Another question on the FBI load

[yugolovr]

What kind of velocity are you guys getting with five or six inch barrel? I'm using the Remington brand in a four inch barrel model 10, but am looking for a longer barreled gun. I was just wanting to know what to expect from the extra two inches. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[44forever]

I use the Federal variety but the variations in velocity are apparently influenced by a number of factors as the chrono readings from 4" and 6" barrels favor the 4" about as often as the 6". Tightness of chambers, smoothness of bores, and for all I know, the phase of the moon may have an impact.

 

[flop-shank]

My SWAG is that you won't gain more than 100 fps. My guess is 50-75 fps. gain. If you find out let us know. I could be totally wrong.

 

[Erich]

Well, I'll look thru my notebooks, but I don't believe I have chrono'd any commercial FBI Loads thru any longer-barreled guns.

I have chrono'd in a variety of barrel-lengths a handload that more or less duplicate (slightly exceed, actually) FBI Load performance. I realize this is not what you asked for, but it might be illustrative and in some way useful to you.

To wit:

"The NM FBI Load" (featuring Power Pistol and TVB 158-gr hardcasts)
1 7/8" 855.3 fps
3" 950.6 fps
4" 956.0 fps
6" 1030 fps

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

At the end of 1998, I chrono'd a number of loads in a 4" Model 10 and a 6" Official Police. With Winchester's FBI load, it was 880 vs 975. With Federal 38H, it was 900 vs 960.

 

[KSCowboy]

Hey Erich,

I've been experimenting with Power Pistol and my home cast 150 grain SWC HP bullet.

Would you mind sharing with me your charge weight of Power Pistol? I'm using 5.6 grains.

 

[Erich]

http://www.alliantpowder.com/r...ellid=27&bulletid=30

You betcha, amigo.

I use the max load that current Alliant's reloading guide recommends for +P .38 Spl loadings with a 158-grain LSWC: 6.0 grains of Power Pistol. I do a firm roll crimp with a Lee FCD and I use the Tennessee Valley Bullets hardcast LSWCs.

 

[KSCowboy]

Thanks Erich!

I've been intending on working up to that max and just hadn't gotten around to it.

I had worked on "the load" with the 4756 powder and was unhappy with the spread in velocity from shot to shot.

I'll let you know the results of my experimentation.

 

[Erich]

Interesting: I got very minimal spreads with THE LOAD in all barrel lengths. I crimped the heck out of the hardcasts, tho. Might have been the exact alloy or lube that Jessie uses that got me those results, or just the phase of the moon or the way I squinted when I shot . . . you know how "the butterfly effect" seems to erupt in all things related to handloading!

The only thing that I don't like about Power Pistol is that it is flashy (seriously - try it at an indoor range for kicks sometime, and compare it to Unique). I use Unique for carry in loads of this power level (every one of them weighed out by hand), but I'd much rather shoot identical-power Power Pistol loadings because the PP meters so wonderfully. For loads of this type, as far as I can see, the only thing that Unique has on PP is the lack of flash.

I'll look forward to hearing how it does for you - wish I'd put spread/SD info up, but don't have the notebook with me.

 

[fredj338]

I have a couple of older boxes of RP & WW loads that both go about 875fps from my 2 1/4" SP101 & just over 920fps from my 4"-686. Expansion is pretty good in wetpack @ 875fps.

 

[yugolovr]

I would like to say a special thanks to Erich, And the rest of the guys that have responded. My 4 inch model 10 isn't exactly factory anymore. I trued the cylinder on the lathe. I also put a new factory 4 inch skinny barrel on it. I turned it back reducing the barrel cylinder gap. I don't Know if this has given me an increase in velocity or not because I don't a factory model 10 to compare it to. What I do need to do is get my chrono fixed since a certain friend shot it. But what you guys have done for me is give me a basis to compare to while I continue my search for a longer barreled model 10.

 

[Erich]

Right on - any chance you might post a pic of your fixed-up gun? I've no doubt that the bbl/cyl gap affects velocity, based on guns I've owned and chrono'd.

 

[yugolovr]

Erich I will try to get a picture taken of it. I don't own a camera so I will have to get a friend to take pictures. It was a reimport sold by jg sales in 2005. It had a three inch barrel, but I wanted a four. It had seen a lot of use when I got it. So much that it wouldn't even take a polish. It is now a standard barrel four inch gun with a matte finish.

 

[Erich]

Thanks and right on - no need to post a pic after your description. It's exciting to take a sow's ear and turn it into a silk purse, isn't it? Today I'm carrying a formerly raspy police-surplus gun, a 65-5 3", that I had my gunsmith friend Sam Damewood of Alamogordo, NM makeover into what is - for me - the ideal "combat" revolver. (I had him chamfer the chambers, do an action-tune, bob the hammer to match the profile of a 547's hammer - still allowing SA, but making the gun easier to use, and then had the gun bead-blasted and put on some of the excellent Brownell's nylon "Hideout" stocks.)

I carried a 4" K-frame IWB for quite a while about 30 miles due south of you when I was living back home in IN (a Model 13 in that case). Felt pretty good about it. I think you're very well served with that Model 10 that you've fixed up.

 

[Groo01]

groo here
Nice to here from you Eric

 

[Erich]

Thanks! Don't hear THAT often!

 

[yugolovr]

Erich I was also happy to have you respond to this thread. I know from reading your past posts on this particular cartridge that you appreciate it, and believe like I do that it is underestimated. I always look forward to reading your posts about your testing of different loads in this caliber.Thanks for all the knowledge and testing that you share with us.

 

[Erich]

You're too nice: I just enjoy talking about this subject, same as y'all.

As a handloader, I'm always fascinated to see what the chrono really shows about a given load. It's interesting for me to see the police reports and the OMI reports after shootings, to see how bullets actually performed in given cases. Others have really interesting perspectives as well, like my paramedic friend who was telling me last night about some shootings he's worked on.

Anyhow, I just enjoy the atmosphere and info I get here. I thank you for the kind words, but I'm just here talking and learning stuff like everyone else.