Drive Band Bullets From GS Custom In South Africa
There was much interest in the solid bullets featured here yesterday. In particular, many readers were interested in the drive band design shown on the LM-105 bullet.
The drive band design was created and originally patented by GS Custom Bullets in South Africa. GS Custom originally designed and produced these distinctive drive band bullets in 1997. According to GS Custom, “the first LM 105 bullets were in fact manufactured and tested by us in South Africa in 2003 [and enhanced in 2005]. It is possible that Mr. Moeller developed a similar looking version on his own. We have further developed the bullet early this year to increase accuracy and barrel life over the 2005 design.”
GS Custom has been making bullets since 1983. It currently has a range of 226 different bullets for tactical, hunting and sport shooting, of which 172 are drive-band bullets. GSC SP Bullets, such as the orginal LM-105 design, are turned monometallic copper bullets. They are Long Range VLD Match Bullets of advanced design to minimize barrel wear and maximize speeds.
Ordinary (non-drive-band) solid, lathe-turned bullets look beautiful, but in the larger sizes there are some problems associated with solids. Gas sealing can be worse than jacketed bullets, and solids have been known to copper foul barrels more quickly than conventional bullets. The hardness of the bullets is tough on throats as well.
To overcome this issues, GS Custom puts drive bands on its bullets. Designer Gerard Schultz explains how the drive bands work: “Bullet engraving pressure is very light — this gives lower temperatures in the throat area of the barrel and extends barrel life. The transition from case to barrel is much smoother than [conventional] bullets — this reduces vibration and improves accuracy. SP Bullets are manufactured in such a way that the drive bands seal gas sooner and more effectively than conventional or grooved bullets. This reduces gas blow-by, reduces temperature and extends barrel life. Longer and faster shot strings can be made without the damage that would normally occur due to heat build-up. Barrels remain clean longer and are easier to clean — shot strings are extended and wear is reduced.”
Schultz believes that drive band technology allows increased speeds over conventional bullets of comparable weight. The added speed means wind drift is reduced, trajectories are flatter, and time of flight is reduced. The lathe-turning production process also allows the bullet to be optimally pointed for the highest possible BC for a given bullet weight and length.
GS Custom sells its bullets through an international dealer network, including Custom Brass & Bullets in the USA.
Due to the impeccable standards adhered to by GS Custom in the manufacturing of their GSC HV, FN, SP and HP bullets, outstanding accuracy is achieved by all users without exception. That alone makes hunting a real pleasure.
The unique driveband design leads to less barrel wear and much lower levels of copper fouling resulting in easy cleaning of barrels when necessary.
On top of that the far better construction of this all copper, monolithic bullet, with controlled mushrooming, yields far less meat damaging than the traditional lead/copper jacketed bullets which also leave a trail of lead poisoning behind.
With the use of GS Custom bullets, hunters and other shooters can rest assured that they are getting the best value for their money.
When considering the fact that over and above all the mentioned benefits the hunter still gets much less barrel wear when using GSC’s bullets, it is an outright win-win situation and hunters should use these bullets at all times instead of the old conventional lead/copper jacketed ones leaving a lead poisoning trail all the way.
GSC bullets are modern ballistic science at its best.
how much speed would i gain in a 338 lapua improved with your bullets say over a 300smk
how much speed would i gain in a 338 lapua pushing say a 300 grain bullet of yours say over a 300 grain match king thanks bob koch
Weight for weight, GSC drive band bullets will increase speed by 80 to 140 fps over conventional smooth bullets or grooved bullets. This is without making our bullets under size. Under size bullets can also increase speed but at the severe cost of much increased throat erosion. Add this to the fact that GSC bullets of lighter weight often have equal or increased BC values over heavier conventional bullets. This means that, for the same BC value, speed can be increased several hundred fps.
GSC published BC much less than Berger VLD’s in the .284 cal.
This is true. One cannot go by published figures though, because no manufacturer uses the same method of determining BC. Some even use different G tables. It remains a rough guide only and, the only way of generating reliable data is to shoot drop tables, with the combination of equipment, and keep orderly notes