396NG range report

[klingy]

Just got back from the range. My intent was to chronograph but seeing that I had some ammo left, I figured I'd see where it was hitting.

First, the chronograph results:

All velocities are the result of 5 shots at 10 feet and I use a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital.

CCI Blazer
200gr.
Gold Dot HP

Average 784
High 798
Low 773
Extreme Spread 25
Standard Deviation 10
Power factor 157
Muzzle energy 273



Georgia Arms
200gr.
GDHP

Avg. 807
High 814
Low 801
ES 13
SD 5
PF 161
ME 289



Handload (tailored to replicate the Blazer load)
Speer
200 gr.
GDHP
over 6.9 grains of Winchester 231
Starline brass
Winchester Large Pistol primer

Avg. 786
High 796
Low 779
ES 17
SD 6
PF 157
ME 274

I fired 15 rounds of the Georgia Arms load at 7 yards to see where it prints. I used an 8.5" by 11" piece of paper to show my hits and aligned my sights in the center. It was hitting right where I placed the front sight (not a six-o'-clock sight picture, but dead-on) and I got a group of 2.375". I'm sure that if I had a traditional target with a bullseye I would have done better. But since this gun isn't a target gun and bad guys don't wear bullseyes on their chests, I figured that I did good enough to save my hide if need be.

Between the chronographing, punching paper and plinking I fired a total of 50 rounds. I shot it with a set of stocks that expose the backstrap since those factory Pachmyers are HUGE for me. The recoil wasn't bad. As I stated in another post, I find the recoil to be on par with a 642 firing +P ammo.

That's all for now. Gotta load up some more ammo and try to tighten up that group.

 

[klingy]

Just got back from the range. My intent was to chronograph but seeing that I had some ammo left, I figured I'd see where it was hitting.

First, the chronograph results:

All velocities are the result of 5 shots at 10 feet and I use a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital.

CCI Blazer
200gr.
Gold Dot HP

Average 784
High 798
Low 773
Extreme Spread 25
Standard Deviation 10
Power factor 157
Muzzle energy 273



Georgia Arms
200gr.
GDHP

Avg. 807
High 814
Low 801
ES 13
SD 5
PF 161
ME 289



Handload (tailored to replicate the Blazer load)
Speer
200 gr.
GDHP
over 6.9 grains of Winchester 231
Starline brass
Winchester Large Pistol primer

Avg. 786
High 796
Low 779
ES 17
SD 6
PF 157
ME 274

I fired 15 rounds of the Georgia Arms load at 7 yards to see where it prints. I used an 8.5" by 11" piece of paper to show my hits and aligned my sights in the center. It was hitting right where I placed the front sight (not a six-o'-clock sight picture, but dead-on) and I got a group of 2.375". I'm sure that if I had a traditional target with a bullseye I would have done better. But since this gun isn't a target gun and bad guys don't wear bullseyes on their chests, I figured that I did good enough to save my hide if need be.

Between the chronographing, punching paper and plinking I fired a total of 50 rounds. I shot it with a set of stocks that expose the backstrap since those factory Pachmyers are HUGE for me. The recoil wasn't bad. As I stated in another post, I find the recoil to be on par with a 642 firing +P ammo.

That's all for now. Gotta load up some more ammo and try to tighten up that group.

 

[Swenson Bobcat]

I agree on the stock grips. Did you use some from another L frame? How was the fit?

 

[Spotteddog]

Thanks Klingy!!!!

 

[klingy]

Swenson Bobcat,

Here are what I currently have on the gun:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.as...T%20REVOLVER%20GRIPS

Although the ones depicted are for the J frame. But I'm sure you get the idea. The fit was good. Typical boot grip...Exposed backstrap and butt.

I wanted to keep the Ahrends I had on, but when I tried them with a speedloader (HKS) they didn't provide enough clearance to let the rounds fall from the loader.

So for now I got these on until S&W sends me the K/L frame round butt, boot grip that Uncle Mike's used to market.

 

[Stainz]

I looked back at my chrono results with the Blazers, GA Arms, and my load (5.7gr Titegroup under the Speer #4427 bullet - midpoint from Speer data sheet.). I thought your's should have reflected a higher velocity, until I recalled that the old 396 was a 3"-er - your's is a 2.5"-er - like my 296, from which I got 798-805 fps spread for the three ammos. From my 3" 696, they made 835-840 fps - and 875-880 fps from my 4" 629. What propellant and weight are you using?

I was amazed at how good the grouping was with my 296 - for the first cylinder or two. As it weighs less than 19 oz, recall it has a Ti cylinder, it's recoil with those loads is 'brisk' - seemingly more so with the Al-cased Blazers, which I no longer use. Economically, the GA Arms are the same price - or less - leaving you with once-shot Starline .44 Special brass. Back to the grouping - I could hit a 16"-18" steel plate on the member's 100yd line two or more times out of five.

The great news re the 396NG is the ammo selection - you aren't limited to Specials-only, Russians are okay, neither are you limited to 200gr or less. That 200gr Gold Dot is my 296's only ammo selection - in my, GA Arms, or, earlier, Blazer Al cases. I can't dupe my previous good groups with my 296 any more - it sported Uncle Mike's rounded Combats, insulating my mitt from that backstrap, back then. As it is back to pocket carry, it went back to the original boots. It is a bit more brisk than the 'FBI' +P loads, 158gr LHPSWC, in my 642. Still, it aint supposed to be a 'fun' gun!

