ShrinkMD
01-15-2010, 08:57 PM
ABSTRACT:
I managed to get to the range the other day to test my loads, as well as some factory. I was surprised by the velocity, as they were coming out hotter than Lyman predicted. AND it was around 38 to 40 degrees out. So here is the data. I also included the A3 from the chrony, which is the average of the three highest velocities which is useful for maintaining safety, as well as avoiding dragging the average down due to the occasional flyer. The hottest load was the most accurate, with the best numbers as well. But was it "too hot"?
METHODS:
Anyway, here is the info, all shot out of my 4006TSW, measured over CED Millennium 2 chrony, regular light (no infrared for me, yet), N=50. Bullets are Dardascastbullets.com, cases are Federal NT once fired from tjconevera.com, Federal SP primers, Alliant Power Pistol, made on Hornady LNL AP.
DATA:
Wolf 180gr FMJ
High: 902.4
Low: 845
E.S.: 57.4
Ave.: 877.7 A3 898.3
S.D.: 10.7
95%: 3.1
Aguila 180gr FMJ
High: 1068
Low: 981.2
E.S.: 86.8
Ave.: 1030.9 A3 1061
S.D.: 21.5
95%: 6.2
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 5.8 gr 1.125"
High: 962.5
Low: 831.4
E.S.: 131.1
Ave.: 937.6 A3 959.5
S.D.: 21.7
95%: 6.5
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.0 gr 1.125"
High: 991.3
Low: 953.7
E.S.: 37.6
Ave.: 973.3 A3 990
S.D.: 8.5
95%: 2.5
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.1 gr 1.125"
High: 1005
Low: 926.5
E.S.: 78.5
Ave.: 984.9 A3 1004
S.D.: 14.3
95%: 4.1
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.2 gr 1.125"
High: 1023
Low: 970.6
E.S.: 52.4
Ave.: 995.6 A3 1015
S.D.: 9.7
95%: 2.8
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.3 gr 1.125"
High: 1020
Low: 981.5
E.S.: 38.5
Ave.: 1007.3 A3 1019
S.D.: 7.8
95%: 2.3
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.4 gr 1.125"
High: 1026
Low: 996.1
E.S.: 29.9
Ave.: 1015.9 A3 1025
S.D.: 6.9
95%: 2
DISCUSSION:
Wolf is pretty wimpy for 40 S&W, eh? Aguila was plenty hot. I was expecting my initial load to be around 873 per Lyman 49th ed, but look how fast they were. Each 0.1 gr of Power Pistol bumped the average by about 10 fps (I skipped between 5.8 and 6.0, oh well, but the numbers still work) I felt a little nervous shooting the last box, as they were almost as hot as the Aguila factory. I have not cleaned or resized the brass yet, but I don't see any obvious bulges or smiley face problems (and 4006TSW chamber appears to have full support)
The pistol worked flawlessly, besides one dud primer (I hit it several times, no go...I though that only rimfires had duds!) and one time when it didn't go completely into battery, and needed a slight shove to lock up. Some of the my reloads had a some bullet lube smeared on them, so I'm assuming this was the problem) I was happy, since this pistol had some "slide stop early" issues which S&W took care of (replaced slide stop), but it seems to be running nicely now. Especially with all brand new Wolff recoil, fp, and magazine springs.
So, what should I do to about the velocity? Should I try seating the rounds a little longer? I wonder if the Federal NT cases have less volume, or are Federal SP primers hotter? Lyman says 4" test barrel, and the 4006TSW is a 4". When cooking up to make major power factor, it looks like the 6.0 gr load would be fine, right?
Sorry for the long post, but I hope the data is interesting and useful to others.
I managed to get to the range the other day to test my loads, as well as some factory. I was surprised by the velocity, as they were coming out hotter than Lyman predicted. AND it was around 38 to 40 degrees out. So here is the data. I also included the A3 from the chrony, which is the average of the three highest velocities which is useful for maintaining safety, as well as avoiding dragging the average down due to the occasional flyer. The hottest load was the most accurate, with the best numbers as well. But was it "too hot"?
METHODS:
Anyway, here is the info, all shot out of my 4006TSW, measured over CED Millennium 2 chrony, regular light (no infrared for me, yet), N=50. Bullets are Dardascastbullets.com, cases are Federal NT once fired from tjconevera.com, Federal SP primers, Alliant Power Pistol, made on Hornady LNL AP.
DATA:
Wolf 180gr FMJ
High: 902.4
Low: 845
E.S.: 57.4
Ave.: 877.7 A3 898.3
S.D.: 10.7
95%: 3.1
Aguila 180gr FMJ
High: 1068
Low: 981.2
E.S.: 86.8
Ave.: 1030.9 A3 1061
S.D.: 21.5
95%: 6.2
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 5.8 gr 1.125"
High: 962.5
Low: 831.4
E.S.: 131.1
Ave.: 937.6 A3 959.5
S.D.: 21.7
95%: 6.5
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.0 gr 1.125"
High: 991.3
Low: 953.7
E.S.: 37.6
Ave.: 973.3 A3 990
S.D.: 8.5
95%: 2.5
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.1 gr 1.125"
High: 1005
Low: 926.5
E.S.: 78.5
Ave.: 984.9 A3 1004
S.D.: 14.3
95%: 4.1
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.2 gr 1.125"
High: 1023
Low: 970.6
E.S.: 52.4
Ave.: 995.6 A3 1015
S.D.: 9.7
95%: 2.8
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.3 gr 1.125"
High: 1020
Low: 981.5
E.S.: 38.5
Ave.: 1007.3 A3 1019
S.D.: 7.8
95%: 2.3
Federal NT 180 gr LFP Federal SP Power Pistol 6.4 gr 1.125"
High: 1026
Low: 996.1
E.S.: 29.9
Ave.: 1015.9 A3 1025
S.D.: 6.9
95%: 2
DISCUSSION:
Wolf is pretty wimpy for 40 S&W, eh? Aguila was plenty hot. I was expecting my initial load to be around 873 per Lyman 49th ed, but look how fast they were. Each 0.1 gr of Power Pistol bumped the average by about 10 fps (I skipped between 5.8 and 6.0, oh well, but the numbers still work) I felt a little nervous shooting the last box, as they were almost as hot as the Aguila factory. I have not cleaned or resized the brass yet, but I don't see any obvious bulges or smiley face problems (and 4006TSW chamber appears to have full support)
The pistol worked flawlessly, besides one dud primer (I hit it several times, no go...I though that only rimfires had duds!) and one time when it didn't go completely into battery, and needed a slight shove to lock up. Some of the my reloads had a some bullet lube smeared on them, so I'm assuming this was the problem) I was happy, since this pistol had some "slide stop early" issues which S&W took care of (replaced slide stop), but it seems to be running nicely now. Especially with all brand new Wolff recoil, fp, and magazine springs.
So, what should I do to about the velocity? Should I try seating the rounds a little longer? I wonder if the Federal NT cases have less volume, or are Federal SP primers hotter? Lyman says 4" test barrel, and the 4006TSW is a 4". When cooking up to make major power factor, it looks like the 6.0 gr load would be fine, right?
Sorry for the long post, but I hope the data is interesting and useful to others.