Test ammo

Just finished loading 400 rounds of test ammo.

45 ACP. 
RP brass WWLP .468 crimp
50 rounds 185 Magnus JHP 4.2 Bullseye
25 rounds 185 Magnus LSWCHP 4.2 Bullseye
25 rounds 185 Missouri LSWC ("Button") 4.2 Bullseye
25 rounds 185 Magnus LSWCHP 3.8 Bullseye
25 rounds 185 Missouri LSWC ("Button") 3.8 Bullseye
50 rounds 200 LSWC (H&G 68) 3.8 Bullseye -- as a control.

38Special 
Each load 50 rounds WW SP lite roll crimp
Blazer brass Magnus HBWC 2.8 Bullseye
Blazer brass Speer HBWC 2.8 Bullseye
S&B brass Magnus HBWC 2.8 WST
S&B brass Speer HBWC 2.8 WST

These will be Ransomed in my wad gun and 52.  Trying to get a good accurate load.  Any other ideas.?

Well, I loaded up 50 rounds of 185 JHP (Nosler) today with 8.0 gr of Power Pistol. You could duplicate and tell me how it ransoms. Or recoils. At 1000 fps I figure it will make a great 50 yd round. Not saying what it will be great for at 50 yds. On a more serious side. Do you have any 185gr J-SWC? I would like to Ransom them sometime. I use 4.2 gr BE in mine. My 52 loads match yours exactly. (except I use Starline and Rem brass and Magnus exclusively)

Len

Try 3.9 bullseye with 185 swchp and around. 471" crimp. I made master with that load.

Len, only thing I can say about the JSWC is that Federal Gold Medal match loaded with one didn't shoot as well as the ASYM with the 185 JHP.  This was hand held from a rest.  It was very close tho.

I think your load of 4.2 grains of Bullseye is light for a JHP. My best accuracy with that bullet is with 4.5-4.6 grains. I also like a taper crimp of .470".

A good reminder......just because it shoots the best groups doesn't mean it's the best match ammo for you!
I recommend shooting softest recoiling ammo that gives a reasonably good group. Hotter loads are harder to shoot well and wear out the shooter and are more unforgiving to shoot. So find a balance for best match results.
Jon

Wobbley are you planning to post pictures of your results ?

Skid... I'm planning to...

What pistol are you using to conduct test? Is it known to be a good shooting pistol?
Jon

I'm shooting a wad gun with a Bomar lockup rib.  The gun was built some time ago but seems to be put together very well.  The only marks as to builder is "MBM" on the underside of the slide.  I was told that it may have been built by Captain Mike Mitchell, but I have no confirmation of this.  I've tested it with ASYM match ammo and Federal 185 Gold .Medal .Match and it shot very well.

I wasn't able to use the ransom rest pedestal as the cowboy shooters were having a big match.  So I settled for shooting from a rest at 25 yards.

These initial results indidate that the 4.2 loads may be more accurate. The 185 Magnus HPSWC seem to have a slight advantage to the Missouri cast 185 SWC "Button" but not by much.  They also shoot to the same point of impact so that's nice.  The 200 LSWC shoot ok in my wadgun but they really shoot well in my Clark Hardball gun.

The 52 prefers the Magnus and there's no real difference between Bullseye and WST.  

More when I can get the Ransom out.

Jon you said a softer recoiling load that shoots accurately. I've been shooting a 25yd load of 3.8 BE or 4.0 Titegroup. Both loads Winchester brass with WLP, .469" crimp. Pistol: 11lb spring and slide mount scope.
   My brass gets some soot on the outside of case( never chrony these loads) they are accurate from bags, is the soot a big deal. I'm thinking of dropping down 2 or 3 tenths for 50 ft indoor, I might have change to a lighter spring.
   Does anyone have a preference for 50 ft or do you use your short line load.
  Stan

Rather than dropping down, you might want to use your regular 25 yard load for indoor.  IMO, centerfire indoors is training time for the outdoor season.  Rimfire indoor is different and more accurate ammo is an advantage.

chopper wrote:Jon you said a softer recoiling load that shoots accurately. I've been shooting a 25yd load of 3.8 BE or 4.0 Titegroup. Both loads Winchester brass with WLP, .469" crimp. Pistol: 11lb spring and slide mount scope.
   My brass gets some soot on the outside of case( never chrony these loads) they are accurate from bags, is the soot a big deal. I'm thinking of dropping down 2 or 3 tenths for 50 ft indoor, I might have change to a lighter spring.
   Does anyone have a preference for 50 ft or do you use your short line load.
  Stan

It's not a problem. Less pressure so it doesn't seal as well as hotter loads. Gets worse when you get down to 3.3-3.4 gr loads. When I finish a match my shooting arm is covered with powder flakes. 
Jon

Thank you Wobbley and Jon.