Help me pick apart my test results.

Finally trying out the 358156.

Started out loaded checkless over 3.5gr Bullseye in .38 crimped in the upper groove out of my 4 inch M&P:
Avg: 761
Hi: 774
Lo: 747
ES: 27
SD: 10
6 shots: 774, 752, 773, 760, 760, 747

Same loading, but crimped in the lower groove out of the same gun:
Avg: 732
Hi: 758
Lo: 705
ES: 53
SD: 17
6 shots: 758, 723, 737, 741, 731, 705

The short rounds were slightly more accurate of course due to the lower SD but I think that was just luck of the draw. Later not over the chrono in double action I was getting better accuracy out of the long ones. Thinking of stepping up to 3.8gr of Bullseye and going with that.

Next up was with check over 14.5gr WW 296 in the magnum out of my 2.5 inch 66:
Avg: 974
Hi: 1005
Lo: 944
ES: 61
SD: 16
18 shots: 960, 975, 989, 987, 956, 958, 984, 955, 944, 991, 972, 970, 1005, 983, 985, 990, 971, 964

My ultimate goal is to have it hollowpointed for building defensive ammo when factory stuff becomes too expensive (lemme adjust my tinfoil hat). I wanted to go with 15gr 296 but with my Lee Auto Disk only lets me pick between 14.5 and 15.6 out of the next chamber up. Looking at the fired cases I think I can get away with 15.6. These were sufficiently accurate and I think the extra velocity will get them hitting closer to my chosen factory self-defense load.

Last over the chrono was 6 of the long seated .38s out of the 66:
Avg: 653
Hi: 677
Lo: 636
ES: 41
SD: 15
6 shots: 677, 665, 643, 644, 636, 657

These were pleasingly accurate. There's a range here that does steel challenge and they won't allow use of magnums. I'm thinking bumped up to the 3.8 loading of Bullseye this might be just the ticket for getting into that game. The long seating keeps the chambers from getting as dirty. Thing is if I have this one hollowpointed then I'll probably need to get another 358156 to make volume for shooting steel.

The best thing of all about this session is everything was sized .358 and I have no leading at all in the 66 and one spot in one throat of the M&P. Just a quick wipe of Hoppe's and the bores will be shiny. I will have to break out a brush for the chambers. A bit of carbon build up there.

What's to pick apart? Good results, expected behavior when decreasing combustion chamber
volume. ES with the 296 load a bit on the high side, but so what if it is accurate and hits
POA? You did not mention accy and POI vs POA issues with the hot load.

Seems things are right in your part of the world.

Bill

No red flags with the planned increase in powder charges?

Wasn't sure if the velocities were in or out of expected specs.

I agree with MtGun44 these are the expected results from these guns with these powders and the boolit design.

I will add that the muzzle flash on that 2.5 inch 66 was pretty good with the 296 loads. HP'ing that 358156 will lighten it which will, in turn, increase the velocity a bit most likely getting you right into 1000 FPS with that same powder charge of 296.

BUmping up to a higher powder charge my not net you an appreciable velocity increase but it will really give you more flash! Suggest you live with 14.5 of 296.

Not a fan of the 358156 in particular or 158/160 grain boolits in the 38 /357 for that matter.

If you HP a 358477 you'll get a boolit that weighs around 140 and will hit 1100 with the 296 powder charge your using but thats just food for thought.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HeavyMetal

Not a fan of the 358156 in particular or 158/160 grain boolits in the 38 /357 for that matter.

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I've been a 125gr guy for years but those are harder on the 66 than the 158s.

My other .357 (until I pick up a 28-2 on hold until my tax return gets here) is a SP101 and I recently put a Meprolight night sight on it. 125s are a bit low with that sight and it's on with 158s.

Edit to add: the flash was not that bad. I didn't notice it shooting in our overcast conditions today.

A bit of candle wax in the Lee disks will allow you to tailor the powder charge. Be sure to mark that cavity 'cuz after powder goes thru it the graphite turns the candle wax the same color as the rest of the disk.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leadman

A bit of candle wax in the Lee disks will allow you to tailor the powder charge. Be sure to mark that cavity 'cuz after powder goes thru it the graphite turns the candle wax the same color as the rest of the disk.

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Don't know why I hadn't thought of modifying a disk I have 5 sets of them so customizing is certainly an option