2400 load observation

[Rclark]

Okay guys, my chronograph reading stand. We put another brand chrono behind mind, so that same shots ran over both chronographs. Thanks paul105 for using your chrono!

Results :

Load #1 : 7.25fps diff (4 shots)
Load #2 : 5.00fps diff (6 shots)
Load #3 : 6.00fps diff (11 shots)
Load #4 : 13.75fps diff (4 shots)
Load #5 : 8.00fps diff (5 shots)
Load #6 : 11.00fps diff (5 shots)
average overall: ~9fps
max diff: 19fps
min diff: -7fps

I am on the 'high side' but I think you can say that we are reading where we should unless two chronographics are wrong! I am happy .

 

[Texas Jack Black]

Well, I been told that before . I've tested my chrono with .22LR and seems to be in the ballpark of what's on the box. Still, I suspect it 'may' be running a bit high ... I bought a set of test weights to make sure my powder scale is reading correctly and it is (that's good to know!).... Velocity does have some different variables, like barrel gap, throat size, what bullet.... So you got me. I'd like to run over another chrono, but I've never seen anyone else out with one when I am shooting.....

FYI, Brian Pearce the Skeeter load 7.5g Unique pushing a 255g Keith in Lipseys flattop 5 1/2" barrel at 960fps. My average with a 240 SWC bullet is 1033fps in my 5 1/2" flattop.... That is 73fps diff, and I use a slightly lighter bullet (how much 15g difference makes I don't know).... Taffin tests a 240 in 6 1/2" barrel at 975fps. Other references seem to run from 950fps to 1000fps... So my guess is I am running high. Maybe even as high at 70fps over....

Using 255g SWC:
Lets look at 8.5g. Another guy got 925 in 5 1/2" barrel. I get 977. 52fps diff.

HS-6 13g I get 1084. Someone else got 1087fps from 7.5" barrel. Given you lose 15-25fps per inch, I should be around 1030. So diff could be up to 54fps.

So 'empirically' I think my numbers are a bit high. Looks like 50-70fps?

My crimp is never 'heavy'. Seating depth is always set to crimp into the crimp groove. I've never bothered with COL in my straight wall cases.... The crimp groove is there for a reason . Only time I check COL is with .45ACP or bullets that don't have a crimp groove.

I think the SKEETER load is for the 44 special? not the 45 colt Are we mixing 44 data in with 45 data?

T J B

 

[Rclark]

I think the SKEETER load is for the 44 special? not the 45 colt Are we mixing 44 data in with 45 data?

Yes I did, sorry about that.... I was just using the load as a 'well known' reference in my 'chrono may be reading high' ramble . But I'll leave it as an example of 'second guessing' my self....

Knowing now my chrono is only reading (relative to another chrono anyway) a few fps high, I can continue testing with confidence.... . At lunch today, just loaded 15-15 of Green Dot 7.0g for next primer test.

 

[Rclark]

Green Dot 15-15 Test Results :
.45 Colt 5 1/2" barrel
255g SWC

7.0g Green Dot, CCI-300, 894fps avg, 21 std, 73 spread (15 shots)
7.0g Green Dot, CCI-350, 918fps avg, 18 std, 66 spread (14 shots)

24fps diff. Accuracy is excellent with both.

Rounded up some WLP (Thanks Paul) so will retest the 2400 load with that primer.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Green Dot 15-15 Test Results :
.45 Colt 5 1/2" barrel
255g SWC

7.0g Green Dot, CCI-300, 894fps avg, 21 std, 73 spread (15 shots)
7.0g Green Dot, CCI-350, 918fps avg, 18 std, 66 spread (14 shots)

24fps diff. Accuracy is excellent with both.

Rounded up some WLP (Thanks Paul) so will retest the 2400 load with that primer.

Great "plinker" load huh? 8) (Even if the GD does rattle around in that big case...:wink: )

(I like WLP or F150 and Lyman 454190)

 

[Rclark]

Yep. That said, I like 7.5g GD the best, but wanted to stay low while testing primers.... Guess I shouldn't have been worried . The 7.5g GD load (984fps) matches the 8.5g Unique load (977fps) which I like to shoot. Doesn't take much GD to change things either ...
The three .45 Colt loads I tested :

7.0 894fps
7.5 984fps
7.8 1005fps

 

[Rclark]

WLP test results from today.

Lot 1 is from my bottle of 2400
Lot 2 is from another guys jug (new powder, just different lot)

5 1/2" Barrel BH .45 Colt 255g SWC:

Shot before:
(Lot 1) 18.0g 2400, CCI-300, 1022fps avg, 21 std, 82 spread (15 shots)
Shot today:
(Lot 1) 18.0g 2400, CCI-350, 1189fps avg, 15 std, 50 spread (15 shots)
(Lot 2) 18.0g 2400, CCI-350, 1174fps avg, 23 std, 92 spread (15 shots)
(Lot 2) 18.0g 2400, WLP, 1123fps avg, 35 std, 133 spread (15 shots)

Out of 5 1/2" Vaquero :

(Lot 1) 18.0g 2400, CCI-350, 1173fps avg, 20 std, 76 spread (20 shots)

----

5 1/2" Barrel .44Spec 240g SWC I got :

(Lot 1) 15.0g 2400, CCI-350, 1165fps avg, 21 std, 79 spread (15 shots)
(Lot 2) 15.0g 2400, CCI-350, 1136fps avg, 23 std, 67 spread (15 shots)
(Lot 2) 15.0g 2400, WLP, 1076fps avg, 27 std, 81 spread (15 shots)

 

[Texas Jack Black]

Great info Rick I was wondering is all the load data within SAAMI ?


T J B

 

[Rclark]

No. If you keep 'strictly' to SAMMI, velocites would be <950fps or so for 250-255g bullets in 45 Colt. I am working in the 'gray' area between SAMMI and Ruger Only Loads. Loads you see over 1100fps are in bottom end of Ruger Only Loads (I won't shoot them in a .45 Colt New Vaquero or my .45 Flattop Convertibles for example). Most of the loads above came from Brian Pearce (and others) and are safe in any modern .45 Colt revolver (sans the Ruger Only Loads). Remember do your own 'reseach' and all I can say is they work in 'my' guns. YMMV.

No, In .44Spec as well. Under a 240g bullet 6.0g of Unique is max in the manual to stay within SAMMI. But I like the Skeeter load of 7.5g of Unique which is above SAMMI as is the 2400 loads. Still safe to shoot in a modern .44Spec such as the Ruger Flattop BH or New Vaquero.

 

[Texas Jack Black]

Thank you for the info

T J B