Howdy,
Today I went to the range and load-tested for velocity and pressure my M28-2 4 inch and the Sierra 140 grain jacketed hollow cavity in .357 magnum cases with H-110 and the CCI 550 primer. My chronograph was set up about 6 to 8 feet in front of my shooting point.
My range is south of Albuquerque which is south of the International Airport and Kirtland AFB. At Kirtland they do ALL KINDS OF STUFF with all kinds of “stuff”. Sandia Labs is also there and THEY do all kinds of stuff with all kinds of “stuff”.
After I was all set up and ready to shoot/chronograph a fellow shooter walked over and told me how he had problems with Kirtland AFB and their radar interfering with his chronograph in the past. He said that before he would shoot over his chronograph, it would on its own, register a velocity of 4,000 fps; several times over during his session. He also said that when he was in a berm that was shielded from the radar site he did not have that problem. There is a visible radar site from the berm we were shooting in and he showed it to me indicating that was the one in question. He did admit that his “theory” was high in circumspection and low in true knowledge.
His chronograph is an older Chrony. Mine is a newer Chrony. Mine has never caused me any problems except too much sunlight (had to move it into the shade) and the occasional “Err1 or Err2” message. I do know that of the Chrony models I have seen, that are old, do have a tendency to do weird things. BUT, mine is new, it has a good battery, and I have never had any problems except the above mentioned.
ALSO…a few reloading manuals caution against loading H-110 to any amount too low from the maximum listed load. However other manuals do not seem to heed this statement and they start loads quite a ways down the pike from the maximum load. Winchester manuals, utilizing W-296 data (which is reported to be H-110…or vicey/versi), will state never to reduce the load below the singular load they show. I add this here because you will see where I started and where I ended.
Here’s my results. Wind was essentially calm, sky overcast, temps at about 45ish. Velocities are fps.
15.0 grains: 441.6, 870.9, 607.9, 941.7, 749.5
15.5 grains: 985.1, 1016, 1065, 582.1, 1025
16.0 grains: 635.4, 1008, 662.6, 1031, 411.9
16.5 grains: 1009, Err2, 1012, 955.1, 835.8
17.0 grains: 1087, 804.5, 997.6, 785.7, 1090
17.5 grains: 1081, 1101, 1093, 1141, 995.5
18.0 grains: 1171, 1132, 1113, 1109, 1107
18.5 grains: 1240, 1072, Err1, 1195, 1061
19.0 grains: 1235, 1246, 1226, 1270, 1170
19.5 grains: 1289, 1254, 1269, 1333, 1338
The brass for these loads has been loaded as much as 14 times, with either low velocity loads or full house loads. With the 19.5 grain load I experienced normal fired-primer appearance and the cases were just a tad bit sticky in extraction. And a many-times-reloaded case will SUPPOSEDLY suffer from lack of ductility due to work-hardening and therefore, after expansion, perhaps stay expanded causing sticky expansion…SUPPOSEDLY.
Note that I extracted my data from 3 manuals each of; Sierra, Hornady, Speer, Hodgdon’s. And of course my disclaimer: IF YOU USE THIS DATA AND SCREW SOMETHING UP, I AIN"T AT FAULT!
The listed lower velocity loads are not typos. And the “perceived” recoil was the same over the entire load string. I.E. all of the 15.0 grain loads displayed the same perceived recoil, as did each and every other string.
So, what I find interesting is the wide variances of supposed velocities below 18.0 grain loads. Maybe the manuals which suggest NOT going below the only, singular load listed are correct?
Perhaps my Chrony should have been placed further out from the firing point? Perhaps muzzle flash (H-110 is known for excessive flash) caused some issues. I know black powder can. But then why at the lower velocities only while at the higher velocities I got more consistent results, although lower than “book” velocities.
Or maybe the radar/gamma rays/radiation/plasma-jet-force rays from the AFB/LABS caused the velocity variances and they finished their tests before I finished mine and then my Chrony returned back to its reliable self. (insert chuckling)
Or…someone “over there” was watching me and deliberately aiming a laser gun at my Chrony when my back was turned!! (loud guffaw!)
Interesting as well was the low velocities, at the high end loads, versus most of the manuals. Of course I was shooting a 4 inch barrel and most manuals use 6 inch (or longer) revolver barrels or even longer pressure test barrels. I do know that velocities can definitively vary between “their” manual, my weapon, yours, and Uncle Albert’s. BUT, to be as low as mine when the manuals indicate a much higher velocity?
I may “up the load” and chronograph the even “hotter loads” and see what happens. Or I might stay put. The load of 19.5 grains was the “most” maximum load I found and several manuals listed about 17.0 or 17.5 grains as their maximum load. My maximum load did not appear to be maximum for my specific pistol.
If I do load up to a higher load I promise to be careful.
If my Chrony was working properly what this illustrates is that ALL reloading manuals are guides only and one should have a chronograph in their possession when working up loads for pressure and velocity. As cheap as they are today all reloaders should have one.