45-70 North Fork 350gr Bullets Ballistics Test

[North Fork Bullets]

 

[Puddle]

I just completed working up my 180 grain North Fork Semi-Spitzer loads for my .30-06.
I'm most familiar with the 180 grain Swift A-Frame bullet, so I used Swift's reloading manual #2 to do my North Fork load development.

Besides consistency and accuracy in a load, I strive to keep load density to around 90%, especially for hot and humid hunting environments. Using Hodgdon H4350 I settled on two loads I would use anywhere.

My top producing load is 0.2 grains less than the published maximum load for an average MV of 2,694 fps across 15 rounds out of a 24" barrel. Load density is just over 91%.
My second load is 1.5 grains less than the published maximum load for an average MV of 2,657 fps across 15 rounds out of the same barrel. Load density is just over 89%. I call it my second load only because my target MV was 2,700 fps. However, both loads produced excellent, consistent groups.
As you might expect, both loads are easily under SAAMI maximum allowed chamber pressures.

Interestingly, during barrel scrubbing there was no residual copper fouling. Those bullet relief grooves work well.

Now, I don't have an environment such as gel blocks or stacks of newspapers to test out the bullets. My only "test environments" are mature, dry, cow elk weighing from 400 to 500 lbs that I hunt on depredation hunts. So, I'll have to wait until Fall hunting season and hopefully recover some North Fork bullets!

Next up for load development are the North Fork Semi-Spitzer bullets in 286 grains for the 9.3mm Mauser. Powder(s) of choice will be Hodgdon's H4895 & Varget, with a target MV of 2,360 fps, load density staying close to 90%, and staying under C.I.P. maximum allowed chamber pressure.

I think I'm gonna need more elk...

 

[mauserhunter]

Wish I could afford some of these to try out, there overkill for what I need but they are a nice quality bullet for sure.

 

[Brian]

Excellent research/test video. Thank you. Brian