Hey Guys (Newbie here )
I'll be receiving my S&W model 41 first week this Sept.'14
I just bought: CCI Standard Velocity40 gr, Velocity40 gr, CCI Blazer40 gr & Winchester Super X 37 grain.

Question(s): How would you record / test the ammo running thru your model 41.
Starting with:
What kinds of pistol paper targets is best to use ?
What yardage to start with, from muzzle to target?
How would you record your findings ?
Record the info on the targets itself or book or both ?

I know its a lot to asks guys, but I'm a newbie to find out what ammo brand my 41 likes.

Thanks Guys
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
Schooner1
Quote: " No Man knows how bad he is till he tries really, really hard to be good "

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Schooner1 :-)

I prefer to do all my testing at 25 yards. I also prefer to test by resting my wrists on a sandbag to help steady the gun. You can buy the self adhesive target dots, I suggest a 2 or 3" dot, and stick them on a piece of paper or cardboard. I usually keep the target for future reference.

I start out closer at about 7 yards. The NRA 25 yard slow fire pistol target is the standard or they have one for 25 feet.

You can keep a notebook with all the info or a spreadsheet. Size of group is probably the most important variable.

You can save info on the target if you want to save the paper or scan them. Scanning is my choice.

Good luck and have fun! A range report here would be nice.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I make them sit in their own chair and do not allow any peeking!
Answers are recorded on a separate answer sheet.

Sorry, I could not resist.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

White text on gray background makes it too hard for a lot of us older guys to see. Let's have something with a bit more contrast please.

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Mama, take this badge offa me

I shoot groups from 50 feet (indoors) or 25 yards (outdoors) at the either a 50-foot or 25-yard NRA bullseye pistol target off a rest. I then measure the resulting groups and record the information in an Excel spreadsheet just as I do with my handloading records.

For what it's worth, I have S&W 617 no-dash revolvers in 4" and 6", a 5.5" S&W 22A-1 and an Advantage Arms 22LR conversion kit for my 1911s and every one shoots tighter groups with CCI MiniMags with 40-grain copper-plated round-nose bullets than with any domestic "match" ammo. I never tried the imported stuff - my aging eyes aren't good enough for it but I can put 50 MiniMags into a little over an inch at 50 feet and about 1.50" at 25 yards with any of those guns.

Of course, MiniMags seem to be unavailable right now. I'm glad I stocked up when they were.

Ed

For years I did all my handgun testing at 25 yards, from a solid rest. I discovered, though, that my offhand groups at 10 yards were practically identical to my rested groups at 25, so that's what I do these days. I made up some targets on standard typing paper that have six 1.5" black dots, and I shoot six groups of 5, or until I'm satisfied that one load is either better than or not as good as another.

Congrats on the Model 41. I've never shot one, I'd really be looking forward to thoroughly testing it!

I test at 25 yards over sand bags using a 25 yard rapid fire pistol target. Groups are written down on both the target and a log book for each pistol. The most promising are then retested by shooting a minimum of five 5 shot groups. I've even been known to run statistical analysis on my groups because one exceptionally small group will skew the average and counteract an unusually large group. I look for consistency.

Ammo testing for a target .22 is quite the undertaking. All testing sould be done from bags or machine rest at a 10-25 yards 50 if you have a scope, using the smallest target you can see at your specified distance. You want to do whatever you can to take the human factor out of the equation.

My approach is to clean the bore and chamber for each brand tested. Using at least 25 rounds start shooting 5 shot groups, the groups generally come together after 5-10 shots of fouling/seasoning the bore, but it varies from ammo to ammo and gun to gun. If you switch ammo without cleaning it may still take 5-10 shots for the next brand to settle in, the different lubes used by different manufactures can cause fluctuations in point of impact.

I notice your ammo sampling is quite small and limited to budget brands, if you really want to eek out the potential of a Model 41 I suggest you buy higher quality target grade ammunition like Eley, RWS, SK, Lapua, Wolf, Federal Gold Medal, or CCI Green Tag. Use standard velocity and sub sonic rounds to avoid the buffeting that occurs from the bullet passing through the tran-sonic barrier at longer distances.

Once you find an ammo that works to your liking go and buy as much of that lot you can afford.

I record my findings by labeling the targets and putting them in a 3 ring binder so if some time down the road ammo #1 is unavailable I can get #2 or #3.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Na I think it's either the font he is using or the small size. Even highlighting it didn't work for me.

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Psalm 23:4

I'd start by ditching that font.