Well I finally got out to the range yesterday. An extra surprise was that my wife and kids joined me. All decked out in our hearing protection (2 year old loved my Peltor Radio ear muffs). Anyway, tried out my Ruger SP101 (2.25" barrel) with the some reloads I had made up in 38 Special. Loaded up 3 batches of 10 using numbers directly from Hornady's 3rd Edition. Hornady's manual listed 2 other loads for Winchester 231 that I didn't load as they were marked as +P and I just wanted some practice rounds these were: 4.8gr. and 5.3gr.
Lead:Hornady 158gr. JSP (crimped lightly into the cannelure.)
Powder: Winchester 231
Primers: CCI Small Pistol
Shots were made from roughly 7 yards at Birchwood Casey 12" target. (stock photo).
First batch was: 3.7gr. W231.
First Round fired hit about 1 o'clock position in the 9 ring shooting Single Action. Last 4 shots didn't even get on the target, all hitting just above it. I covered the target with the front sight, and believe I dipped the muzzle in anticipation of recoil on the first shot--which is why it was the only one on paper.
Adding insult to injury my wife, who has never shot a revolver, told me to leave the target up, since I didn't really use it. She shot the second cylinder, and put 4 of her 5 rounds on the target--commenting that it felt snappy compared to the S&W 2206 we had started shooting. As an added benefit she wanted to keep to show her father as bragging rights.
She did give me credit and circled my 1 hit.
Second batch was: 4.0gr W231.
Tried the first cylinder of this load in Double Action and placed 4 of the 5 rounds on target--pulling the last round.
My wife shot the cylinder as well in single action again, and also all of the 5 shots on the paper. She said that she noticed the increase in recoil.
Third batch was: 4.4 gr. W231.
Fired this batch by myself, since the powder charge was getting closer to the +P rating in the Hornady manual, as I didn't want to make the shooting experience uncomfortable for my wife. After running the second cylinder of the 4.0gr load I was starting to get used to the sights--having to hold slightly below the 6 o'clock on POA, to achieve desired POI. So I shot these 10 rounds in Double Action, as I do plan to carry this gun. The recoil was manageable and could get back on target fairly quickly. My groups were tighter as I was getting used to the trigger pull and sights.--although I did pull the last shot in the top picture below--knew it when I pulled the trigger.
Overall impression of the load, is that 4.0 grains of Winchester 231 works well as a target loads. Will try to post pictures of targets tomorrow. Will be easy enough to find the first one--since my wife taped it to my safe.
Range Report with new Ruger SP101: Snubby Load **PICS ADDED**
Linear Mode
