Burt Gummer
08-31-09, 16:58
My question concerns primarily the .308 (7.62x51mm). Using DocGKR’s advice (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19878), my load of choice is the Hornady TAP 155 gr A-MAX. But, the new Barnes MPG has brought my attention (forum search yielded zero results):
MPG™ Multi-Purpose Green™ Bullets from Barnes
Barnes is developing two new bullets featuring Multi-Purpose Green (MPG™) technology developed for military and law enforcement applications. MPG bullets feature a highly frangible, powdered-metal copper-tin core inside a guilding metal jacket.
Unlike frangible bullets lacking a protective jacket, MPG bullets remain intact under the rigors of handling, feeding and firing. This eliminates the primary cause of jammed actions and plugged barrels often experienced when firing frangible ammunition.
A 140-grain 7.62mm (.308) version will be available for AR-10, SR-25, M40 (Remington 700) and M14 rifles with 1:12” or faster rifling twists. A 55-grain 5.56mm (.224) MPG bullet will be best suited for M4, HK416 and AR-15 type autoloaders and other firearms with rifling twist rates of 1:9” or faster. These open-tip bullets remain intact at ultra-high velocities and extreme rates of spin. On impact, they deliver explosive fragmentation. Below is the 30 caliber MPG bullet fired into ballistics ordnance gelatin at an impact velocity of approximately 2600 fps.
http://www.barnesbullets.com/images/MPGgelatin140gr.jpg
Barnes’ Multi-Purpose Green bullets are exceptionally accurate. They’re ideal for shooting steel targets, competition, plinking, varmint hunting and home defense. “Green” is military shorthand for “lead-free”—a requirement in military and LE practice environments.
Source: http://www.barnesbullets.com/resources/newsletters/november-2007-barnes-bullet-n/ (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
I’ll keep using the TAP load for general purpose, but would the 140 gr. MPG be better suited for CQB/indoors use … providing 12” minimum penetration—yet have FULL fragmentation—in 10% ballistic gelatin is achieved (as shown in the above photo)?
This cross-section shows it's purpose-built to yaw:
http://www.wideners.com/images/thumbs/Image1171.jpg
Currently, this bullet is factory loaded by Cor-Bon (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=296140), albeit very expensive. Black Hills will be offering the MPG in .223 loading (http://www.gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/2009+New+Ammunition), but I'm not sure if BH will be loading the .308 MPG.
Are there any future tests planned for this load?
Does anyone have an idea on this bullet's terminal performance potential?
Thanks!
MPG™ Multi-Purpose Green™ Bullets from Barnes
Barnes is developing two new bullets featuring Multi-Purpose Green (MPG™) technology developed for military and law enforcement applications. MPG bullets feature a highly frangible, powdered-metal copper-tin core inside a guilding metal jacket.
Unlike frangible bullets lacking a protective jacket, MPG bullets remain intact under the rigors of handling, feeding and firing. This eliminates the primary cause of jammed actions and plugged barrels often experienced when firing frangible ammunition.
A 140-grain 7.62mm (.308) version will be available for AR-10, SR-25, M40 (Remington 700) and M14 rifles with 1:12” or faster rifling twists. A 55-grain 5.56mm (.224) MPG bullet will be best suited for M4, HK416 and AR-15 type autoloaders and other firearms with rifling twist rates of 1:9” or faster. These open-tip bullets remain intact at ultra-high velocities and extreme rates of spin. On impact, they deliver explosive fragmentation. Below is the 30 caliber MPG bullet fired into ballistics ordnance gelatin at an impact velocity of approximately 2600 fps.
http://www.barnesbullets.com/images/MPGgelatin140gr.jpg
Barnes’ Multi-Purpose Green bullets are exceptionally accurate. They’re ideal for shooting steel targets, competition, plinking, varmint hunting and home defense. “Green” is military shorthand for “lead-free”—a requirement in military and LE practice environments.
Source: http://www.barnesbullets.com/resources/newsletters/november-2007-barnes-bullet-n/ (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
I’ll keep using the TAP load for general purpose, but would the 140 gr. MPG be better suited for CQB/indoors use … providing 12” minimum penetration—yet have FULL fragmentation—in 10% ballistic gelatin is achieved (as shown in the above photo)?
This cross-section shows it's purpose-built to yaw:
http://www.wideners.com/images/thumbs/Image1171.jpg
Currently, this bullet is factory loaded by Cor-Bon (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=296140), albeit very expensive. Black Hills will be offering the MPG in .223 loading (http://www.gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/2009+New+Ammunition), but I'm not sure if BH will be loading the .308 MPG.
Are there any future tests planned for this load?
Does anyone have an idea on this bullet's terminal performance potential?
Thanks!