Woodleigh optimal velocities

Good day all,

A question regarding woodleighs.

I've read quite a few reports of how well woodleigh's operate within their optimum velocity window and I've seen that they can "over expand" when pushed faster but I'm curious about the low end of their velocity range. Some projectiles seem to have a pretty narrow window of operation e.g. 2000-2200fps.

Is this the range for optimal expansion or are they simply not going to effectively mushroom below this?

Take the .312 215gr rnsn for example. In an older weapon where max pressures are going to be lower and velocity is going to be capped at around 2200fps at the muzzle, it won't even make the minimum velocity at 100y.

I'd like to stick with a bonded round nose projectile and they seem to be the only option.

It would be great if someone with some real knowledge or first hand experience on this could please chime in.

thank you.

Woodleigh make a range of projectiles for different purposes. If you check the Woodleigh website he lists the recommended impact velocity range for each projectile. If you have a specific question, then drop Geoff an email. I'm sure he'll respond with his best advice.

This applies to all SP bullets, regardless of type, not just those from Woodleigh. Impact velocity is a crucial factor regarding the performance of a SP bullet, but it is often overlooked in favor of the muzzle velocity. The latter is also important, but it must be considered in relation to the shooting distance. Cartridges that in some firearms produce a muzzle velocity insufficient to ensure adequate impact velocity at a given range, cannot be used with any type of SP bullet. Admittedly, this is largely theoretical, and the reality in the field often differs, but SP bullets that fail to expand properly can follow erratic paths through the body of a game. In case of concerns, a full metal jacket bullet can be a better choice if no thin-walled bullets, designed for low impact velocity, are produced in the desired caliber class.

Interesting question. I have a beautiful Merkel double rifle drilling in 9.3x74R. It likes really heavy bullets and regulates extremely well with Woodleigh 320 grain RNSP. It shoots them so well at 2100 FPS. When you find a load that shoots this well in a double you stick to it. But the reality is, it’s a bit to much bullet for most situations that I use the gun for. However I have found that even though the optimum recommended impact velocity window is 2000-2200 fps, it still expands down to around 1800 fps , not fully, but enough to kill a solid pig at about 125m. I have shot plenty of pigs with this gun from 10m to about 125m to have confidence it will kill cleanly. But I always try to get closer and I will not take a shot past 125m.
Hope this helps.

As I wrote above, a lot of it is theoretical. In practice, things often look different. I had issues with insufficient impact velocity only by shots taken on game at very long ranges, meaning 400 to 500 yards, with premium modern bullets. That forced me, despite the use of high velocity magnum cartridges, to use thin walled bullets, above all the Sierra Game King, that performed very well under those conditions.

The RNSN still expand find under 1800fps. Atleast that has been my experience.

I once shot a mule deer at 624 yards with Woodleigh’s 180 grain from my 338 federal. It did not expand, but it killed the deer with only one shoot.

I never had any issues with impact velocity when using this type of bullet with the cartridge 8x57IS. However, the working at close to moderate ranges, even on smaller game species like roe deer, was destructive.

As Hunter4752001 said, contact Geoff.

I have found them to open up nicely at slower speed and hang together at higher speeds. At lower speeds they appear not to open as much, that is not as much as is claimed to be ideal. When hitting to fast, as they are bonded they will open further than is ideal but still hold together.

I was worried that his 225 grain 358PP would not hold up to close hits from my 358/338RUM. Geoff said they would do the job and they did.

JPbowhunter said:

Good day all,

A question regarding woodleighs.

I've read quite a few reports of how well woodleigh's operate within their optimum velocity window and I've seen that they can "over expand" when pushed faster but I'm curious about the low end of their velocity range. Some projectiles seem to have a pretty narrow window of operation e.g. 2000-2200fps.

Is this the range for optimal expansion or are they simply not going to effectively mushroom below this?

Take the .312 215gr rnsn for example. In an older weapon where max pressures are going to be lower and velocity is going to be capped at around 2200fps at the muzzle, it won't even make the minimum velocity at 100y.

I'd like to stick with a bonded round nose projectile and they seem to be the only option.

It would be great if someone with some real knowledge or first hand experience on this could please chime in.

thank you.

Click to expand...

@JPbowhunter
A friend of mine from long ago used his smile No1 Mk111 for Sambar hunting in Victoria .
His favourite load pushed the .312 215gn Woodleigh bullet to just under 2,300fps without issue. He said any Sambar hit in the shoulder, heart Lung are or even up the backside was in the freezer. The expansion and penetration on these bullet was fine out to his self imposed max of 150yds. Most of his shots were 100 or less.
He tried a penetration test in a 1"thick big block of lead at 100 yards.That heavy for calibre bullet punched out the other side but still remained in the block. It is the only projectile he has had punch out the other side.
Talking to Geoff his velocities are recommended impact velocities not what you can load them to.
I load his 225gn 35 cal PPSP to 2,900 fps and they expand well and penetration is good. The recommended impact velocity for these is 1,800-2700 from memory. You don't shoot game at the muzzle ( well not very often)
Those 215s should work well to 150 and still expand reasonable well, after all the core is pure lead bonded to the jacket and they have a nice big lead tip.
Bob

Rule 303 said:

As Hunter4752001 said, contact Geoff.

I have found them to open up nicely at slower speed and hang together at higher speeds. At lower speeds they appear not to open as much, that is not as much as is claimed to be ideal. When hitting to fast, as they are bonded they will open further than is ideal but still hold together.

I was worried that his 225 grain 358PP would not hold up to close hits from my 358/338RUM. Geoff said they would do the job and they did.

Click to expand...

@Rule 303
Those 225s will still hold together and penetration is good even when started at 2,900 fps and impact velocity is still over recommend max of 2,700. Retained weight was 74% on a big zebra stallion even after breaking the near shoulder, destroying the chest cavity smashing the offside shoulder and lodged just under the skin in the off side
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:

@Rule 303
Those 225s will still hold together and penetration is good even when started at 2,900 fps and impact velocity is still over recommend max of 2,700. Retained weight was 74% on a big zebra stallion even after breaking the near shoulder, destroying the chest cavity smashing the offside shoulder and lodged just under the skin in the off side
Bob

Click to expand...

Bob, I didn't get to see what the bullet looked like with the Zebra I shot. About 40 mts, muzzle velocity of 225PP was 3100. In one side - heart shot- and out the other. He did not go far.

Rule 303 said:

Bob, I didn't get to see what the bullet looked like with the Zebra I shot. About 40 mts, muzzle velocity of 225PP was 3100. In one side - heart shot- and out the other. He did not go far.

Click to expand...

@Rule303
This is what it looks like after impact started at 2,900fps distance 120yds