We chronographed and accuracy tested 3 different concoctions last week over a 3 day period in which we had glorious weather for excursions to the range. This week's weather is wretched by comparison.
Last summer I had posted some chronograph tests of both factory loads along with a couple of handloads. Here is a link to that thread: http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbull....com/vbulletin/showthread.php?107972-Some-.38-Special-Velocity-Tests&highlight=
Revolvers used were the same as before:
Smith & Wesson Model 10 2-inch
Smith & Wesson Model 10 HB 4-inch
Smith & Wesson Military & Police 5-inch
Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum 6-inch
Smith & Wesson Model 14 .38 Special 8 3/8-inch
Two loads performed pretty well as expected. One of them was new and one was a more thorough retest of an old favorite load. A third load was a puzzler that yielded velocities far higher than expected.
A new load for me made use of Green Dot. I think it has been both recommended and reviled on a private forum I frequent. I think I remember trying a can of Green Dot back in the late 1970s but made no notes about it. This load uses TVB's 148 grain double-ended wadcutter.
148 grain TVB DEWC/3.7 grains Green Dot
2-Inch Barrel
Muzzle Velocity: 669 fps
Muzzle Energy: 147 ft./lbs
Extreme Spread: 45
Standard Deviation: 23
4-Inch Barrel
MV: 706 fps
ME: 164 ft./lbs.
ES: 43 fps
SD: 14 fps
5-Inch Barrel
MV: 735 fps
ME: 179 ft./lbs.
ES: 17 fps
SD: 7 fps
6-Inch Barrel
MV: 690 fps
ME: 156 ft./lbs.
ES: 31 fps
SD: 13 fps
8 3/8-Inch Barrel
MV: 775 fps
ME: 197 ft./lbs.
ES: 73 fps
SD: 33 fps
Next up is an old standard and one of my favorite target loads, the 148 grain hollow-base wadcutter backed by 2.8 grains of Bulls-Eye. It performed last week much the same as it did 30 years ago. The good Hornady 148 grain HBWC bullet was used.
148 grain HBWC/2.8 grains Bulls-Eye
2-Inch Barrel
MV: 643 fps
ME: 136 ft./lbs.
ES: 29 fps
ES: 12 fps
4-Inch Barrel
MV: 689 fps
MV: 156 ft./lbs.
ES: 42 fps
SD: 17 fps
5-Inch Barrel
MV: 712 fps
ME: 167 ft./lbs.
ES: 20 fps
SD: 9
6-Inch Barrel
MV: 693 fps
ME: 158 ft./lbs.
ES: 37 fps
SD: 16 fps
8 3/8-Inch Barrel
MV: 765 fps
ME: 192 ft./lbs.
ES: 33 fps
SD: 12 fps
This last load tested didn't behave as expected. Using a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter I've previously tested 4.8 grains of Unique and 5.4 grains of Unique on a few occasions so thought to split the difference and test 5.1 grains of Unique. I wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary but it gave considerably higher velocities in all barrel lengths than 5.4 grains of Unique did in previous tests. I re-checked the distance between the sky-screens to find it correct. I weighed the bullets and they checked out 158-159 grains and were .358" in diameter. I broke down a handloaded cartridge to re-weigh the powder charge and it checked out correctly. It felt quite lively after shooting a lot of the light 148 grain loads.
I felt unsatisfied and displeased after testing this one because I can't explain it.
158 grain lead SWC/5.1 grains Unique
2-Inch Barrel
MV: 922 fps
ME: 298 ft./lbs.
ES: 40 fps
SD: 19 fps
4-Inch Barrel
MV: 987 fps
ME: 342 ft./lbs.
ES: 67 fps
SD: 28 fps
5-Inch Barrel
MV: 1031 fps
ME: 373 ft./lbs
ES: 37 fps
SD: 15 fps
6-Inch Barrel
MV: 1018 fps
ME: 364 ft./lbs
ES: 33 fps
SD: 14 fps
8 3/8-Inch Barrel
MV: 1117 fps
ME: 426 ft./lbs.
ES: 34 fps
SD: 15 fps
I probably shouldn't have subjected the 5-inch Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver to testing with this Unique handload due to the revolver's age. Won't do that again. One thing is for certain, the 107 year old .38 Special could still serve extremely well if called into duty for defensive purposes.
The 5-inch M&P seems to show a pattern of consistent velocity performance with most loads tested in it, both last week and last summer.
The Model 27 .357 Magnum frequently registers lower velocities than the 5-inch M&P with the same loads.
The Green Dot load with the 148 grain DEWC bullet grouped well but didn't beat out the 148 HBWC bullet loaded with Bulls-Eye. The Green Dot load didn't seem to foul the revolvers but was very smoky to shoot and I don't think it was from the bullet lube. It could just be a characteristic of the powder. I've still got a lot of Green Dot in the can so will play with it some more. It doesn't seem to display any especially endearing characteristics over other fast burning powders.
