I finally had to get out and test today, since Nevada is going into "Winter Mode" with wind, cold temps and what ever, coming down the pipe , with this being the last day to reach 58 degrees with a lot of 40's to fallow.
My total test came to 28 loads for this 130 grain HST JHP out of my revolvers and I have to say it was very interesting on how the bullets flew with all the different powders and fps, involved.
Most of my loads had Factory OAL of 1.18" +/- or 1.22" with a few loads at the long 1.43" for a crimp on the bullet's "Canellure, for a few test, to see if this might be the way to go.
Cases at 1.155" OAL are best for the 1.18" OAL , since shorter cases need to be checked for the correct bullet seating, before crimping.
During my test the lowest velocity came from 2400 at only 546 fps...... with the highest from HS-6 at 1018 fps , which was my 2nd shot out of the little J frame and the other un-fired loads were taken back home and dismantled !!
If you need a full power load with this bullet in the little J frame, My M49 snub nose liked several powder that kicked out 850 fps. There is no reason to go any faster, since it just adds recoil and this bullet only needs 800 fps to expand 100% of the time, out of a 2" barrel.
As to case volume;
I really wanted a powder that would do 824 fps with a 100% case volume but it was not to happen with the powder that I have on stock.
Blue Dot at 100% volume with a 1.18" OAL and 7.0 grs did 940 fps. 6.5 grs did 859 fps but it had a ES79 and poor accuracy in my revolver.
Red Dot at 850 with a 75% case volume of 3.6 grs. cut the group in half and was twice as close to POA.
This last test was as low as I could go to try and get the 824 fps factory loading and also get a good ES that kept the speed above 799fps for bullet expansion, 100% of the time.
For SD work, I need all five (5) bullets to expand, 100%of the time. I had a lot of loads hit 800 fps but there were too many load below 780 fps.
Lucky Gunner had a S&W 342 (.357) that shot factory ammo that did 782 fps and 1 of the 5 failed to expand.
So here is a picture of my sixth test with the Federal 130 gr. HST bullet, for those that might want to use it.
The BE86 load is the lowest FPS that will work 100% of the time out of "My" snub nose and the ES is not too shabby, either.
Enjoy.
My total test came to 28 loads for this 130 grain HST JHP out of my revolvers and I have to say it was very interesting on how the bullets flew with all the different powders and fps, involved.
Most of my loads had Factory OAL of 1.18" +/- or 1.22" with a few loads at the long 1.43" for a crimp on the bullet's "Canellure, for a few test, to see if this might be the way to go.
Cases at 1.155" OAL are best for the 1.18" OAL , since shorter cases need to be checked for the correct bullet seating, before crimping.
During my test the lowest velocity came from 2400 at only 546 fps...... with the highest from HS-6 at 1018 fps , which was my 2nd shot out of the little J frame and the other un-fired loads were taken back home and dismantled !!
If you need a full power load with this bullet in the little J frame, My M49 snub nose liked several powder that kicked out 850 fps. There is no reason to go any faster, since it just adds recoil and this bullet only needs 800 fps to expand 100% of the time, out of a 2" barrel.
As to case volume;
I really wanted a powder that would do 824 fps with a 100% case volume but it was not to happen with the powder that I have on stock.
Blue Dot at 100% volume with a 1.18" OAL and 7.0 grs did 940 fps. 6.5 grs did 859 fps but it had a ES79 and poor accuracy in my revolver.
Red Dot at 850 with a 75% case volume of 3.6 grs. cut the group in half and was twice as close to POA.
This last test was as low as I could go to try and get the 824 fps factory loading and also get a good ES that kept the speed above 799fps for bullet expansion, 100% of the time.
For SD work, I need all five (5) bullets to expand, 100%of the time. I had a lot of loads hit 800 fps but there were too many load below 780 fps.
Lucky Gunner had a S&W 342 (.357) that shot factory ammo that did 782 fps and 1 of the 5 failed to expand.
So here is a picture of my sixth test with the Federal 130 gr. HST bullet, for those that might want to use it.
The BE86 load is the lowest FPS that will work 100% of the time out of "My" snub nose and the ES is not too shabby, either.
Enjoy.
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