Reloading data. Always way off?

[Wheelgunner840]

I loaded them down to 3.5 grains of W-231, and got very good accuracy results. The 4.0 grn loads were about the same though. Here is a target that I shot tonight. 50' offhand with the 3.5gr. load out of a 28-2 Highway Patrolman with a 4" bbl. 10 shot group. I think I will stick with it.

 

[MTKTM]

I had the very same experience described by others back in the 80s and 90s when I was shooting IPSC and worried about "making major" with my loads. I bought a chronograph and began checking. I was consistently amazed by how far off the common manuals of the day were, Speer, Hornaday, Sierra, all of them were low across-the-board. I ended up checking factory ammo too, and it was surprisingly close to published/claimed velocities, but load data in the manuals INVARIABLY produced lower velocities than claimed. I'm talking both rifle and handgun loads. I concluded at the time that the publishers worried about liability and thus exaggerated velocities to discourage folks from loading rounds hotter than they recommended.

 

[acl864]

I'd stick with the 3.5 gr. load. Good shooting.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Thanks acl864.
I split the difference, and loaded the remaining 150 or so with 3.7grs. I didn't post a picture of the 10 rd. target that I shot with the 4.0 loads, but it looked pretty much like the one above, with one flyer (that I knew that I pulled when I shot it!) in the 8 ring.

I am going to try the same load (3.7) with a batch of 147 grn. LSWCs next. It seems like a nice light target load.



WG840

 

[Steve C]

As I'd pointed out in my earlier post, you are still a bit hot for HBWC's. Instead of upping your load which is likely actually reducing your velocity by tightening the "skirt" in the bore, try using a charge of 3.1grs to 3.3grs of W231.

Your group at 3.5grs is a good one if shot from an unsupported position but with a good HBWC load adjusted to the pistol you should be able to keep them all in the "X" if shooting off bags or bench at 25 yds.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Thanks Steve. I appreciate the advice.


WG840