It's only three loads but a whole lot of shooting was involved, mostly because the great weather encouraged it. I had great fun shooting the revolvers for group. Some target photos next.
Last summer I had posted some chronograph tests of both factory loads along with a couple of handloads. Here is a link to that thread: http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbull....com/vbulletin/showthread.php?107972-Some-.38-Special-Velocity-Tests&highlight=
Revolvers used were the same as before:
Smith & Wesson Model 10 2-inch
Smith & Wesson Model 10 HB 4-inch
Smith & Wesson Military & Police 5-inch
Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum 6-inch
Smith & Wesson Model 14 .38 Special 8 3/8-inch
Two loads performed pretty well as expected. One of them was new and one was a more thorough retest of an old favorite load. A third load was a puzzler that yielded velocities far higher than expected.
A new load for me made use of Green Dot. I think it has been both recommended and reviled on a private forum I frequent. I think I remember trying a can of Green Dot back in the late 1970s but made no notes about it. This load uses TVB's 148 grain double-ended wadcutter.
148 grain TVB DEWC/3.7 grains Green Dot
2-Inch Barrel
Muzzle Velocity: 669 fps
Muzzle Energy: 147 ft./lbs
Extreme Spread: 45
Standard Deviation: 23
4-Inch Barrel
MV: 706 fps
ME: 164 ft./lbs.
ES: 43 fps
SD: 14 fps
5-Inch Barrel
MV: 735 fps
ME: 179 ft./lbs.
ES: 17 fps
SD: 7 fps
6-Inch Barrel
MV: 690 fps
ME: 156 ft./lbs.
ES: 31 fps
SD: 13 fps
8 3/8-Inch Barrel
MV: 775 fps
ME: 197 ft./lbs.
ES: 73 fps
SD: 33 fps
Next up is an old standard and one of my favorite target loads, the 148 grain hollow-base wadcutter backed by 2.8 grains of Bulls-Eye. It performed last week much the same as it did 30 years ago. The good Hornady 148 grain HBWC bullet was used.
148 grain HBWC/2.8 grains Bulls-Eye
2-Inch Barrel
MV: 643 fps
ME: 136 ft./lbs.
ES: 29 fps
ES: 12 fps
4-Inch Barrel
MV: 689 fps
MV: 156 ft./lbs.
ES: 42 fps
SD: 17 fps
5-Inch Barrel
MV: 712 fps
ME: 167 ft./lbs.
ES: 20 fps
SD: 9
6-Inch Barrel
MV: 693 fps
ME: 158 ft./lbs.
ES: 37 fps
SD: 16 fps
8 3/8-Inch Barrel
MV: 765 fps
ME: 192 ft./lbs.
ES: 33 fps
SD: 12 fps
This last load tested didn't behave as expected. Using a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter I've previously tested 4.8 grains of Unique and 5.4 grains of Unique on a few occasions so thought to split the difference and test 5.1 grains of Unique. I wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary but it gave considerably higher velocities in all barrel lengths than 5.4 grains of Unique did in previous tests. I re-checked the distance between the sky-screens to find it correct. I weighed the bullets and they checked out 158-159 grains and were .358" in diameter. I broke down a handloaded cartridge to re-weigh the powder charge and it checked out correctly. It felt quite lively after shooting a lot of the light 148 grain loads.
I felt unsatisfied and displeased after testing this one because I can't explain it.
158 grain lead SWC/5.1 grains Unique
2-Inch Barrel
MV: 922 fps
ME: 298 ft./lbs.
ES: 40 fps
SD: 19 fps
4-Inch Barrel
MV: 987 fps
ME: 342 ft./lbs.
ES: 67 fps
SD: 28 fps
5-Inch Barrel
MV: 1031 fps
ME: 373 ft./lbs
ES: 37 fps
SD: 15 fps
6-Inch Barrel
MV: 1018 fps
ME: 364 ft./lbs
ES: 33 fps
SD: 14 fps
8 3/8-Inch Barrel
MV: 1117 fps
ME: 426 ft./lbs.
ES: 34 fps
SD: 15 fps
I probably shouldn't have subjected the 5-inch Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver to testing with this Unique handload due to the revolver's age. Won't do that again. One thing is for certain, the 107 year old .38 Special could still serve extremely well if called into duty for defensive purposes.
The 5-inch M&P seems to show a pattern of consistent velocity performance with most loads tested in it, both last week and last summer.
The Model 27 .357 Magnum frequently registers lower velocities than the 5-inch M&P with the same loads.
The Green Dot load with the 148 grain DEWC bullet grouped well but didn't beat out the 148 HBWC bullet loaded with Bulls-Eye. The Green Dot load didn't seem to foul the revolvers but was very smoky to shoot and I don't think it was from the bullet lube. It could just be a characteristic of the powder. I've still got a lot of Green Dot in the can so will play with it some more. It doesn't seem to display any especially endearing characteristics over other fast burning powders.
It's only three loads but a whole lot of shooting was involved, mostly because the great weather encouraged it. I had great fun shooting the revolvers for group. Some target photos next.
