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February 21, 2011
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I was messing about working up a load (early stages) for a bunch of bullets I "inherited".
Al were for .357 or .38 bores & cases were all .38 Spl.
Some were cast (& lubed) lead, others were either FMJ or semi-jacketed FPs.
When I ran the chrono numbers I discovered all the cast lubed loads had substantially wider velocity variations (E.S.) & so higher SD's than all the the FMJ or semi Jacketed rounds!
Apart from types of bullets all my loading steps were identical.
Is this normal or am I missing something.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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If you just loaded the bullets and didn't do any load development, the wide SD and ES spreads could be that you're just not in a good node for that particular gun-cartridge combination. Additionally, loading lead with a crimp could affecting the spreads as well. That's why I quit crimping my rifle loads and just went to slip fit (neck tension). I wouldn't worry about it if it's performing well at its intended job, be it target shooting, hunting, or plinking. The groups will tell you more than the chrony will at pistol ranges.
Personally, I don't bother with a chronograph for handguns unless it's one that I plan to use over 100 yards. That's when crappy velocities will start to show. With a rifle, the vertical stringing isn't a big deal until you get into distances over 300 yards. A 1-1/2" group is still ok for hunting at 300. Target shooting is another story. All that said, I still feel ya- everyone who handloads wants the best ammunition they can produce with the tools they have.
Good Shoot'n!
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
February 21, 2011
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It was a first run of new powders so I went with middle of the road loads for all. averaged several sets of reloading data then split the difference for the HIGH & low & averaged them all.
Mostly they're just plinking loads to consume some odd (to me) random cast lead I was given & a bunch of .38Spl I never intended to have anyway.
I just found it odd that the cast varied way more then the jackets across the board.
Just ignore the first 2 columns that was a different test at the same time.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Those are all over the place- you're right to question the velocities. It's probably a combination of things. Now I have another thing to test. Like I said- I don't run my pistol loads over a chrony... now maybe I will just to see.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
February 21, 2011
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I only do it when working up a load from scratch, & then just to to check for things like excessively higher, or lower than the manual's suggestions or wild variations.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
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