Chronographing S & W M24-3 3" .44 Special

[R.C. Hatter]

Has anyone here chronographed a S & W M24-3 3" .44 Special against the same model 4" or 6-1/2" barrel versions ? I would like to know the results using #429421 or RCBS 44-250K, or even the factory 246 gr. round nose, if possible. I don't own, or have access to a chronograph now.

[Glen]

Yeah, I have chronographed a 3"M624 against a 4" and 6" using the 429421 with several different powder charges. What would you like to know?

[9.3X62AL]

I've never chrono-ed a 3" wheelgun, but dead loads of 4" vs. 6" in 38 Special and 357 Magnum. Total population of about 60 revolvers, half of each barrel length, I would say that you lose about 10% of your muzzle velocity by having 33% less barrel length to contend with. Seemed like a good bargain to me.

[Bret4207]

Ah! Sounds like another Lew Horton owner has surfaced. Welcome brother, love mine. I imagine Al is about right.

[R.C. Hatter]

For Glen - If you have a table of results for all 3 guns, I'd like to see it. Failing that,
I just want to know via actual gun tests, what a good average velocity is attainable
with 250 gr. Keith bullets in the 3" gun, as opposed to the 4"& 6-1/2" versions of the M24-3. Any help given is much appreciated.

[462]

A friend and I each have 6 1/2" 624s. In addition, he has a Lew Horton 3" 624 and I have a Lew Horton 3" 24. A few years ago, he chronographed some loads using Remington's 240 (246?) grain lead boolits along with Bullseye and 2400. I hope this is helpful.

4.5 gr. Bullseye:
6 12" avg. 744 fps
3" avg. 643 fps

16 gr. 2400:
6 1/2" avg. 1093 fps
3" avg. 964 fps

17 gr. 2400:
6 1/2" avg. 1199 fps
3" avg. 1073 fps

18 gr. 2400:
6 1/2" avg. 1320 fps
3' avg. 1168 fps

[Glen]

For what kinds of loads? I routinely shoot Keith SWCs from my 3" 24s and 624s using 10.0 grains of HS-6 for right at 900 fps. That same load will usually give me 925-950 fps from the 4" guns and ~1000 fps from longer barrels. I have specific velocity data for several other loads, but that's on an old computer that I would have to go dig out and fire up...

Addendum:
.44 Special loads for large framed revolvers
All with the Lyman 429421 Keith SWC
Load ______________3" velocity___4 5/8" velocity_____6" velocity
8.0 gr Universal Clays___900_______948______________963
10.0 gr Win 540_______882_______984______________1006
12.0 gr HS-7__________897_______981______________995
12.0 AA #7___________865_______935______________959
15.5 AA #9___________872_______980______________975
17.0 H110____________906_______1025_____________1049

[NoDakJak]

My Lew Horton special is the Astra Terminator. It is an N sized frame with round grips and a 2 3/4 inch barrel and chambered for 44 Magnum. My present load is 8.0 grains of PB behind a 245 grain Taurus lead boolit in 44 special cases. I have not chronographed this load yet but believe that it should be somewhere 850 and 900 fps. My most used load however uses the Speer shot capsule filled with # 7 1/2 shot and backed with a dose of Unique. I have shot many rattlesnakes with that load with perfect satisfaction. I also took one half grown coyote with that shot load as he ran past the tractor. I realize that this doesn't answer the question but by golly I got my two cents worth in about an unusual Lew Horton Special. Neil

[MtGun44]

Just to point out that HS-6 and Win 540 are the same powder, which might be
confusing from Glen's data - he mentions HS-6 and showed Win 540 in the
table, which many know is the same stuff, but many more do not.

OH, and HS-7 is Win 571, too - in case somebody wants to dupe that load and
doesn't have the correct label on the can. ;-)

Bill

[9.3X62AL]

I am quite surprised to see how close in velocity Glen's results were between the 4-5/8" and 6" barrels. That 1-3/8" of barrel doesn't give a whole lot more oomph, does it?

[Bret4207]

I am quite surprised to see how close in velocity Glen's results were between the 4-5/8" and 6" barrels. That 1-3/8" of barrel doesn't give a whole lot more oomph, does it?

I was surprised overall at the closeness of the 3" to the 6". 100 fps doesn't really mean much in field. Sweet!

[S.R.Custom]

No one's mentioned it to this point, but barrel gap plays a front & center role in these comparisons. A comparison between my 3" S&W 386 and my buddy's 6" Colt Python, shot with an identical load (125 gr Speer JSP over 8.4 gr 4756):

3" S&W 386:
Mean velocity-- 1168 fps, SD-- 13 fps, barrel gap-- .003"

6" Python:
Mean velocity-- 1177 fps, SD-- 89 fps, barrel gap-- .007"

On the other hand, I have 2 Ruger Super Blackhawks, tuned identically (.005" barrel gap, throats .432"), with one having a 7.5" barrel, and the other having a 9" barrel. The load was 9.2 grs of Herco under a cast 255 gr Keith bullet sized .435". Velocities are more in line with what you'd expect for the difference in barrel lengths:

7.5" SBH:
Mean velocity: 1063 fps, SD-- 10 fps

9" SBH:
Mean velocity: 1161--fps, SD-- 16 fps

[wallenba]

MtGUN44, I'll take your word for it, but how does one find that out about the powder equivalents? Is there an industry interchange chart or standard somewhere. I would like to have that info myself.

[MtGun44]

First off, I have friends at Hodgdon, the HQ is here in town. Second, go to Hodgdon's site
and do a load search with HS6/W540 and HS7/W571, H110/W296, W760/H414 and you will
see that now that Hodgdon handles both Hodgdon and Win powders, the data is identical.

The differences seen in the past were lot to lot and gun to gun variations only.

I know of no offical chart with this info. Neat T-34 in your avatar. Is it yours?

Bill

[wallenba]

MTGun44, I wish, but no. That's an old picture when the flying club had it in their stable. It was real hard to log time in, as everone was on the list. It had the most maintenance too, so that cut in to time. And it was not, and I am not IFR rated, so if you were up, and it was below minimums you lost out. I have not flown now for two years due to a health problem that might ground me permanent too. We'll see.

[MtGun44]

I'm temporarily without a medical, too. I plan on getting it reinstated
but that will take some doing after a stent. 100% now, no physical
restrictions. I just climbed a 13, 626 ft mtn in Colorado on the 4th,
pretty tough going, very steep 4th class.

Hope you get your medical back.

Bill