Well it has been a long time coming.......
I started this test back on 8/3/2020 and am now finishing it,
today on 4/12/2021. Lots of things have happen and I hope
that all of you are safe and well.......... so lets do it.
As mentioned on my first test, this bullet was brand new from Federal and there was NO, I repeat, no loading data for your safety if you wanted to test the waters at rolling your own.
I tested three loads in my 686 6" and three light load in my M49 snub nose on my first try. The cases looked ok and I thought that maybe this might be a cake walk.
Then on load #8, I had a load hit +1,000fps with the little J frame and I realised that I was not out of the forest, just yet !!
I tested 7 loadsin the 686 and 25 more in the M49 for a total or 32 loads.
The OAL started with a safe 1.22" (14) to a few long 1.43" (4) and finally when I felt safe, the factory +/- 1.18" OAL (14) with & with out a crimp.
Powders used were red dot, green dot, w231, be86, unique, blue dot, 2400, hs6 & one with alliant steel.
I was ok with a 50% volume powder charge but really wanted a 90-100% case fill of powder, but did not know it this was going to work, with this long .61" JHP bullet being seated like a lead 148 HBwc !!
Pressures were going to be very HIGH if you did not take care and work up very slowly and take small steps.
4.2gr of w231 with a 1.18" OAL gave a 53% case volume.
3.5 Red dot ..................................... 75%
4.8 BE86 ......................................... 60%
6.3 Blue dot ..................................... 90%
9.0 2400 ......................................... 100% (8.8 better) ?
In my revolver 2400 & unique powder had fluxuating es that made me pull my hair out.
Crimping this bullet in most loads gave poor accuracy over a non-crimp case.
I had no luck with the long 1.43" OAL in my M49 but it did shoot in the 686 6" revolver.
After the smoked cleared.............
in "my" revolver I had four loads that were close to POA and match the factory fps, which it is all about.
The OAL was 1.22 & 1.18" w/o a crimp with Red Dot and BE-86 powders.
W231, Blue Dot or 2400 might work in your weapons, if you want to test this bullet out, they just came close for me.
I will be down loading 4 pictures...............
so hang in there, if you are "Early"
I hope this will help those that want to try and use this bullet but care is needed and I don't think you need to load higher than 850fps for a good safe SD loading.
These are my loads for my revolver........M49 steel frame.
This load has LESS recoil than the 135 +P Gold Dot in a J frame
and has a larger expansion with the same penetration !!
Good shooting.
I started this test back on 8/3/2020 and am now finishing it,
today on 4/12/2021. Lots of things have happen and I hope
that all of you are safe and well.......... so lets do it.
As mentioned on my first test, this bullet was brand new from Federal and there was NO, I repeat, no loading data for your safety if you wanted to test the waters at rolling your own.
I tested three loads in my 686 6" and three light load in my M49 snub nose on my first try. The cases looked ok and I thought that maybe this might be a cake walk.
Then on load #8, I had a load hit +1,000fps with the little J frame and I realised that I was not out of the forest, just yet !!
I tested 7 loadsin the 686 and 25 more in the M49 for a total or 32 loads.
The OAL started with a safe 1.22" (14) to a few long 1.43" (4) and finally when I felt safe, the factory +/- 1.18" OAL (14) with & with out a crimp.
Powders used were red dot, green dot, w231, be86, unique, blue dot, 2400, hs6 & one with alliant steel.
I was ok with a 50% volume powder charge but really wanted a 90-100% case fill of powder, but did not know it this was going to work, with this long .61" JHP bullet being seated like a lead 148 HBwc !!
Pressures were going to be very HIGH if you did not take care and work up very slowly and take small steps.
4.2gr of w231 with a 1.18" OAL gave a 53% case volume.
3.5 Red dot ..................................... 75%
4.8 BE86 ......................................... 60%
6.3 Blue dot ..................................... 90%
9.0 2400 ......................................... 100% (8.8 better) ?
In my revolver 2400 & unique powder had fluxuating es that made me pull my hair out.
Crimping this bullet in most loads gave poor accuracy over a non-crimp case.
I had no luck with the long 1.43" OAL in my M49 but it did shoot in the 686 6" revolver.
After the smoked cleared.............
in "my" revolver I had four loads that were close to POA and match the factory fps, which it is all about.
The OAL was 1.22 & 1.18" w/o a crimp with Red Dot and BE-86 powders.
W231, Blue Dot or 2400 might work in your weapons, if you want to test this bullet out, they just came close for me.
I will be down loading 4 pictures...............
so hang in there, if you are "Early"
I hope this will help those that want to try and use this bullet but care is needed and I don't think you need to load higher than 850fps for a good safe SD loading.
These are my loads for my revolver........M49 steel frame.
This load has LESS recoil than the 135 +P Gold Dot in a J frame
and has a larger expansion with the same penetration !!
Good shooting.
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