Deep curl speer-expansion test.

[snuffy]

Last month a thread was started about deep curl bullets. I said I'd try some in my expansion testing tubes. Well here's the first one, a 308 caliber 165 grain from a 30-06. Rifle used is older than I am,(66 in jan), a 03-A3 springfield.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=608729

Here's a few pics;





Notice how the lead has clung to the inside of the jacket. That's what meant by "BONDING". There can be no doubt that the deep curl bullet is truly bonded.





Penetration was completely through an out the end of the 10 inches of the expansion medium, a soft wax. The guys at the bullet test tube website say that a standard rifle size test tube will stop a standard caliber like the -06. Well, I had to devise a backup plan. I made a coupler to attach to the back of the test tube, another section of 6" tube stuffed with rags. The rags are tough for a bullet to penetrate, especially one that's fully expanded and slowed way down. The bullet was just inside the first layer of cloth, an old "T" shirt.

http://www.thebullettesttube.com/

What was the results? Since this was my first time using this medium, I can't say I was impressed with the wound channel. It is quite narrow. The expanded bullet weighs out at 122.6 grains. Meaning it lost 42.4 grains. The wound track shows shards of lead which could be left behind in meat. The expanded slug is .650 across it's widest point.

Penetration was good. I would say bordering on excellent. But I may find out that all standard rifle bullets will go all the way through the test tube. I also tested a .223 60 grain nosler partition. That's a subject for another thread, coming soon. I also have several other "hunting weights" to test for .223.

Velocity was an estimated 2650, the tube was at 25 yards. Why not 100? Because the springfield has irons on it, these tired old eyes can't shoot irons that far out.

 

[CraigC]

Good stuff!

 

[snuffy]

Won't bother next time

That's it? 1 reply and 86 views!

Well at least now I know how well the Speer deep curl bullet works. I will continue to experiment, MAYBE I will share what I found.

 

[T Bran]

Snuffy
I am grateful for your efforts and will not be hunting with this ammo.While im certain it has good penetration and expansion. There is way to much slag left behind although im certain other jacketed bullets leave even more junk in their wake 42 plus grains is still more than I want left in the meat that my family eats. The last deer I shot with 30-06 180grain Rem Corelocts I still have that slug and it weighs 71.2 grains. That is well over 100 grains of lead in the wound channel its more lead than I want cut out cause I hate to waste meat. Im using Barnes in my .223 maybe ill try them in my deer rifle as well.
Snuffy please continue to post your data it is of great quality and very nice of you to share. Im certain that many others read posts and dont post any feedback on them. If that makes you feel like your wasting your efforts I can understand your position. Some like me type so slowly that my replies are normally redundant by the time I post them.
Keep up the fine work.
T

 

[Rick R]

I've always found Speer bullets to leave a trail of bullet fragments that look like bird shot through the wound track. It must be the type of alloy they use?

How is the accuracy with the Deep Curl bullets?

 

[Mike1234567]

Not everyone who views a thread... and benefits from it... will post a reply. I reply far too often just to BS. Others here on THR have better restraint. I'm interested in the Deep Curl bullets but have nothing useful to add so... I'm just watching.

 

[snuffy]

Not everyone who views a thread... and benefits from it... will post a reply. I reply far too often just to BS. Others here on THR have better restraint. I'm interested in the Deep Curl bullets but have nothing useful to add so... I'm just watching.

Yeah, I know that, just wanted to rattle the cage, see what fell out.

I do the same thing, sometimes when viewing a new thread I wait to see if the question gets answered. Other times, I'm doing a drive-by-glance, thinking of posting later.

With the volume of posts here on THR, a thread get buried quickly. So, bringing it "TTT" (To The Top), lets people see it that may have missed it.

Rick R and T Bran, that was my observation as well. I hunted/loaded the Nosler BT for 4-5 years. I got real tired of either picking lead from the meat, or wasting meat cut away from the wound channel. I switched to the H-SST, which was no better. Then I went to the H interbond, that retains at least 85% of it's weight, still some lead left behind, but not enough to worry about.

If you want lead-free, then the H- GMX is the ticket. Excellent expansion, 0 weight loss, and deep penetration. I've done expansion tests of both the IB and GMX in water jugs, I may repeat those in the test tubes.

The GMX is a solid guilding metal bullet, much like the Barnes, but it does NOT foul the bore as bad.

I takes many hours to re-cast the test tubes. I'm still working on the last rifle tube, after re-casting 3 handgun tubes, and just pouring the first rifle tube. I'll be done with the last one in about 4 hours. I takes that long to melt the wax, using a slow cooker.

 

[armarsh]

I'm watching, because I have been tempted to buy bullet test tubes in the past and was curious how well / how much of a pain they were too use.

 

[snuffy]

I'm watching, because I have been tempted to buy bullet test tubes in the past and was curious how well / how much of a pain they were too use.

Armarsh, I got these from Brownells, they may still have some. Their website is still up, but phone is disconnected,, and emails are returned, so I don't know if they're t!ts up or just on vacation??

I knew ahead of time they would be a pita to re-do, but I didn't bargain on having to search the internet to find a supplier of the wound cardboard tubes. I've got enough to last a good while from a place in IL. called U-LINE. Expensive, but what ya gonna do?

 

[Mike1234567]

(partial quote)... just wanted to rattle the cage, see what fell out.

What falls out of a rattled cage is usually poop.

 

[LiveLife]

That's it? 1 reply and 86 views!
Won't bother next time

snuffy, I think sometimes threads/posts like this simply leave readers stunned and speechless.

It did for me. I went, "Wow" with a jaw drop.

Thanks for taking the time and effort to do the testing!

 

[Walkalong]

Yep. Appreciate the effort.

 

[armarsh]

Armarsh, I got these from Brownells, they may still have some. Their website is still up, but phone is disconnected,, and emails are returned, so I don't know if they're t!ts up or just on vacation??

I knew ahead of time they would be a pita to re-do, but I didn't bargain on having to search the internet to find a supplier of the wound cardboard tubes. I've got enough to last a good while from a place in IL. called U-LINE. Expensive, but what ya gonna do?

With shipping, it might be cheaper to buy sonotubes from your local big box home improvement center. I know for a fact they go down to 6". Not sure what size you are using.

Also, you could ask at a flooring supply store. Maybe you could luck out and help them get rid of surplus center tubes.

 

[Son of the Gael]

Greetings all. First post here.

I tested a couple of 7mm 160gr Deep Curls last year, didn't recover them though. I did recover the venison though and I'll tell you that the damage done was impressive. Mwahahaha!

 

[snuffy]

How is the accuracy with the Deep Curl bullets?

That remains to be seen. Those irons are only good out to MAYBE 50 yards, that's no measure of group-size for a 30-06. I may be putting a scope on it soon, then I will shoot some groups @ 100 yds. I'm not hunting this year, and I doubt I would use that rifle if I did. But we'll see how it groups anyway, I don't need an excuse to shoot a nice rifle.