.510 Bullet testing in 500 L and 50 Alaskan

[Bearskinner]

I have a thing for the larger calibers, and although I don’t use rifles to hunt with, I love playing with my 500 Linebaugh and 50 Alaskan Marlin 1895’s. I picked up a MP Molds 525 grain plain base Bullet, and wanted to see how the huge hollow point performed. The solid drops a 524.5 grain bullet, the massive hollow point drops a 498 grain, with lube, right at 500 grains. With a light load of trailboss (18. in the 50 Alaskan, I fired at 50’. I placed a 4’ long plastic table lined with 1/2 and 1 gallon jugs capped and full of water, ending with 2x6’s. Figuring I would catch the bullet in one of the jugs.
After all the pieces of water jugs came down from orbit ( the reason I was 50’ away) and looking thru the two split 2x6’s…….. hhmmmmmm I need a bigger table! On examination, the last block of wood, although split in half, you could see where the bullet only penetrated 3/4”.
Picking up all the plastic and wood, amazingly, the fired Bullet was on the table! Wow, although not scientific at all, I took the bullet into the shop, and weighed it. Approximately 46” of penetration, with a total wimp load. I’m impressed. That light load would take almost anything that walks. It’s even lighter than what I use in a 500 Linebaugh revolver.

[Grizz]

thanks for posting this. your experience is like mine with HEAVY for caliber, slow moving bullets. my 45/70 load is 525Gr BTB, my 44 mag revolver load is 405Gr BTB, and my 50Beo load looks like it will run 440Gr, although i have not started the development phase with it. my 525Gr 45/70 load penetrated 12 one gallon jugs of water, stopping in the 12th.

[Bearskinner]

If I could find someone to post a few pics for me,…….
A pic is worth more than words.

[Bill in Oregon]

Sent you an email.

[Bearskinner]

Nothing came thru, Bill

[Bill in Oregon]

Better late than never. Boy, those are some mean-looking boolits! I'll let Bearskinner do the 'splainin'.

[Bearskinner]

MP Mold in .510, drops right at 500 grains, sized ( to .512) and lubed. I set up a 48” long table with 2-2x6’s in the back strapped to a gallon jug, and the first 36” with 1/2 jugs of water. With a fairly mild load thru a 20” 50 Alaskan barrel ( Marlin 1895, now 50AK) the bullet blew all the jugs, and cracked the 2x6’s in half, and miraculously stayed on the table. Just a simple WW Bullet, no hardness of any kind, but the hollow point on these MP Molds is absolutely massive. So was the disruption. The bullet shed a lot, but over 300 grains continued thru 48”. With 20% Lino added and water dropped, and almost doubling the speed, what on earth wouldn’t it go thru.

[AJMD429]

It would be interesting to know the velocity; seems like 1,300 FPS or so is the ‘bowling ball speed’ - where it just keeps on going through whatever is there. Faster may have more energy, but penetration actually seems to decrease; I’ve seen videos comparing 50 BMG and it had less penetration than 45-70 hardcast loads at less than half the BMG velocity.

[Bearskinner]

I wish I had a chronograph, but 19 grains of trail boss, a full case with a 500 grain bullet.

[fordwannabe]

sigh, Mike Hunter has my 1886 to finish the conversion to 50-110. I was using that bullet while firing it single shot. I got these from a very nice caster on castboolits. I have been trying to buy that mold for a year and MP has been out of stock. Hope he catches up soon. I sure hope that bullet in a 1886 is enough for these Pa whitetails.

[Grizz]

525Gr BTB PileDriver loaded down to about 1450 fps over H-322, shot from Marlin Guide Gun with 18.5 inch barrel. Bullet recovered in the 12th jug. The hydraulic shock lifted the plank from both rails of the bed.

The energy table is the same load chronoed from Blaine's 10" scoped BFR. Check out the 50 yard energy number. I didn't find the table for the 525 at 1450, but you get the idea.