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  #1  
Old 12-06-2009, 01:55 PM
K Harris K Harris is offline
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Default 158 Gr. 38 Spec. From 4", 5" & 6" barrels

Out of curiosity, has anyone here personally tested commercially available 158 grain loads (both standard pressure and +P) over a chronograph, from Model 10's with 4", 5" & 6" barrels? I would be most interested in the 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter.
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Old 12-06-2009, 03:12 PM
pps pps is offline
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I think B/C gap and variability from each individual gun will factor in more than an inch of barrel length.

for eg: my 4" ruger .357 consistently chronographs 50-100fps faster than my 5" barrel 627.
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Old 12-06-2009, 03:22 PM
handgunner356 handgunner356 is offline
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158 Gr. 38 Spec. From 4", 5" & 6" barrels 158 Gr. 38 Spec. From 4", 5" & 6" barrels 158 Gr. 38 Spec. From 4", 5" & 6" barrels 158 Gr. 38 Spec. From 4", 5" & 6" barrels 158 Gr. 38 Spec. From 4", 5" & 6" barrels  
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Usually you can guess 25-50fps faster per inch but like said there are other factors. B/C gap probably has some of the biggest effect on velocity. The hotter loads will get better gains as the barrel length increases and fall off faster in the shorter barrels. I have one 3" .357 magnum that will match my 6" gun with most loads in 38 & 357, but there are a few with the way they are loaded that can split 100fps between guns.
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Old 12-06-2009, 05:32 PM
OKFC05 OKFC05 is offline
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158 Gr. 38 Spec. From 4", 5" & 6" barrels 158 Gr. 38 Spec. From 4", 5" & 6" barrels  
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From running the chronograph at IDPA matches, I recall that no commercial 158gr standard .38 has ever made power factor (125) in a 4 inch barrel. Some of the +Ps do not quite make it either. (Power factor is bullet weight times MV div by 1000). There is a large variability between guns and brands of ammo.

Basically, until you run your gun with a specific load over the chrono, you're just guessing what you might get.
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Old 12-06-2009, 09:03 PM
flop-shank flop-shank is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pps View Post
for eg: my 4" ruger .357 consistently chronographs 50-100fps faster than my 5" barrel 627.
That's not surprising. Rugers tend to shoot fast.
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357 magnum, 627, chronograph, commercial, idpa, model 10, ruger, wadcutter

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