Need some help with .327 Fed Mag and 135 gr SWC with 2400

[jrayborn]

Hi guys

I have had a GP100 and Sp101 in .327 for several years. My revolvers are both really a hoot to shoot with 10 grains of 2400 and a 118gr G/C cast from a NOE mold. I believe this is a medium load and that's what I usually load. I don't EVER try to hot-rod, I'm not into it, and I'm also not a good enough shooter (yet?) to see a big difference between small changes in loads. That's just me.

Anyway I just got the 135 gr SWC G/C mold from Miha and I want to run it with 2400 still but it's very hard to find much in the way of data for this heavy a boolit. I am planning to try 9 grains. Does anyone see any reason that this would be unsafe?

I size to .314 and lube with carnuba red.

Any opinions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[roverboy]

I wouldn't think that your 9 grain load would be overpressure in your GP100 or SP101. They are both strong guns.

[jrayborn]

Thanks Roverboy!

[Dark Helmet]

Do you have chrono data on your old load? While tinkering with Quickload, my WAG suggests you may be under the pressure of your 118 gr (.315 115 SWC, right?) load.

[Green Frog]

I found an old screen capture I did of MD Smith's webpage on loading the 327 FM. He suggested Accurate 5744 powder for heavy bullets with 12.5 grains behind a 125 grain bullet and 10.0 behind a 150 grain. Let me hasten to say I have not tried either of these loads myself, but read his website, and I think you will be able to figure a safe load somewhere in between those two bullets with your 135 grain. Again, I claim no personal knowledge of this, but if I were in your situation, I would start with the 10.0 grain charge and cautiously work up toward about 11.2 or 11.3 in one or two tenth of a grain increments. Start low and work up cautiously... then post your results for the rest of us. I'm thinking about 5744 (when it becomes available) for my NOE 125 gr SWC to feed to my Ruger Stainless BH 8-shooter in 327 FM.

Froggie

[jrayborn]

Dark Helmet, I do have chrono data, I'm trying to find it. I believe I was running 1100 fps but its been a while since I have really checked. I plan to shoot some tomorrow so I will reply back when I do.

Thanks!

[Dark Helmet]

Also, which gun was the data from. An inch makes a bit of difference!

[jrayborn]

Some data from today. The load was 9 grains of 2400 under a 135 grain flat nosed gas checked boolit. It chrono'd at 1150 in my 4" GP and about 1140 from the SP101 with three inch barrel. Not bad recoil and reasonably accurate (for me).

[Dark Helmet]

That tracks fairly well with QL. You should be able to work up to another half grain/100fps before you need a slower powder. YMMV

[jrayborn]

Thank you Dark Helmet, I appreciate the help!