DR Ammo that works

Those of you here that know me and that have seen my previous posts know I like toying around with revolvers.
I love the Distinguished Revolver matches, and I’ve really enjoyed working up a load for my gun. I’ve noticed that there are a lot of theories and beliefs or stereotypes for DR equipment and ammunition. So I’m going to throw this info out there just for people to read and draw their own conclusions. These are 10 shots fired from a sand bag and the top of my pistol box, through a chronograph at a target placed at 50 yards. Enjoy! 

Gun: S&W Model 14-3
Ammunition:
Hand loads,
2.8 grains of Hodgdon Titegroup,
Federal Small Pistol Primers,
Federal Wadcutter Match Brass Once Fired,
158 grain Cast Lead Round Nose Bullet pushed through a Lee .357” sizing die after being tumble lubed in Lee Liquid Allox,
Lead used was wheel weights, 
Mold used was a Lee 6-Cavity Aluminum Mold (tumble lube design of bullet)

Unless there's been a rule change NRA-PPC Distinguished Revolver/Semi-auto requires factory ammo! 

In trying to work up a hand load for practice I never was able to duplicate the Winchester Ranger 158 grain LRN in terms of accuracy. 

Smiles,

jjfitch wrote:Unless there's been a rule change NRA-PPC Distinguished Revolver/Semi-auto requires factory ammo! 

In trying to work up a hand load for practice I never was able to duplicate the Winchester Ranger 158 grain LRN in terms of accuracy. 

Smiles,

I’ve been shooting NRA Distinguished Revolver matches - bullseye type, not PPC - since 2017/2018.. the rule since I’ve started these matches was simply that the shooter had to use ammunition that used a 158 grain LRN or SWC bullet. Can be reloads, or factory but no requirement of either. Just the bullet weight and profile. My ammunition is legal.

jjfitch wrote:Unless there's been a rule change NRA-PPC Distinguished Revolver/Semi-auto requires factory ammo! 

In trying to work up a hand load for practice I never was able to duplicate the Winchester Ranger 158 grain LRN in terms of accuracy. 

Smiles,

Not shooting PPC. They play with their own set of rules. They also don't like BE shooters and do everything they can from letting them/us shoot their matches. I'm former Army MP and they won't let me shoot the matches in So Calif.
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:

jjfitch wrote:Unless there's been a rule change NRA-PPC Distinguished Revolver/Semi-auto requires factory ammo! 

In trying to work up a hand load for practice I never was able to duplicate the Winchester Ranger 158 grain LRN in terms of accuracy. 

Smiles,

Not shooting PPC. They play with their own set of rules. They also don't like BE shooters and do everything they can from letting them/us shoot their matches. I'm former Army MP and they won't let me shoot the matches in So Calif.
Jon

That's an interesting contemporary account. I have never shot PPC and I recently looked up the rules and it looked like I was not qualified to even participate.

That's a bummer, because the course of fire sounds fun.

Back in the '80s (and probably prior), Canton McKinley held a big PPC match annually. We had the barricades and everything. I'm not sure what happened to that - it died out about the time I reached my teenage years, if not before.

Apologies to Jason:

You were clearly talking about NRA Distinguished Revolver. It looks like you have found a good load for that, and thanks for sharing the recipe.

Jon Eulette and I took this thread on a side road down Memory Lane, and then a hard right onto Current Gripes Avenue.

We now return you to your regularly-scheduled programming.

Since we're back on the program. Here are a couple of my finds. A decent group out of my experiments and a factory load better than most. Please forgive the picture orientation. This tablet hates me.

as an aside, the NRA does include the PPC of fire in their Action Pistol program.
it is the Civilian 1500. uses the same rules and format.
Canton-McKinley held a large NRA Police Revolver Sectional match when  I shot in the mid 70's. 
great trophys were awarded!

One year at Perry, I was scoring Ed Masaki and he was using Fiocchi 158 LRN factory ammo.

I’d love to see velocities of different shooters choices for DR ammo.

Tim:H11 wrote:

jjfitch wrote:Unless there's been a rule change NRA-PPC Distinguished Revolver/Semi-auto requires factory ammo! 

In trying to work up a hand load for practice I never was able to duplicate the Winchester Ranger 158 grain LRN in terms of accuracy. 

Smiles,

I’ve been shooting NRA Distinguished Revolver matches - bullseye type, not PPC - since 2017/2018.. the rule since I’ve started these matches was simply that the shooter had to use ammunition that used a 158 grain LRN or SWC bullet. Can be reloads, or factory but no requirement of either. Just the bullet weight and profile. My ammunition is legal.

Sorry gents, I wasn't trying to derail the thread. My main comment referenced trying to duplicate the Winchester 158 grain LRN cartridge!

And yes I also pointed out that the rules for NRA PPC Distinguished are different.

Smiles,

Info on the win load, and others was posted in other threads....do some searches, you'll find it

Total number of shots

28

Stats - Average	693.34	fps
Stats - Highest	729.79	fps
Stats - Lowest	639.39	fps
Stats - Ext. Spread	90.4	fps
Stats - Std. Dev	16.9	fps

Load: 3.6gr. AA#2, 1X Hi-Per 38 brass, Fed SPP, 158 LRN swaged Magnus #517, 1.510" OAL.

This is was taken using a Ransom Rest; expect my technique could use improvement.

S&W 14-5.  Off bags on a very good day.

Federal brass.
Zero 158gr swaged LSWC.
3.0g HP38.
Federal GM200M primer.
NOE .358 case expander.
OAL:  1.468 - 1.470.
Crimp:  .368 - 370 with Lee FCD.

I went Distinguished with revolver at a time when factory ammo was difficult to find. Lucky for  me  that I stocked up on ammo that my revolver liked.  It was factory Magtec 158 lead Round nose that got my last revolver points.
I haven't seen that on the shelf in years. 
The rules changed and began allowing SAFE reloads. Since I still liked to shoot as a distinguished non competitor in the revolver matches I started reloading for the 38. Some tinkering with reloads brought me to the point that I learned loading for a revolver is  not easy. I did find that I could not use powder puff loads. I had to push those 158 RN  cast bullets fast to get the required accuracy. The use of Lee alox held down leading.