Got to finally do some chronographing the other day:

Freedom Arms .41 Magnum 6" barrel that is Mag-Na-Ported

220 Speer JSWCSP/23.0 H110/1545 fps

220 Speer JSWCSP/13.0 Blue Dot/1240 fps

255 CPBC WFNGC/22.0 H110/1360 fps

300 Specialty Pisol Gear/19.0 H110/1260 fps



Same loads from a Gary Reeder Custom 5.5" Ultimate .41 Hunter

220 Speer/1450 fps

220 Speer/1200 fps

255 CPBC/1325 fps

300 Specialty/1241 fps

Competition Electronics chronograph at 6' from the muzzle. Three shot average. The extreme spred on any of the loads from the FAs gun was 30 fps. From the Reeder gun 55 fps.

No clue why the FA gun liked the 220 Speer/H110 load so well and the Reeder gun didn't. Velocity was 1546,1540,1549 for the FA and 1459,1475,1417 for the GR. The other three loads are what I would have expected the difference in guns to be because of the FAs tighter chambers, flashgap and 1/2" longer barrel even with the Mag-Na-Port slots.

Bob

You may be looking at the difference in barrel twist rate. I am sure you know that faster twists increase pressure, and higher pressure equals higher velocity. I know my 10" Model 654 Silhouette from Freedom has a 1 in 14" twist, and I have seen as high as 1780 from a 290... That is just flat out scorched!!

Thanks for the work... Sounds like any of the loads you chrono'ed would do the job with plenty to spare!!

Since the Reeder has a custom barrel, I'm not sure what Gary requests for a twist rate from his supplier...

The 300 grain bullet is really something. I need to get some more. Will try and post some pics next week.

Bob

Garys revolvers are built for hunting, which sometimes means dangerous game so they must be reliable, hence the cylinder gap that may be a slight bit more liberal than the FA. Tight cylinder gaps, sometimes non-existant, are great for velocity increases and accuracy but ain't worth shit when the cylinder binds up from the smallest piece of dirt and your mowed down by your quarry. I'll take the more reliable revolver over the slightly more accurate/faster one any day. I also have and have had both brands so there is no BS with this post.

You gave chrono readings but no group sizes. Those readings mean nothing in the real world.

19 grains of h110 and a 293 hardcast gave me 1275 out of my 4 5/8" ruger blackhawk.

I would not say that the readings mean nothing. Looks like you have some good hunting loads there. If they are good for hitting pop cans at 50 yards then they are great loads too.

I put one of these through a moose head for a coup de graus went under the brain pan through at least 8" bone. Got a sitka blacktail buck at 110 yards too.

My current 41 is a taurus titanium and I use 250 federal castcore hunting loads in it since the cylinder is too short for my 293's.

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:
You gave chrono readings but no group sizes. Those readings mean nothing in the real world.

...well...I guess I should have said all of these loads have already proven themselves accurate which is why I am now testing for velocity. I do my accuracy testing first offhand and sitting out to usually 50 yards to see how they group and then get out the chrono.

And since loads which are accurate in my guns for me may not be in someone elses due to variations in the guns, the reloading technique or just the shooters ability, my group sizes mean nothing either...just to me....

Bob

This was over on another forum...he has some very interesting loads...



http://gunner.sixshootercommunity.org/pics/41data2.txt

How do you like the Taurus? I've been itching for a new toy and a local shop has a used Taurus Tracker 41mag(I think it's the Titanium as it's real light) It has a 5 shot cylinder, porting , and I think a tritium bead front sight.
If it was in 45 colt, I'd have it in the safe already.

I love my little taurus its so light and the porting and grips help with the recoil. It is actually pretty dang accurate too. Those federal castcore are 250 grains at supposed to be 1250 fps. I havent chronied them.

Okay, you are doing right. Accuracy is the primary goal, then the chrono will tell what you are getting. To work with the chrono first is the wrong way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:
Okay, you are doing right. Accuracy is the primary goal, then the chrono will tell what you are getting. To work with the chrono first is the wrong way to go.

I disagree, to an extent. I usually chronograph and group test at the same time (Oehler 35P). However, I load for certain performance levels in hunting guns such as my RBH Bisley with 7 1/2" barrel. If a load isn't up to (or down to in the case of target/plinking loads) that expected performance level then I really don't care how well it may "group". I will move on to another load(s) that will meet the performance and accuracy expectations.

Larry Gibson

Thats more how I do my loads. I find a couple loads that give me the velocity I am wanting then use the one that groups best.