S&W M69 @ 50yds

[BigboreShooter]

A few months ago I posted some data from test results on my new 69 @ 25yds.

Well here's little data from 50yd testing.

S&W M-69 4.25" barrel
Vortex Venom 3moa red dot ,Alchin mount.

1- RCBS 250K -.4305"/8grs-Unique/CCI-300-----4.25"
2- Arsenal 429-421 GC version .4305"/9.5grs Unique/ CCI-300----3.22"
3- Lyman 429-215 GC 430.5/10grs Unique/CCI-350----1.285"
4- Same as #3 2.32"

I was so impressed and surprised at the Lyman 429-215 load, I had to shoot another group.
But over the years the Lyman 429-215 has been the most accurate cast bullet.

Bigbore Shooter

[Blazin]

Impressive to say the least!

[Outpost75]

How many shots per group? Single target or is this an average, if so of how many groups?

[Three44s]

Very impressive indeed!

Rather than go to 10 gr of Unique I like to trade up to HS6. At 11.8 gr, a Federal 155 primer, and the RCBS 250k my 629 MG sings sweet music. I get a SD of just 7 FPS out of it.

I think I have a non-gas check version of that mold in a Lyman but I would have to go to another mold # that I have to get a checked boolit to try.

Three44s

[BigboreShooter]

Groups were 5 shots.Off sandbags.I will test more loads further and some over the chronograph.
BigboreShooter

[pworley1]

Very good!

[243winxb]

Nice shooting.

May I ask what was used?

Primer,

brass,

bullet lube,

Fl dies, (how sized, neck or full body, ).

Bullet diameter as cast dropped from the mold,

alloys BHN,

Expander type M & diameter?

Is the Unique hand weighed? I have had good accuracy with Unique in my 44.

Thank you.

[BigboreShooter]

All bullets were sized to.4305”
Bens Red homemade lube
BHN was 15-16
All brass was full length sized in OLD Lee die
Brass was assorted brands, but each load was all the same brand

[GL49]

Impressive.

Is the Vortex sight somewhat of a fix for older eyes? My eyes seem to be aging faster than the rest of me, I'm having a hard time with open sights on rifles and handguns. Mostly with rifles.

I'm guessing no gas check, just sized? I'm going to have to try your load in my model 29's and my Rugers. All my brass is sorted by headstamp and # of times fired, but I'd bet the difference there is going to be about zero.

[Thumbcocker]

Thanks for sharing. I have been very pleased with Ben's red as well.

[Outpost75]

Groups were 5 shots.Off sandbags.I will test more loads further and some over the chronograph.
BigboreShooter

Looking forward to updates. Nice work!

[Buck Shot]

1.285"

Wow!

[BigboreShooter]

GL49-yes! The red dot is compensate for my 66 year old eyes. I was trying to test the load/gun,taking as many human variables out of it. This especially true with 4” barrel.
With the red dot mounted, it becomes a viable hunting gun .

BigboreShooter

[tward]

Nice shootin’, Tim

[Shuz]

I noticed that you used a CCI 350mag primer with your 10g Unique load. It would be interesting to see if the groups were as good if you used CCI 300 primers.

[BigboreShooter]

Shuz,
I tried CCI350 on 10gr/Unique load because I have almost 5m of them.Knowing 10grs wasn’t a max load.This way saving my CCI300 for target/practice loads.

BigboreShooter

[Paul105]

Good shootin'! The M69 is my favorite double action handgun platform. Have a pair and a spare of each barrel length (first one bought Q1 2014). Best group was with my original 2.75" - right at 2" at 50 yds, verified on a different day. Benched over range bag with factory sights. New Top Brass (scharch), 260gr WFNGC .432" Mt Bullet Works, Fed 155, 23.0gr H110, seated to and crimped in cr grove (1,125 fps at 5 paces and 68 deg F). Had a picture but inadvertently deleted entire portfolio on Image Event.

Great little guns. Was out shooting a 2.75" yesterday. Two loads with 240gr CSWCBB commercial coated, deep seated and crimped over front dr band (5.0gr WST and 17.5gr A2400) cci std primers, multi x mixed brass. Just shooting steel - poppers at 25 to 100 yds.

Big fan of the M69s (oh, already mentioned that).

Paul

[Catshooter]

" Have a pair and a spare of each barrel length."

Very smart thing to do.

[BigboreShooter]

A little more testing.
got a chance to shoot a few more groups. I refired the Lyman 429-215GC/10gr Unique load. The 200gr Saeco/7gr-W231 is my everyday practice load for my 44's.

1. Lyman 429-215GC/ 10grs /Unigue/CCI350

Group 1- 1.70" Group 2- 1.22"

2. Saeco 200gr T/C/7grs/W231/CCI300

Group 1- 2.88" Group 2- 2.50"

3. Lyman 429-421/8grs/Unique/CCI300

Group 1-3.47" Group 2- 1.91"

Again, all groups @50yds, over sandbags.With Vortex Venom red dot.
All bullets sized .4305"

Bigbore Shooter

[DougGuy]

All bullets were sized to.4305”

I'm curious as to throat diameter now, will the .4305" slip through the throats?