Bookworm
08-22-2017, 10:22 AM
For years I have used reduced loads for general shooting and practice. I had found that the reduced loads usually gave better accuracy, plus I could shoot them for an extended session, without getting fatigued.
I never messed with H-110 at all in 357 Mag. In 44 Mag I would load up some jacketed, to use deer hunting. I never really tested it extensively, just loaded a recipe that gave 'good enuf' accuracy at 75-ish yards, and went looking for venison.
I got a wild hair a few weeks back. I had acquired a Lyman 358156 mould - a gas-checked SWC, the one with 2 crimp grooves. Mine is an older version, and drops CWW/Pb at 160-161 grains, checked and lubed. I figured that the boolit had been around forever, and load data was easy to find. Why not.
I found data for H-110 all over the place; both physically, and in charge weight. I had always heard that H-110 likes the higher pressure range, so I ignored the 11 grain start point I found in some places.
Using PMC brass, and CCI 550 (SPM) primers, I loaded up some rounds. A few each with 14, 14.5, and 15 grains. I took the Ruger 6.5" Blackhawk (1978 manufacture) out behind the barn, and fired a few. Rested, at 50'.
Here's what happened.
14.0 gr, 12 shots. Remember, this is rested, on a pretty rickety bench, but rested. At 50'.
202406
Ahem.
Yes, well. I could barely keep them on an 8.5 x 11 paper. Oh my.
I reshot it, same load with different lube, with pretty much the same results. Now, I'm not the best shot in the world, but I'm better then that. At least, I thought I was.
I actually took my spectacles off, and looked to see if they were smeared or some-such. They weren't, but I cleaned them anyway.
Let's try this again.
14.5 Gr H-110. Otherwise, same setup. 6 rounds
202408
This is starting to look a bit better. I reshot it, same load, different lube. 14.5gr H-110, 6 rounds
202409
Okay, we're getting somewhere. I tried the last set I had loaded -
15.0gr H-110, the same 358156, the same 50' rested (sort of). 6 rounds.
202410
That's a 1 5/8" 6 shot group, with a new load, in a revolver I purchased 3 weeks ago.
It appears the scuttlebutt was correct. H-110 DOES like the higher pressures, at least in this revolver. As the charge weight, and pressure, went up, the groups tightened. Considerably.
Lyman Cast #4 shows a max of 15.7gr with this boolit. I think I'll load up some 15.2, 15.4, 15.6 and see how it does. I don't need a whole bunch of these loads, I'll probably load up a hundred or so when I settle on 'the' load, and that will last me a good while.
Of course, Mrs Bookworm has that H&R 357 carbine....
I never messed with H-110 at all in 357 Mag. In 44 Mag I would load up some jacketed, to use deer hunting. I never really tested it extensively, just loaded a recipe that gave 'good enuf' accuracy at 75-ish yards, and went looking for venison.
I got a wild hair a few weeks back. I had acquired a Lyman 358156 mould - a gas-checked SWC, the one with 2 crimp grooves. Mine is an older version, and drops CWW/Pb at 160-161 grains, checked and lubed. I figured that the boolit had been around forever, and load data was easy to find. Why not.
I found data for H-110 all over the place; both physically, and in charge weight. I had always heard that H-110 likes the higher pressure range, so I ignored the 11 grain start point I found in some places.
Using PMC brass, and CCI 550 (SPM) primers, I loaded up some rounds. A few each with 14, 14.5, and 15 grains. I took the Ruger 6.5" Blackhawk (1978 manufacture) out behind the barn, and fired a few. Rested, at 50'.
Here's what happened.
14.0 gr, 12 shots. Remember, this is rested, on a pretty rickety bench, but rested. At 50'.
202406
Ahem.
Yes, well. I could barely keep them on an 8.5 x 11 paper. Oh my.
I reshot it, same load with different lube, with pretty much the same results. Now, I'm not the best shot in the world, but I'm better then that. At least, I thought I was.
I actually took my spectacles off, and looked to see if they were smeared or some-such. They weren't, but I cleaned them anyway.
Let's try this again.
14.5 Gr H-110. Otherwise, same setup. 6 rounds
202408
This is starting to look a bit better. I reshot it, same load, different lube. 14.5gr H-110, 6 rounds
202409
Okay, we're getting somewhere. I tried the last set I had loaded -
15.0gr H-110, the same 358156, the same 50' rested (sort of). 6 rounds.
202410
That's a 1 5/8" 6 shot group, with a new load, in a revolver I purchased 3 weeks ago.
It appears the scuttlebutt was correct. H-110 DOES like the higher pressures, at least in this revolver. As the charge weight, and pressure, went up, the groups tightened. Considerably.
Lyman Cast #4 shows a max of 15.7gr with this boolit. I think I'll load up some 15.2, 15.4, 15.6 and see how it does. I don't need a whole bunch of these loads, I'll probably load up a hundred or so when I settle on 'the' load, and that will last me a good while.
Of course, Mrs Bookworm has that H&R 357 carbine....