My daughter got a bee in her bonnet to do a science project involving testing ammunition for her 9th grade honors science class. She's quite serious about it, and put together a project outline. I didn't think her school would approve, but this is Arizona... and surprise of surprises they did. She has accompanied me several times for ammo testing, which I believe led her to wanting to do this project. She's formulated a hypothesis, that's partially correct - but I'm leaving that in her hands (she's a smart kid, and dreams of being a forensic scientist someday).

Obviously the testing will be at our range. She's going to setup a 44 magnum revolver in a ransom rest, firing at graduated graph paper at 50 yards, through a blue chrony master beta chronograph, to test the effects of velocity on accuracy. I am going to assist/supervise loading the ammunition - she wants to load 12 rounds of each test load, collect data on four 3 group shots, then proceed to the next gradual increased load. I will also check the test-bed, to make sure it's all setup correctly.

I have seen considerable variation in accuracy with the hornady 300gr XTPs I load for hunting, at 50 yards, through a 44 magnum revolver with 7.5" barrel.

However, I recommended that she should do this with 44 special ammunition (through the same gun) as mistakes (if any) would be less dramatic - another student will be present for the test firing and data collection, along with the student's mother. Also the 44 spl could be loaded within p+ standards, and tested as well, with the proper selection of powder and projectile.

So the big question is:

Can you recommend a good 44spl projectile and powder to use for this test?

Would 44spl testing be better at 25 yards?

Any other recommendations?

I would recommend using a 240 gr bullet as that has been the standard for 44 spcl/mag. I do not think you will find many 44 spcl loads listed for a 300gr bullet. As for powder, it depends on what you have on hand. Unique and 2400 are common choices; but check the Hodgden web site for loads for powders you already use or have on hand.

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Revolver luvin' Mountaineer

I have lots of 240gr; JHP, JSP, and SWC. I wasn't planning on the 300gr XRP - unless we loaded 44 mag, which I think we should avoid. I also have loaded unique and 2400, with both on hand.

I'm hoping for a particular bullet/powder that would lend itself well to this type of experiment.

You have a great daughter!
A couple variables in revolver loads that she may want to explore:
1) The fit of bullet diameter to cylinder mouths. I found dramatic accuracy improvement with .432" diameter bullets (from Penn).
2) Bullets with different length driving surface may perform differently in different loads.
I have LOTS of different .44 lead bullets on hand. PM me and I'll send her an assortment of them.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

The scientific process is really pretty simple. Have a theory do the research ( what ever that intails) Then review the data. Revise the theory to the data.

Depending on what your daughters goals are, does it matter what bullet or powder? Or are you trying to front load the experiment by picking components that will give you the results that you are looking for?

Maybe if we knew what the test was and what it hoped to find that would help greatly.

Roland

I would use a bulk component bullet like a Remington 240 JHP.
I would use magnum brass as load data slightly higher than 44 special starting loads can be used as a starting point and offer a wider range of charges and velocities.
I'd go straight for 2400 as it does well running the range from zero to hero. and offers a good margin of safety.
leave the bullseye and titegroup in storage however tempting its economy might be

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it just needs more voltage

i agree with "venomballistics", use 2400 powder and the 240 gr bbl. 2400 is a powder that has a very wide range of powder weights to use.

I think a 240gr lead bullet with Unique powder would be a good choice as Unique can be loaded light for cowboy action (around 6 1/2gr) or hopped up higher at around 10+gr. These are just generalised combinations, check Alliants website or load manuals for actual loads. TC

At 44 spl velocities, you are going to get a lot of drop and wind shiftat 50 yards. I would suggest moving it up to 25 yards.... Unless you can do it in an indoor range. If you have a 50 yard indoor range, or at least a range that protects you from the wind, then I would stick with the 50 yard plan. You will just have to shoot a few to figure out where to put the graph paper.

2400 also gets my vote on powder.

I have to do this at the outdoor range - The chrony doesn't work as well indoors, and the outdoor range has solid concrete shooting benches, to clamp the rest to. I would also have to make another plywood base for the indoor range (the rest is bolted to a 14" wide 1" thick piece of plywood, that is as long as the width of the concrete shooting benches, with a runner in front and back - it clamps to the shooting bench with 4 big c-clamps).

I thought a lighter bullet might be better for 50 yard testing with 44 spl so I was looking at the 200gr GDHP. I've had great results with the 210gr GDHP (so called deep curl) in 44 mag loads with 2400. I have both of those bullets.

If they'd get enough usable data at 25 yards, I'll just move it in and use 240gr. Digging in the shop, I found a box of Redline hardcast 240gr SWC, and a bag of Winchester 240gr HSP notched (unopened, I've never tested those, I don't even remember where they came from). I have the large size of 2400. It would be convenient to use some of this stuff already on hand. There is a sportsman's warehouse nearby if I really should get the 240gr JHP.

I need to figure it out and make my recommendations this weekend - she needs to hand in a more specific document next week.

I would not touch this with a 10 foot pole--To much liability.

cast 240 SWC or the 240 G winchesters ... flip a coin you have em, may as well use em.
don't sweat the flat trajectory details of the light bullet theory, in fact it'll give lower, harder to interpret resolution.
a given bullet at a given speed drops the same way every time.

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it just needs more voltage

Actually, you are right, the flatter trajectory bullet will give less resolution, I was thinking about it backwards!

I am going to test load some of the SWC and HSP today, and sneak out tomorrow morning for a target only test, using a steady point rest (it's not a machine rest - just a decent pistol rest). It should give me some better idea which to use. I am going to use magnum brass, to reduce the bullet to forcing cone gap, and load 2400 powder.

Thanks to all of you for your advice!