Range report/chronograph data

[Miracle Man]

So I got a little trigger time in today in the cold. I've been itching to get a real shoot in with my new Smith's but it was just to cold today and I had to call it quits early. Toes and fingers just getting to cold.

Anyways:

Targets 25 yards

S&W 4" Model 19

125 gr. Hornady XTP/ 13.8 grs. Blue Dot/ CCI SPP

1447, 1495, 1454, 1441, 1462, 1497 FPS



S&W 6" Model 586

125 gr. Rem JSP's/ 17 grs. 2400/ CCI SPMP

1547,1581, 1613, 1582, 1587, 1612 FPS



Springfield Armory GI 1911

230 gr. Hornady hardball/ 8.5 grs. Blue dot/ CCI LPP

865, 786, 797, 724, 863, 702 1st string FPS
833, 799, 864,824,835, 810 2nd string FPS



First time I'd shot 1911 in couple years and it shows.

Taurus 2' 38 special

158 gr. Hornady LSWC/ 4.3 grs 231/ CCI SPP

761, 760, 641, 665, 733 FPS

S&W 586 6"

Same load as Taurus 158 LSWC

697, 712, 816, 783, 728, 693 FPS

I was a little surprised 6" smith didn't beat the little Taurus revolver more.

And last but not least:

Kimber Micro9 9mm

115 gr. Hornady XTP/ 8.0 grs Blue dot/ CCI SPP

1198, 1224, 1203, 1157, 1164, 1173 FPS

115 gr Berry's plated bullets/ 5.5 grs CFE pistol/ CCI SPP

1040, 998, 1062, 1051, 1063, 997 FPS

And on the 2nd shot I managed to do this:



Jersey gloves and the slide of kimber don't mix lol. Had to pull and cut glove out of there.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Way to go and get out in that bad, cold weather and get some shooing time in.

A glove vs skin is a winner, any time.

Thanks for all the data.

 

[Miracle Man]

Way to go and get out in that bad, cold weather and get some shooing time in.

A glove vs skin is a winner, any time.

Thanks for all the data.

My pleasure

Thankfully the wind was very light or I wouldn't have made it as long as I did. And that little Kimber 9mm has a stout whip to it with semi hot loads. Somehow it caught the index finger of my left glove in between the hammer and the beavertail?

 

[Miracle Man]

So now that I have a minute, I can elaborate a bit more. My model 19 seemed to really like that load, perhaps if I had a better rest and wasn't freezing, I could have done a little better group with it? The average velocity was 1466 FPS. But since I've found out on here it's not a great idea to shoot a lot of 125 gr JHP through a model 19 I'm going to work up a 158 gr JHP load for it and lean towards the moderate velocity with it.

I just love that revolver.

The average velocity of the load I shot in the 586 was 1587 FPS. The group was a bit of a vertical string. I loaded them several years ago, 7 or 8 IIRC? Not sure how much the cold, like 22 degrees and age impacts velocity?

I like the outline sight on the 586 better than the 19. But the single action trigger is a touch better on the 19. However, the felt recoil on the 586 is more tolerable. So it's a trade off. haha

Can't wait for warmer weather to get in some more testing with em both.

The 231/158 gr lead 38 special load I tried is fun to shoot. But is that average velocity of 738 FPS a bit low? Don't want to risk bullet stuck in that 6" barrel. I didn't bother putting up a new target to check accuracy just in a bit of hurry to get out of cold by then.

Finally, I've shot that Kimber micro9 quiet a bit. But it still doesn't fail to surprise me with the amount of whip it has in recoil. It's not a hard punishing recoil just squirrely. Is the Sig P365 heavier? I'm thinking about beginng a new search for a carry pistol.

 

[Forrest r]

It's not the best idea to use bluedot with 125gr bullets in the 357's.

 

[Nevada Ed]

It's not the best idea to use bluedot with 125gr bullets in the 357's.

Way back there was the "Cold weather" scare, going around.

On 12/23/2008
Aliant's Ben & Dick both advised me that the "New Reduced Data" for Blue Dot powder with a 125 gr bullet in a .357 revolver, was safe to use.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

So now that I have a minute, I can elaborate a bit more. My model 19 seemed to really like that load, perhaps if I had a better rest and wasn't freezing, I could have done a little better group with it? The average velocity was 1466 FPS. But since I've found out on here it's not a great idea to shoot a lot of 125 gr JHP through a model 19 I'm going to work up a 158 gr JHP load for it and lean towards the moderate velocity with it.

