be much better then going factory. And I'll step off my box cause I know I have told you all this before.
Zach
You have a good head on your shoulders and ample common sence. Powder won't go off unless it is ignighted. With a good scale and routine you won't make grenades instead of 45cal rounds. Like anyhting else, prep work is key.
Set up you bench ahead of time.
Set a block of time where you won't be distracted. No TV, Radio, Food/Drink, telephones, babyJanqs, etc.
Go slow.
Weigh everything.
Take notes.
Reloading is cheaper then buying factory. The ammo can be much better then going factory. And I'll step off my box cause I know I have told you all this before.
Zach
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4,133 Posts
My fear is not of just gunpowder in specific but of the process and procedures overall. I'm largely and admittedly ignorant of all thats involved. Yes I've read two books on the subject and understand the basics but untill I see it explained and done IRL my trepidation will remain.vacca rabite said:Janq,
You have a good head on your shoulders and ample common sence. Powder won't go off unless it is ignighted. With a good scale and routine you won't make grenades instead of 45cal rounds. Like anyhting else, prep work is key.
Set up you bench ahead of time.
Set a block of time where you won't be distracted. No TV, Radio, Food/Drink, telephones, babyJanqs, etc.
Go slow.
Weigh everything.
Take notes.
Reloading is cheaper then buying factory. The ammo can be much better then going factory. And I'll step off my box cause I know I have told you all this before.
Zach
I'll get to reloading sooner or later as I agree the cost benefit is defintioely there and I shoot enough to justify it.
- Janq.
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