• If you are being asked to change your password, and unsure how to do it, follow these instructions. Click here

160gr Matrix

I appreciate the updated info on bullet performance. I recently bought three hundred of the 160's and plan on using MCR's meplat trimmer on them to help initiate expansion a little better.

Elkoholic:

Perhaps I could send a few of these bullets your way to see if they perform any differently?
 
I appreciate the updated info on bullet performance. I recently bought three hundred of the 160's and plan on using MCR's meplat trimmer on them to help initiate expansion a little better.

Elkoholic:

Perhaps I could send a few of these bullets your way to see if they perform any differently?

We tipped some bullets and saw very little difference at a 1000 yards in water with them, the biggest difference came from annealing.
 
Rich,
That is a bit lower impact velocity than I have tried.
I shot some annealed ones that had 18" of penetration as compared to 24" without at 1900fps with the bullet shedding a bit of the jacket , the rear half weighing 80gr.
Cliff

Hi Cliff......I was actually a little surprised ! My plan was to start low and work my way up to see when they expanded. As it turned out, the first shot expanded at 1811' so I went down. Again, this was only 2 rounds but I did the same test with the same barrel with the ABLR's, 215 hybrids, and SXR's just a few days ago so I feel fairly confident that it wasn't an accident. It does make sense that they "should" expand a little easier than a .308" berger as they are the same jacket which has been drawn.....Rich
 
I appreciate the updated info on bullet performance. I recently bought three hundred of the 160's and plan on using MCR's meplat trimmer on them to help initiate expansion a little better.

Elkoholic:

Perhaps I could send a few of these bullets your way to see if they perform any differently?

I plan on trying a couple of other tests when I get time which could include meplat work and annealing as well as retesting some untouched ones.....Rich
 
I fired one round (annealed) today at the same load and media as yesterdays 1672' load. It clocked at 1704' today but look at the drastic difference in expansion! It penetrated both sides of the plastic water barrel, 16" H20 in between, four layers of berber carpet. and a fairly heavy door mat (don't tell my wife):D.......Rich DSCF0808.jpg
 
My dad did the annealing but I think he just hit the tip with a torch, he did say that it will shoot lead from the tip if you get into lead, I'm sure he'll weigh in with his actual hi tech procedure :D

Rich, I don't think an elk will ignore taking one of those 160 Matrix at the water line :D
 
My dad did the annealing but I think he just hit the tip with a torch, he did say that it will shoot lead from the tip if you get into lead, I'm sure he'll weigh in with his actual hi tech procedure :D

Rich, I don't think an elk will ignore taking one of those 160 Matrix at the water line :D

Should do the trick! Another tidbit I've gleaned from all this testing is this: The Matrix, like the Bergers, seem to break (blow) off the tips when you have enough velocity. When velocity is just short of doing that, they create a banana bullet and tumble. When its just enough, they tear off a large portion of the jacket and you have chunks of lead and jacket. If the velocity is high, they simply penetrate a ways and explode! In other words, they kind of have either an on or off effect. you will notice that the annealed one that I fired today, has more of a typical mushroom look. This keeps the bullet moving straight forward and increased the penetration over yesterdays test even though the retained weight was only 55 grains. I'm sure there was plenty of shrapnel flying around along the way with the other 105 grains! My observations.
Concerning the process. I would be VERY careful to keep the bullet tip pointing upward and not slosh any melted lead around. If this happens, accuracy willl likely go right out the window. I'm going to grip my cordless upright in my vise and chuck the bullet gently with the speed on low. I will then anneal approx. 1/4" of the tip and let it set a few seconds before moving to let the lead harden in case it has melted (which is likely) ........Rich
p.s. I don't think you have to actually get into the lead to melt it. The temp needed to anneal the copper will melt the lead!
 
Do you gents just run on exposure time for annealing? Chuck in drill, add heat & count to 10 or? :rolleyes:

I think chucking your drill in a vice would be pretty easy. I'd imagine a vertical drill press would work pretty well too.

On a side note, I have plans to shoot some more 160's from the WSM. It will be a continuation of my previous velocity threshold tests extending from my previous work that topped out at ~3100. We'll see where she pressures out!


t
 
A little off topic, but I'm wondering what affect annealing would have on the CEB's?


I'm not sure if it's necessary or not. I can't imagine it would hurt, at least on the long range side. I do wonder what the close range ballistics would be like though. The base will penetrate regardless, but i'd be curious to see how the nose section held up as there no lead to resist deformation.


t
 
I'm not sure if it's necessary or not. I can't imagine it would hurt, at least on the long range side. I do wonder what the close range ballistics would be like though. The base will penetrate regardless, but i'd be curious to see how the nose section held up as there no lead to resist deformation.


t

If the 140's opened up to 1800 fps, that would be good enough for me. Being a relatively small bullet, there wouldn't be a lot of benefit in it opening much lower than that IMO. But if they're having trouble opening below 2000 fps or whatever, maybe some annealing would help. If the 160 Matrix are showing expansion issues, ya gotta wonder about a mono? That said, the CEB's are softer than the guilding jackets.

I don't have a problem with the CEB's, or any bullet, loosing their nose at higher velocities.
 
...

I don't have a problem with the CEB's, or any bullet, loosing their nose at higher velocities.


It depends on WHERE they lose their nose... I understand where you're coming from for sure. The CEB's are new enough to me that I honestly can't say where the terminal threshold is.


t
 
Warning! This thread is more than 8 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.
Top