I just love that revolver.

The average velocity of the load I shot in the 586 was 1587 FPS. The group was a bit of a vertical string. I loaded them several years ago, 7 or 8 IIRC? Not sure how much the cold, like 22 degrees and age impacts velocity?

I like the outline sight on the 586 better than the 19. But the single action trigger is a touch better on the 19. However, the felt recoil on the 586 is more tolerable. So it's a trade off. haha

Can't wait for warmer weather to get in some more testing with em both.

The 231/158 gr lead 38 special load I tried is fun to shoot. But is that average velocity of 738 FPS a bit low? Don't want to risk bullet stuck in that 6" barrel. I didn't bother putting up a new target to check accuracy just in a bit of hurry to get out of cold by then.

Finally, I've shot that Kimber micro9 quiet a bit. But it still doesn't fail to surprise me with the amount of whip it has in recoil. It's not a hard punishing recoil just squirrely. Is the Sig P365 heavier? I'm thinking about beginng a new search for a carry pistol.

The answer to your last question is YES. Try Handgun Hero for a size/weight comparison.

Cheers!

P.S. You might try some of the CFE-Pistol with those 38 Special/357 Magnum loads you mention...

 

[Miracle Man]

It's not the best idea to use bluedot with 125gr bullets in the 357's.

Way back there was the "Cold weather" scare, going around.

On 12/23/2008
Aliant's Ben & Dick both advised me that the "New Reduced Data" for Blue Dot powder with a 125 gr bullet in a .357 revolver, was safe to use.

Huh ? I'm not certain which one of my loading manuals I got the load data for Blue dot 357 mag load from? I have manuals going back to late 70's/early 80's

But I'm quite certain I got it from one. I'm not a going rogue kinda reloader.

 

[Miracle Man]

The answer to your last question is YES. Try Handgun Hero for a size/weight comparison.

Cheers!

P.S. You might try some of the CFE-Pistol with those 38 Special/357 Magnum loads you mention...

Thanks I'll give it a look

 

[Forrest r]

Well I watched a model 27's cylinder split in 2 pieces back in the 80's with the bluedot/125gr bullet combo.

Shortly after that hercules (back then) put warnings out about using/reloading that combo in the 357's.

A link to alliants website dated 2023 titled alliant powder safety notice.
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=5922...lMjhhbGwlMjBidWxsZXQlMjB3ZWlnaHRzJTI5Lg&ntb=1

I'm simply putting out there that the mfg of bluedot is warning against what you're doing.

 

[Forrest r]

Way back there was the "Cold weather" scare, going around.

On 12/23/2008
Aliant's Ben & Dick both advised me that the "New Reduced Data" for Blue Dot powder with a 125 gr bullet in a .357 revolver, was safe to use.

Yes it was cold weather when I watched a friend split a model 27 cylinder in 2 with the bluedot/125gr 357mag combo. It happened on a winter day in ne ohio (+/- 20*)

The op isn't using reduced loads.
The op was shooting on a cold day.
But it is interesting that he's getting the same velocity out of a 4" bbl'd revolver that hornady got out of a 8 3/8" bbl with a 13.5gr load.

Some feel it's safe, others not so much. Myself it simply isn't worth finding out. I was simply putting out there that alliant to this day warns against such practices.

 

[Miracle Man]

Yes it was cold weather when I watched a friend split a model 27 cylinder in 2 with the bluedot/125gr 357mag combo. It happened on a winter day in ne ohio (+/- 20*)

The op isn't using reduced loads.
The op was shooting on a cold day.
But it is interesting that he's getting the same velocity out of a 4" bbl'd revolver that hornady got out of a 8 3/8" bbl with a 13.5gr load.

Some feel it's safe, others not so much. Myself it simply isn't worth finding out. I was simply putting out there that alliant to this day warns against such practices.

I'm gonna pull em. To me it's just not worth it.

And, upon examining the fired cases closer the primers are cratered a bit. And furthermore I do remember getting a little resistance ejecting that cylinder of spent cases.

 

[BE Mike]

The 231/158 gr lead 38 special load I tried is fun to shoot. But is that average velocity of 738 FPS a bit low? Don't want to risk bullet stuck in that 6" barrel.

Considering the cold weather, I'd say that your .38 SPL load is just fine.

 

[Miracle Man]

Going back to the range today (buddies' backyard) with the chronograph and several loads to try in Model 19 and 586. Weather looks decent and supposed to get in low 50's so shouldn't be bad.