best handgun powder

chambered221 · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

I really hope your just acting your age and being forgetful !!!

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Let's see here...There's the .17, .22 hornet .218 bee, .222 Rem, .22 PPC, .222Rem mag, .223Rem .220 Swift, 6 mm PPC. Noo. Nope. Don't see it. Confused

Wait a minute. Aah here it is. .221 Fireball. Is that anything like the Dodge Fireball V-8? Very Happy

chambered221 · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:33 am Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Gee Bushy you got short changed on that re-loading manual !!!

Your missing .22BR, 225 Win, 22-250, and .223 WSSM, mine even has 5.56 NATO data. Shocked

And just in case you didn't know the .204 now comes before the Hornet !!! Laughing

Did you know they even make a .17 Fireball these days ???
It's absolutely amazing what they've done with the 221..........the 20 Var-Targ and 300 Whisper are a few others. Very Happy

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:38 am Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Yes. I could have listed a whole lot more. In fact you have missed a few yourself.

It would seem that you missed the point ["It's absolutely amazing what they've done with the 221...."]. All of these are based on the lowly .22.

chambered221 · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:44 am Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Yes I did........but I'd have to dig out one of my antique re-loading manuals for stuff like the Donaldson or the Zipper !!!

Top of the morning to ya !!! Howdy

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 9:47 am Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

My Sierra Vth edition (far from being antique) lists both the Donaldson and the Zipper.

Top of the morning to you too. Yer in luck. I've had two of my three cups of coffee.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Ok, day off today (snow)
I loaded up 17.5 grains 300 mp under 158 grain hornady jhp with a cci small pistol primer.
Gun: Astra 357 mag 6 inch barrel.
Shot 1: 1,175 fps
Shot 2: 1,149 fps
Shot 3: 1,110 fps
Shot 4: 1,150 fps
Shot 5: 1,289 fps
Shot 6: 1,291 fps
Shot 7: 1,275 fps
Shot 8: 1,280 fps
Shot 9: 1270 fps
Shot 10: 1295 fps
Average: 1,228 fps
Extreme spread: 185 fps

Temp outside was 27 degrees F
all loads were 10% below max listed for 357 cal according to their website and pdf download and the one part that puzzles me is the first 4 shots were slower then the last 6? I did load up only 10 rounds of this powder just for testing and weighed each powder charge before going into the case. I always used 2400 powder with this round and even loading 10% below max, it looks promising. I will in the next week or 2 work up the loads to find a happy medium and will bring camera along and post results. Also, any input on why the first 4 shots were low in fps? I did a light crimp on all the rounds with 1.590" oal for this bullet.

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Cylinder and chambers warming up...

chambered221 · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

+1, I suggest warming the gun up first when shooting in cold weather !!!

Powder position and crimp are others that can lead to large ES's in handguns.

PaulS · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:17 am Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

15% in extreme spread with 10 shots in cold weather doesn't seem excessive and the temps were more or less from low when cold to high when warm....

Ominivision1 · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:25 am Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

I think I'll wait a few weeks before heading out again, as I'm typing this its 6 degrees outside. And next time I'll fire a few rounds to warm the gun up before taking data notes. One thing I forgot to mention in the above post was that when using 2400 powder with this caliber there was considerable flashing, but with 300mp the flashing was way less but did notice more recoil than with 2400.

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:49 am Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

And it's 4* here.

You think 2400 has a "flash" in the day light. Try it at night...

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:20 am Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Many years ago I was driving home late one night and saw a cat lying in the road, still alive. Its back had been broken. I dragged it off onto the shoulder and put it out of its misery with my 4" .357 Mag revolver. Then I stood there for quite a while until I could see enough to get back in the car...

tcknight · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

Many years ago I was driving home late one night and saw a cat lying in the road, still alive. Its back had been broken. I dragged it off onto the shoulder and put it out of its misery with my 4" .357 Mag revolver. Then I stood there for quite a while until I could see enough to get back in the car...

I know it was sad punkin but ya didn't have to cry. Poke

OH...ya mean the FLASH...

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: best handgun powder

Go get'em, tcknight. Go get'em...