Let's talk TRANSONIC!

[Don McDowell]

Bob have you put that bullet on the scale to check the weight?
One thing I think folks get twisted around is the "weight" when in fact it's not the weight that makes the difference, it's the actual length. Pretty good example of this has jumped right out at me trying to get this 40-70 to shoot something consistently. The only bullet that I could count on to maintain accuracy in all conditions was the .400 diameter 360 gr patched bullet. It would shoot the 415 gr money bullet well until the wind picks up then all bets are off. So when I had Brooks cut me the dual diameter bullet, I spec'd the base at 400 diameter and the nose at .394, and the length at about half way between the 360 and the money bullet. Thinking that if the 40-70 wouldn't shoot it maybe the 40-90 would.. Well don't you know that the weight of the dual diameter bullet altho a good bit shorter than the money bullet is about 10 grains heavier cast from the same alloy. But the best part was the other day shooting it, the winds were running pretty much a full value left right at 15-20 mph. That condition would of sprayed that money bullet, if not some of them hitting the target sideways, but this new bullet shot a pretty consistent 1 -2 moa at 600..
It also pays well to not get to wound up with "the old style" bullets. Todays Money and similar pointed designs aren't that far off of the Gibbs and Metford style bullets, and a dead ringer for the "long pointed" bullets. Towards the end of the Creedmoor era, flat base bullets were the ones getting the job done, altho there were two methods of patching that base, and there was some discussion amongst the shooters between what weight of paper served best..