Critique my thought process here. How do you think this load would work for HD?

[Ole]

My primary HD (bedside) gun is a 4" GP100. It currently carries 135 grain Speer Gold Dot/short barrel ammo. It runs about 1050-1100 fps out of my gun if memory serves. Basically it's a little more than a 38+P, but a lot less than a full .357 load.

Just thinking out loud amongst you fine gents, I thought i'd offer an alternative. I've yet to try this bullet in any kind of media yet, but I have no reason to expect that what I have done will fail.

I made up some RD 175 grainers today. Alloy was air cooled, 1/2 wheel weights and 1/2 range lead with 2% tin added. Then I proceeded to drill the noses with JiminPhx's hollow pointing tool. They weigh around 160 grains after drilling.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/IMG_5582.jpg

For powder, I settled on 9 grains of blue dot. Once fired cases and CCI 550 primers. I'm hoping for 1000-1050 fps for muzzle velocity out of my 4" GP100.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/IMG_5583.jpg

I'm anxious to fire these into water jugs at my next shooting session, but what do you guys think about my thought process here?

It sure is fun to play around with this stuff.

[stubshaft]

They look real purty to me and should work fine.

[runfiverun]

you are gonna have to try them to find out.

[olafhardt]

160 grain hp boolit at 1000 fps? Its gonna hurt.

[ku4hx]

Bluedot has been one of my favorite powders for decades. But have you ever fired that stuff after dark or in significantly reduced lighting? They may have changed the formula in recent years, but the stuff I have flashes like you won't believe.

I'm all in favor of hand loaded ammunition for self defense just like I am for using my home made baseball bat if need be. But low flash powder is the way to go if you ever feel you'll need the gun in a darkened house or car.

[felix]

The old Alcan formulas were the best in minimizing the flash by a long or short shot, specifically AL5. ... felix

[runfiverun]

thats good to kow right there felix.
i have a couple of the little square cans of Al-5 and was wondering what to use it for

[felix]

Yeah, 5R5, load it as Unique if no other data. Test fire to assure its speed equivalent to your existing load per gun. The powder of choice for night stand use. The powder prolly uses a heavier dose of a sulfate/sulfite (potassium or sodium) added to its deterrent which would dramatically hinder 'oxidation' potential. As a result load wise, the powder might be faster in smaller cases, and then slower in larger cases when compared to your Unique loads. ... felix

[Bret4207]

But, but I heard down at the barbershop and on The High Road that Mas Ayoob said........





Just thought I'd beat the crowd.