Smokeless NULA loads

[David Sapp]

I know I've seen at least a couple of y'all saying that you owned a NULA 209. Melvin says for me to expect mine in about 3 weeks and I plan to hunt with it in rifle season when it arrives. What loads are y'all using that is working? I've been using an MLII for most of the past decade so am not a complete newby, just wanting a more portable frontstuffer to match up with my M24 30/06. Appreciate any proven NULA loads.

Thanks
David

 

[ewc]

Caliber?

 

[GMB54]

36-41gr N110
Barnes 225gr XPB
Harvester smooth black short

42-43gr SR4759 or 56-58gr N120 but the N120 load thumps
Parker 275gr BE
Harvester smooth black short

Ive heard from a couple people that 4227 ignites just fine in a NULA with a 275gr Parker also. Never tried it in mine. N110 though is proven winner even with the Parker.

 

[GMB54]

Caliber?

Melvin wont make a NULA in 45cal anymore so they are all 50cals with a 1-32 twist Douglas Premium XX barrel. Im actually surprised he even made this one. last i heard he stopped offering them.

 

[David Sapp]

Thanks guys

He doesn't list the 209 on his website, but three of us ordered a 209 at the same time last year. Right at 12 month wait if his estimate is right.

I've used mainly XTP 250s in my Savage and have been pleased with the lethality. I've not looked beyond the book Savage loads since the performance satisfied my style of hunting. The Barnes opens up/kills well? I have a pound of N110 on the shelf now so could call Luke and order the Barnes if he has them in stock. I've read some good things about the Parker BE

David

 

[GMB54]

Im pretty sure you will find that a NULA gets a little more FPS than a Savage with the same load. The NULA though is better suited to a 275gr of less. The 225gr XPB is dynamite for typical range shots. Expansion is violent to say the least. These rifles are typically boringly accurate and no where near as fussy as a Savage.

Bores are tighter than a Savage but much smoother. Even a tight MMP short black will shoot with the smaller OD 45cal bullets. I get a little more fps with the Harvester sabot. The Harvester will feel pretty easy to load but the Douglas barrel doesn't seem to care.

I don't think Luke carries the 45LC 225gr XPB but they are pretty common at Cabelas and often on sale too. Less than a buck a bullet. I swap out to the 225gr FTX just for plinking and practice. The 275gr Parker is kind of explosive but very deadly if placed in the vitals. Stay away from high shoulder shots. They will ruin a ton of meat.

Another thing you might notice is the NULA plug takes longer to carbon up. This seems to be pretty common with the NULA owners ive talked to. The plug lasts a long long time too. Only the CCI primers fit in my plug but some of the guys with later NULAs are using the Fed209A. Ask Melvin which one to use for yours. Tolerances are so tight its a must. NULAs headspace on the primer rim and not the nose of the primer. The seal is extremely good and the primer is completely in the primer pocket of the breach plug.

When the action is close there wont be any gap between plug and bolt

The bolt is also recessed to support the rim of the primer.

Mine has a special order barrel with a tiny bit more meat at the breach and 2" longer.

 

[David Sapp]

Thanks for the info and the pics were very helpful! I'll likely have a few more questions when I get it in my hands

David

 

[elknturkey]

You are really going to enjoy your nula. I wouldn't take $2000 for mine. Outshoots a lot of rifles we have. Mine is not finicky about powder or bullet. Doesn't matter it's less than an inch and same poi almost. I killed this one today. My load is 44gr 4759 (discontinued tho) Harvester short black sabot, 275gr BE Parker and regular cci primer

 

[GMB54]

The only thing i dont like is the ram rod. Everything else is what you would expect from a custom rifle in this price range. Mine is one of the first 50 made. At that time they sold for only $900. Last i heard they were selling for $1500-$1800 before he upgraded his website.

If you can find some SR4759 i would highly advise buying all you can. N110 works great too but it can run $40/lb and it makes more peak pressure than SR4759. My general rule of thumb is...

N110 for 200gr-250gr bullets
SR4759 for 250-300gr bullets
N120 for 275gr-300gr bullets (ONLY)

The only thing i cant get better than "minute of deer" are .458s in the MMP Orange sabot. For some reason mine does not like that sabot with a 300gr bullet. I have never tried the Barnes 458 250gr or the Hornady Monoflex 458 250gr.