What am I doing wrong?

[tek4260]

Well, my load with the 300gr cast in the 45 is 22gr. Same for the 325 Keith. I have some loaded to 24gr. They leaded in my handgun, so I dropped back to 22. I will run some of the 24gr loads over the chrony this weekend from both the 4 5/8 and 7.5 OM and report numbers.

To address the crimp issue, I will really stand on some of the 24gr crimps(think mini bottle neck) as well to see what difference it makes.

And on B/C gap, here is a sorry pic of the gap on the 45 shown earlier in this thread. It looks tight even considering the bevel on the stub. You don't get this close with a factory fitted Ruger....

 

[Rick Courtright]

Another thing - I'm not sure how accurate the Shooting Chrony Beta is. I have nothing to calibrate it with. I did test it shooting some CCI 22LR standard velocity ammo through my Anschutz rifle and the numbers were very close to what they are supposed to be so I tend to believe the numbers. But it's not an Oehler.

Hi,

Dunno which Oehler you're comparing to, but I have an almost 30 yr old Oehler 33 I used a lot at the range "back when." The other fellow I mentioned earlier had the same one. We compared results and they were never "exactly" the same. Sometimes mine ran higher, sometimes his did.

A buddy has whatever the "usually around $100" Chrony model is. Compared to my Oehler one time, it was "in the same ballpark."

I found establishing a "baseline" w/ a particular gun using factory ammo helps determine what's happening over my chrono. For example, if a particular factory load advertises 1250 fps, and MY gun/chrono combo clock it at 1175, I can tell myself a handload clocking in at 1180 "duplicates" factory velocity. That's close enough for me.

It's ALL relative anyway when you're working in the field and don't have access to all the controlled conditions and calibration equipment a good lab would have...

Rick C

 

[Bucks Owin]

"It's ALL relative anyway when you're working in the field and don't have access to all the controlled conditions and calibration equipment a good lab would have"...

10X Rick... :wink: I'm mainly looking at SD/ES and worry little that my Chrony "may" be a few fps out of calibration...

(And as mentioned, it seems to jive with published lab figures)

 

[tek4260]

Well, looks like I made a liar out of myself

 

[tek4260]

The 4 5/8 45 managed 1167 with this 24gr load, so it gained ~150 fps for 2 more gr of powder.

 

[bigboredad]

1300isn't so hard is it :D but the real question is how much blodd did you spill with the 4 5/8 at that speed :wink:

 

[tek4260]

None this time. Bought some of those grip strength squeeze things and have been using them while I drive all over creation at work. :)

Do 150 reps right, 150 left, 150 right, ect. We shall see if I can get some of dem Arnold arms..... Or at least a good consistent grip for shooting.

 

[bigboredad]

that is a good idea on those grip thingys. I hurt my left hand pretty bad and let me tell ya hot loads and not being able to get a good grip is a bad idea I'll be shooting some of the cowboy style loads for awhile the front site was starting to leave a mark from a weak grip on my for head :oops:

 

[Bucks Owin]

The 4 5/8 45 managed 1167 with this 24gr load, so it gained ~150 fps for 2 more gr of powder.

Damn I like that 7.5" brass dragoon GFed, SBH hammered OM .45 of your's. Pure nirvana! You chop that baby and I'm coming for ya! :x :lol:

Anyway, if I'm tracking right, the velocity difference between 7.5" vs 4 5/8" is roughly 100 fps?

 

[WESHOOT2]

The chronograph can tell you speeds, or else you guess.

 

[Bucks Owin]

The chronograph can tell you speeds, or else you guess.

Huh? Don't think there's any guessing going on here... :?

 

[WESHOOT2]

Exactly. You tested, you know.
No guessing.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Exactly. You tested, you know.
No guessing.

Ahhh...I savvy :wink:

 

[Hammerdown77]

Also, as WESHOOT2 alluded to (actually, came right out and said), test on different days to see if your results stay close.

I've seen 200+ fps diff on different days over the same chrono, same temp, gun, load. Clearly, something was different in the chrono set up (or I got crappy readings one day).

Ideally, you should set up two chronos, of two different manufactures, and shoot 20 of the same load through each. See if the numbers match up. Then do it again on another day.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I've seen 200+ fps diff on different days over the same chrono, same temp, gun, load. Clearly, something was different in the chrono set up (or I got crappy readings one day).

I've had that happen too. I'd swap in a fresh battery and scratch my head a lot... :? Then I one day noticed it was always about the same time of day, late afternoon. Finally figured out that it was the angle of the sun messing up the shadow of the bullet passing over the chrono! I taped a sheet of white plastic over the sunscreens and voila....Back in business... :wink:

 

[Rclark]

Then do it again on another day.

I've been doing that too... So far my results haven't changed much. 30fps has been the 'max'.... Live with that... Big thing it does give me a 'ballpark' estimate fps.... I like to put 30 downrange to get a good feel for SD and ES and accuracy.

 

[Bucks Owin]

This is a really good thread. It shows that lots of guys chase that exactly perfect load and are passionate about it. I also look for efficient burn, as I don't want to waste powder if I don't get appreciable increases in velocity.

Though I've not tried to get these kinds of speeds, the process of load development remains the same. I just read Venturino's "Handloading vs. reloading" column in Handloader, and that is cool. I think I've poked my head up out of reloading and have gotten a glimpse of what real handloading is. One load per gun isn't enough. Different powders...good thread.

CDFingers

Jim Carmichael says in his "Book of the Rifle" that he feels the quality of the average reload has declined. Feels that in the early days of handloading most who practiced same were very serious about it and assembled better ammo...

Glad we have the "serious" folks practicing here... :wink: