Joe Williams
Shooter
- Jun 26, 2008
- 10,431
- 38
Some chrono data from today's range trip for those interested, and a tidbit the chrono clued me into about our "new" Security Six. Ruger cylinders have an "S" on them next to one of the charge holes, at least most of the ones I can remember using. When chronographing or target shooting for groups, I always fire the cylinder after that "S" first. Chrono clued me in to the fact that for whatever reason, that cylinder always gives markedly lower velocities. Don't know why that would be. When it's a little warmer out, I'll take her out to benchrest some groups and see if I can notice it shooting to a markedly different point of aim. Didn't appear to be doing so to any remarkable degree while shooting offhand today.
Two .45 ACP loads, from RIA 1911. I used a trickle charger to to fine tune the powder charge for these loads, just to see if it made a difference. It does. The velocities are more consistent, and accuracy appeared to be quite nice, though today was honestly not the day to be evaluating accuracy. It takes about twice as long to charge each case, though, and using just the powder measure does OK. Still, unless I'm in a hurry I think I'll start doing this for most of my loads. I've always done it for loads I intended to carry, nice to know the extra work makes a little extra difference.
.45 ACP 230 gr FMJ, 4.6 gr Titegroup
1 = 794
2 = 793
3 = 799
4 = 806
5 = 798
Avg = 798
.45 ACP 230 gr FMJ, 5 gr Bullseye
1 = 807
2 = 830
3 = 823
4 = 834
5 = 789
Avg = 817
.357 Magnum 125gr Hornady XTP JHP, 7 gr W231. This was four spare rounds I had, so decided to chrono them. The other 36 are sitting in my gun, speed loaders, and speed strips, since it's my carry load for the time being. Something interesting to me is that these velocities are almost exactly what I got with them from a 3" SP101 and slower than from a 4" Security Six when I chrono'd them in the summer time. I'm going to develope a load around 1150-1250 fps using Titegroup. It doesn't display nearly the same kind of temperature variation. I developed this load to give me a round I could easily control in defensive situations in the little SP101. From this six inch Security Six it's like shooting +Ps. Accurate, too.
1 = 1038
2 = 1087
3 = 1078
4 = 1076
Avg = 1070
.357 Magnum 110 gr Remington SJHP, 9gr W231. This one is a reminder why you need to crossreference reloading data, and don't trust data that seems out of line with others. Most data I was looking at put about 8.8 gr as max. The Lyman Pistol & Revolver manual listed 8.9 rounds as a starting load, but loaded to an OAL of 1.590" instead of 1.540" in the other sources. The 9 grains I loaded should have, according to Lyman, been a mild load producing about 1150 fps. Not so much. Out of 50 rounds, 3 primers looked slightly flattened (though no more so than ALL the primes form the Fiochi factory ammo I was firing), one case stuck slightly, and the velocities are well above what Lyman predicted. I'm pulling the rest of the bullets I have loaded. If I'm seeing pressure warning signs at this temp with W231, I'm not about to find out what happens if I try shooting it when it warms up. It displayed some vertical stringing, also. It was quite controllable, if I can get a load with Titegroup giving close to these velocities I'll have a new carry load for this gun.
1 = 1398
2 = 1511
3 = 1476
4 = 1447
5 = 1477
6 = 1469
Avg = 1463
.38 Special 110gr Remington SJHP, 4.7 gr Titegroup
1 = 915
2 = 996
3 = 999
4 = 1025
5 =1029
6 = 1012
Avg = 996
.38 Special 158gr cast, 3.3 gr (.3cc Lee Dipper) Titegroup. I knew this load would be a winner. 3.4gr of Titegroup under a 158gr cast bullet has been my favorite target load for a while. Always produces wonderful accuracy. This was a 3.3gr load because I was using a .3 cc Lee Dipper, and that's the charge the dipper threw. As a bonus, it juuuuust makes minor power for IPSC, so I've got a heck of an accurate load for games. If I can get a load this accurate with a little more velocity, I'll use lead SWC HPs and carry it in my snubby when I pay it off. Love shooting the groups this load gives. For a new shooter, or someone who HATES noise and recoil, this is a good load if you don't have wadcutters handy. Even out of my old SP101 this was a *****cat. Out of a six inch Security Six, it's barely more than shooting a .22.
1 = 769
2 = 801
3 = 780
4 = 815
5 = 786
6 = 801
Avg = 792
A target with some of the loads, shot off hand:
Top left = .45 ACP with the Titegroup, 7 yards
Top right = .38 Special 158gr cast with Titegroup, single action, 7 yards
Bottom right = .38 Special 110 SJHP with Titegroup, double action, 7 yards
Bottom left = .357 Magnum 110gr SJHP with W231, double action, 7 yards. The bottom three rounds were "throwaway" rounds.
Center = .357 Magnum 110gr SJHP with W231. Single action, 25 yards.
Two .45 ACP loads, from RIA 1911. I used a trickle charger to to fine tune the powder charge for these loads, just to see if it made a difference. It does. The velocities are more consistent, and accuracy appeared to be quite nice, though today was honestly not the day to be evaluating accuracy. It takes about twice as long to charge each case, though, and using just the powder measure does OK. Still, unless I'm in a hurry I think I'll start doing this for most of my loads. I've always done it for loads I intended to carry, nice to know the extra work makes a little extra difference.
.45 ACP 230 gr FMJ, 4.6 gr Titegroup
1 = 794
2 = 793
3 = 799
4 = 806
5 = 798
Avg = 798
.45 ACP 230 gr FMJ, 5 gr Bullseye
1 = 807
2 = 830
3 = 823
4 = 834
5 = 789
Avg = 817
.357 Magnum 125gr Hornady XTP JHP, 7 gr W231. This was four spare rounds I had, so decided to chrono them. The other 36 are sitting in my gun, speed loaders, and speed strips, since it's my carry load for the time being. Something interesting to me is that these velocities are almost exactly what I got with them from a 3" SP101 and slower than from a 4" Security Six when I chrono'd them in the summer time. I'm going to develope a load around 1150-1250 fps using Titegroup. It doesn't display nearly the same kind of temperature variation. I developed this load to give me a round I could easily control in defensive situations in the little SP101. From this six inch Security Six it's like shooting +Ps. Accurate, too.
1 = 1038
2 = 1087
3 = 1078
4 = 1076
Avg = 1070
.357 Magnum 110 gr Remington SJHP, 9gr W231. This one is a reminder why you need to crossreference reloading data, and don't trust data that seems out of line with others. Most data I was looking at put about 8.8 gr as max. The Lyman Pistol & Revolver manual listed 8.9 rounds as a starting load, but loaded to an OAL of 1.590" instead of 1.540" in the other sources. The 9 grains I loaded should have, according to Lyman, been a mild load producing about 1150 fps. Not so much. Out of 50 rounds, 3 primers looked slightly flattened (though no more so than ALL the primes form the Fiochi factory ammo I was firing), one case stuck slightly, and the velocities are well above what Lyman predicted. I'm pulling the rest of the bullets I have loaded. If I'm seeing pressure warning signs at this temp with W231, I'm not about to find out what happens if I try shooting it when it warms up. It displayed some vertical stringing, also. It was quite controllable, if I can get a load with Titegroup giving close to these velocities I'll have a new carry load for this gun.
1 = 1398
2 = 1511
3 = 1476
4 = 1447
5 = 1477
6 = 1469
Avg = 1463
.38 Special 110gr Remington SJHP, 4.7 gr Titegroup
1 = 915
2 = 996
3 = 999
4 = 1025
5 =1029
6 = 1012
Avg = 996
.38 Special 158gr cast, 3.3 gr (.3cc Lee Dipper) Titegroup. I knew this load would be a winner. 3.4gr of Titegroup under a 158gr cast bullet has been my favorite target load for a while. Always produces wonderful accuracy. This was a 3.3gr load because I was using a .3 cc Lee Dipper, and that's the charge the dipper threw. As a bonus, it juuuuust makes minor power for IPSC, so I've got a heck of an accurate load for games. If I can get a load this accurate with a little more velocity, I'll use lead SWC HPs and carry it in my snubby when I pay it off. Love shooting the groups this load gives. For a new shooter, or someone who HATES noise and recoil, this is a good load if you don't have wadcutters handy. Even out of my old SP101 this was a *****cat. Out of a six inch Security Six, it's barely more than shooting a .22.
1 = 769
2 = 801
3 = 780
4 = 815
5 = 786
6 = 801
Avg = 792
A target with some of the loads, shot off hand:
Top left = .45 ACP with the Titegroup, 7 yards
Top right = .38 Special 158gr cast with Titegroup, single action, 7 yards
Bottom right = .38 Special 110 SJHP with Titegroup, double action, 7 yards
Bottom left = .357 Magnum 110gr SJHP with W231, double action, 7 yards. The bottom three rounds were "throwaway" rounds.
Center = .357 Magnum 110gr SJHP with W231. Single action, 25 yards.
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