ER Raptors
The Extended Range (ER) Raptor from Cutting Edge Bullets is a new design for those who don't require the option of using a solid projectile. It has the CEB devastating hexagonal hollow point, with a polymer Raptor Tip, for increased ballastic performance. It also has a higher Ballistic Coefficient than the ESP Raptor, for superior impact velocity at longer ranges, However, it still performs just like the ESP Raptor in terms of trauma and penetration.
How They Work
The ER Raptor is designed as a Tipped hollow point. The shank is sub-calibre and rides the lands in the rifling while full diameter driving bands engage the rifling and seal the expanding gases. The driving bands on the bullet shank are located to provide the right balance between cartridge overall length and maximal powder capacity within the case.
The Raptor Tip offers two advantages. Firstly, it significantly increases the ballistic co-efficient of the projectile, providing a flatter trajectory for long range shooting. Secondly, at all ranges, it increases the impact velocity on the animal by better retaining the muzzle velocity. This translates to greater knockdown power.
All ER Raptors are light for calibre, but in any given calibre perform better than conventional bullets that are much heavier. This means higher muzzle velocities are possible. This is important because the ER Raptor loves velocity. Unlike conventional expanding bullets, the ER Raptor not only does more damage the faster it goes, but it also penetrates further with increased velocity. This just does not happen with conventional bullets, where trauma and penetration are a trade off, with one reducing as the other increases.
Design Features
Tangental Ogive – The ogive of the ER range is optimised for increased ballistic co-efficient. Designed to be used only in expanding configuration, the nose profile does not replicate the base profile, as it does with ESP Raptors.
Brass Mono-metal Construction – lathe turned from a solid brass rod, the projectiles are extremely consistent in terms of uniformity and weight, leading to excellent accuracy. Despite being slightly harder than copper, the increased lubricity of brass does not increase bore friction or pressures.
Optimised Heel – The heel (or boat-tail) of the projectile has been optimised for increased ballistic co-efficient. Because the ER Raptor does not require the ESP Raptor's 13o meplat profile, the heel could be designed to give it the best shape for reducing drag, for increased impact velocity and improved trajectory.
Driving Band Configuration – The use of driving bands as opposed to a full calibre shank means that friction is reduced, lowering peak chamber pressures. This in turn, allows increased velocity via an increased powder charge. Driving band location has been optimised to ensure maximum powder capacity in the case, while ensuring that the projectile can be seated correctly to fit into the majority of rifle magazines. Testing has shown that when compared to conventional bullets with equivalent weight and seating depth, the ESP Raptor's driving band configuration results in both reduced chamber pressure and barrel strain. This makes these projectiles especially suited to use in the thin walled barrels of double rifles.
Deep Hexagonal Cavity (under the Tip) – The precision cut hexagonal cavity promotes rapid expansion and shear of the six blades (cavity side walls). The design of the cavity width and depth ensures that the blades shear consistently in terms of their size, as well as shearing at the same time. The projectiles have been tested and refined to ensure that they have a low velocity shear point (LVSP). This makes them suitable for a range of cartridges, impact velocities and ranges.
Raptor Tips – All ER Raptor's come with the polycarbonate Raptor Tip pre-installed over the hexagnal cavity, for superior downrange ballistic performance by significantly increasing the projectile's ballistic coefficient. 50 Raptor Tips are included with each box of 50 projectiles.
Light Weight for Calibre – All the ER Raptor bullets are light for calibre within their given bore diameter. This is to ensure their functionality in terms of seating depth, as well as to maximise their velocity potential, as with increased velocity comes improved performance.
Note: Because these projectiles are solid brass, they are considerably longer than lead core projectiles of the same weight. As such, they will likely require a faster twist than the same weight lead core projectile. Please check the Technical Data Sheet to ensure that the projectiles you are interested in are compatible with your rifle's barrel twist rate.
For technical data on the ER Raptor projectiles, click on Technical Data Sheet - ER Raptors. All technical data sheets can also be found in the Technical Notes section, under the Ammunition Notes heading.