I love the look of the 396NG - especially like the steel cylinder - Ti is too tempermental.

Stainz

 

[klingy]

Stainz,

I edited my initial post to show my handload information. It's 6.9 grains of Winchester 231.

I'm impressed with the velocities for your 296. Mine clocked in at an average 733 fps with the Blazer GDHP when I tested it last year.

It's funny how you mentioned about Georgia Arms the "once-shot Starline .44 Special brass". That's exactly why I bought a box. My order of 1,000 pieces from Starline came up 10 short, so I figured it was more fun to shoot up the cartridges to get the brass than order more brass.

Oh yeah, the finish cleans up real nice too. On both the coated stainless cylinder and the frame. Easier than an all stainless in my opinion. It was easier cleaning than my nickel plated 21.

Which, in case you're interested, here are my numbers for that:

CCI Blazer
200gr.
Gold Dot HP

Average 867
High 878
Low 859
Extreme Spread 19
Standard Deviation 7
Power factor 173
Muzzle energy 334


Georgia Arms
200gr.
GDHP

Avg. 866
High 880
Low 855
ES 25
SD 9
PF 173
ME 333


Handload (tailored to replicate the Blazer load)
Speer
200 gr.
GDHP
over 6.9 grains of Winchester 231
Starline brass
Winchester Large Pistol primer

Avg. 891
High 905
Low 876
ES 29
SD 14
PF 178
ME 353


Fired under the same conditions as the 396NG I got a 1.75" group.

All in all I'm real happy with this guy too. I had a 21 Thunder Ranch last year that was only able to reach an average of 822 fps with the Blazer and 824 fps with my handload.

 

[Spotteddog]

Klingy,
Those are the same grips I'm running on my 342PD. Tough as Hell! You'll wear out 3 guns trying to wear out that set. I replaced the blued steel retaining screw with a brass one after it started to rust from daily carry under clothing. Mine fit well.

 

[klingy]

Spotteddog,

I did the same thing when I used the Barami Hip-Grip on my 642. That blued screw they give you starts rusting within hours.

Where'd you get the brass screw for the Precision Gun Specialties grips? I'm interested in doing the same. Also, I'm considering picking up a Hogue Bantam, because the Uncle Mike's I have on order uses a blued screw too. Whereas the Hogue Bantam, uses none. It'll all come down to which one allows for easier use of my speedloader. And just from memory, I don't think the Hogue has as much clearance as the Uncle Mike's.

 

[Swenson Bobcat]

Klingy;
Thanks for the info. I want to handle one again before I pop for it. I think everyone who sees it will want to change the grips and the price is very low.

 

[ENH]

Glad tp hear you had no FTF's. May be a first

I have 500 of the Georgia arms 200gr GD they really are very good. Thanks for the report on them.

 

[klingy]

ENH,

I did have 1 FTF with the 396NG while firing my handloads. I use Winchester primers which are said to be a "hard" primer. I do this because I have this RCBS hand-held priming tool and it is advised that you use either a CCI or Winchester brand primer in it.

I've read about the FTF in the 396NG's before I got mine and I was prepared with a Cylinder & Slide extra length firing pin. When I installed it, I also "tweaked" my mainspring so I'd have an approximately 11.5# DA trigger pull. That is my standard pull weight for all my S&W's. I've never had a problem with this set-up and Winchester primers before. I was checking all the fired primers when I unloaded and all were showing deep impacts. Then I had the FTF. It just dented the primer. I put it under the hammer again and it fired. I checked the offending primer and found an impact consistent with all the others fired before or since. I chalked it up to a freak incident since I had no issues with factory ammo or when using my handloads in my 21.

 

[Spotteddog]

In my case I just matched the T.P.I. with a tap and die set gauge and got one through a local fastener supply house. In my case, Tacoma Screw. The key is to accurately measure the pitch and diameter of the insert nut they're using. I first measured pitch off of the screw, then ran the appropriate T.P.I. tap through the insert, to verify shank diameter. If I do it again, I'll probably go with a S/S fastener. The brass screw does tarnish. Of course after carrying the gun daily for 7 years, the tarnished screw looks a lot better than the rest of the gun anymore?

 

[Stainz]

All it takes to pop a primer is the slight, ie, wimpy 'ding'. The cavern in a shot primer is from the fired propellant shoving the cartridge back against the recoil shield, as the bullet makes it across the b/c gap, and the fp is still there - for an incident.

I have too many lightly sprung S&Ws that need large primers - so I limit myself to Fed LP primers. Still, I've never had a commercial round not go bang the first time - and I thing G.A. told me they use CCIs in their equipment. Oddly, Winnie SP primers work in nearly anything - but I prefer the Fed SP - when they are availble (They were in short supply for ~1.5 yr.).

Stainz

 

[TN RAT]

I have those same boot grips on my snub Model 64. They work great. Not the best fit, but I don't mind due to the price.

 

[slowplay]

klingy...thanks for the email. i think i replied,but you never know.