44 Big Boy, light handloads 8-17-16

[Squatch]

Hack and I got a chance to hit the range today. I haven't been in a month! Nice weather but hot. I was wearing different glasses today and felt like I was seeing well. No chrono today that is earlier data from same loads. Just there to shoot. I let the barrel cool a little between groups as it was hot out.

Henry Brass Big Boy with Skinner rear peep and Lyman 17a front globe sight. Forearm on my hand which rested on sandbags on the bench.

I decided to shoot up the rest of the light handloads I had made up and chrono'd before. I had 15 or 20 of each of 4 different loads.

All are the same combo with different powder weights. Starline 44 mag case. Berry's 240gr RNFP copper plated. All are very light, Low recoil loads.

7gr Unique=891 fps
7.5gr Unique=981 fps
8.0gr Unique=1,023 fps
8.5gr Unique=1,085 fps

I did no adjusting of sights and all rounds were shot at 50 yds except one group. Notice how each step up of 1/2 gr powder drops the POI.

No target for the 7gr Unique. These were shot on a defensive silhouette target that was dark and hard to center in with my target sights.

7.5gr Unique.


8.0gr Unique.


8.5gr Unique.


Another group of 8.5gr Unique on a different target.


And a couple of fun shots of 8.0gr Unique at 100yds. I also shot a couple of rounds of 8,5gr but they shot off the bottom of the target.


The idea today was to maybe find a clear winner of these so that I could make up a couple hundred of them. But the reality is they all shoot respectable for very light 44 mag loads. No obvious standouts to me.

[Squatch]

I thought I'd add one more. While we were at the range I took my Springfield XDS 45 to the pistol range. I bought this a while back put a few hundred rounds through it and then returned it for the recall. They had it several months and when it came back the trigger was down right wretched. It got sent back again to get fixed. It came back better but not as good as when I bought it. I've put a couple of hundred rounds through it but not really enough to loosen it up since then. I haven't shot it in over a year. This is the tiny little 3" 45ACP. Not bad for what it is but it is snappy. I was shooting Winchester White box 230gr factory hardball. I ran 100 rds through it. This target was out at 17 yds which is double normal defensive shooting range. But as long as the range is for pistols here. Bottom line is I don't think the target survived the fusillade.



Small target. What you see fit on my 8.5"x11" scanner.

[JEBar]

the stronger the powder charge, the lower the impact point at 50 and 100 yards .... I'm having trouble figuring that out

[White Squirrel]

Squatch, that target with your XDs .45 at 17 yards looks better than me shooting mine at 8 yards! I like the gun, but I just don't shoot it very well.

I know what you mean about the trigger. I have been thinking about putting in one of the Powder River trigger kits. Most folks say that really helps. I'm not much of a gunsmith, but on the other hand, how bad can I mess it up? And for about $70, if it helps it would be worth it. That might be my winter project when it is too cold to go out and shoot.

[Steve]

the stronger the powder charge, the lower the impact point at 50 and 100 yards .... I'm having trouble figuring that out

The barrel is actually recoiling before the bullet leaves the barrel. If your shoulder pressure is the same each group, the faster the bullet the sooner in the recoil arc the bullet leaves the barrel. That is why the faster bullet shoots lower.

[JEBar]

interesting .... my rifle experience has been with ones firing much faster rounds that the 44 ... the 180 gr Nosler bullets that we fire from our 300 WBY have a muzzle velocity of over 3,100 fps .... out of a Ruger Redhawk with 7.5" barrel our 44 Mag 240 gr bullets have a muzzle velocity in the 1,300 fps category .... bullets from both exit the barrel quickly, I'd never considered they could be in the barrel long enough to be influenced by barrel jump

[Squatch]

Squatch, that target with your XDs .45 at 17 yards looks better than me shooting mine at 8 yards! I like the gun, but I just don't shoot it very well.

I know what you mean about the trigger. I have been thinking about putting in one of the Powder River trigger kits. Most folks say that really helps. I'm not much of a gunsmith, but on the other hand, how bad can I mess it up? And for about $70, if it helps it would be worth it. That might be my winter project when it is too cold to go out and shoot.

Let me give you a thought. I can't carry here but lets face it the XDS is a carry gun. I read a while back that someone said don't work on your carry gun yourself. Heaven forbid you actually have to use it in anger it will end up in court. That can be held against you by unscrupulous lawyers. "He worked on this in his basement to give it a hair trigger. He was just looking for someone to use it on!" You get the idea.
I have considered doing some work on mine but I think in this case I'll pay a gunsmith to do it. There are a couple of shops that specialize in them.

But 1st I need to keep throwing lead with it and see if it settles down.

[Squatch]

Bullet weight and power both play a roll in where the bullet impacts. You would think that a hot 44 mag would fly a bit and land higher than a similar but slower 44 Special. But it doesn't work that way. I do believe what was stated above about recoil is part of it. But I think there is more to it than that but not sure what.

[DWD445]

Also the spin of the bullet can change with power. I'm just getting started reloading, so all very interesting to me.
Generally higher loads give more spin and accuracy, I've been told.
H012S a few weeks ago.
This is my second time out, set elevation first time and shot 10rds at 50' w/Sellier & Bellot 240gn JSP. Pulled 1 standing and about 4 were at rest.

[White Squirrel]

Squatch, that target with your XDs .45 at 17 yards looks better than me shooting mine at 8 yards! I like the gun, but I just don't shoot it very well.

I know what you mean about the trigger. I have been thinking about putting in one of the Powder River trigger kits. Most folks say that really helps. I'm not much of a gunsmith, but on the other hand, how bad can I mess it up? And for about $70, if it helps it would be worth it. That might be my winter project when it is too cold to go out and shoot.

Let me give you a thought. I can't carry here but lets face it the XDS is a carry gun. I read a while back that someone said don't work on your carry gun yourself. Heaven forbid you actually have to use it in anger it will end up in court. That can be held against you by unscrupulous lawyers. "He worked on this in his basement to give it a hair trigger. He was just looking for someone to use it on!" You get the idea.
I have considered doing some work on mine but I think in this case I'll pay a gunsmith to do it. There are a couple of shops that specialize in them.

But 1st I need to keep throwing lead with it and see if it settles down.

I seldom carry the XDs anymore because of my inability to shoot it well.

I recently picked up a Sig P250sc .40 S&W and then got a .357 Sig barrel for it. I absolutely love both the .40 S&W and .357 Sig and shoot them both a lot better than I did the XDs .45. I just shoot the XDs .45 now for a change of pace. Still can't hit anything with it. Might give it to my son-in-law anyway. He shoots it better than I do, which proves it is the shooter and not the firearm.

[RanchRoper]

Nice shooting! Great detailed report. Thanks.

[Hack]

No target for the 7gr Unique. These were shot on a defensive silhouette target that was dark and hard to center in with my target sights.

That is because you were yapping when the range went cold and I had to hang the only targets that I had for you. And what thanks did I get . . . complaints that the black silhouettes were hard to see in your sights.