I finally got out to shoot up some loads I've been working up with a chronograph. I started off low and have been experimenting a bit, so this post will be updated as my work progresses.
Firearm: G20SF
Spring: Stock 17 lb
Condi.: ~65 F, 4200' ASL
Case: All Starline, some once fired.
None of these loads exhibited excessive case expansion, smileys, or flattened primers (except the AA#9, which seems to flatten primers easily) in my gun.
All velocities rounded to the nearest tenth and are 5+ shot averages.
Powder - Charge - Primer - COAL - Velocity
HST 180 gr
Longshot - 8.2 - CCI-350 - 1.255 - 1120
Longshot - 8.7 - CCI-300 - 1.255 - 1200
Longshot - 9.0 - CCI-300 - 1.255 - 1220
800x - 8.8 - CCI-300 - 1.255 - 1180
800x - 9.0 - CCI-300 - 1.255 - 1200
XTP 200 gr
AA #9 - 12.5 - CCI-300 - 1.260 - 1175
800x - 9.0 - CCI-300 - 1.260 - 1150
WFNGC 200 gr (DT)
AA#9 - 12.5 - CCI-300 - 1.25 - 1125
800x - 9.0 - CCI-300 - 1.25 - 1160
I didn't write down the exact numbers, but for each of the loads tested velocity increased 50-100 fps with the KKM 6" bbl.
No malfunctions.
A few 9mm loads:
Glock 17 Factory 4.5" Barrel & Spring
Powder - Charge - Primer - COAL - Velocity
115 gr. PowerBond
Power Pistol - 6.2 - Rem 1-1/2 - 1.125 - 1200 (Clean burn/case)
Power Pistol - 6.6 - Rem 1-1/2 - 1.125 - 1240 (Clean burn/case)
Longshot - 5.3 - WSPM - 1.125 - 1100 (Sooty case, low pressure)
Longshot - 5.3 - Rem 1-1/2 - 1.125 - 1050 (Sooty case, low pressure)
Longshot - 6.0 - Rem 1-1/2 - 1.125 - 1200 (Very light soot)
Powder - Charge - Primer - COAL - Velocity
124 gr. PowerBond
Clays (REGULAR) - 3.5 gr - WSP - 1.125 - 986 (Clean burn, soft recoil, cycled fine)
No pressure signs or flattened primers. No malfunctions.
And a few factory 223/5.56 Loads
16" 1/9 twist barrel
Sierra 69 gr. MatchKing 223 - 2645 fps
M193 55 gr. FMJ 5.56 - 3152 fps
Federal 55 gr. FMJ 223 - 2976 fps
Tula Steel 55 gr. FMJ 223 - 2987
Looks in-line with the factory pull-downs using the same powders.
I'ld like to see how one of those HST bullets performs in water jugs at +1200 FPS.
I'm not sure but I have plenty of empty jugs to try it on the next time I go out. In my testing I've found that water jug testing is not the best indicator of performance although it does produce pretty looking bullets. The bullets tend to expand more in water and some bullets that have performed well in gel disintegrate in water (9mm 9BPLE, 147 gr. +p+ UW GD, among others).
Raggedyman (Andrew) tested the 180 HST in gel w/ 4LD at ~1200 FPS:
Next step is to try for 1300 FPS. I'm working my way up slowly but I will probably end up getting there with 800x (Underwood clone load :) ) I got ~1290 FPS out of my 6" BBL but my 4.6" factory only gave ~1220 w/ 9 gr Longshot. I will update my original post as testing continues. I would like to get my 200 gr. bullets up to 1200 FPS out of the factory BBL which I think is attainable but not within book loads. The Hornady load manual shows 13.2 gr max vs. the 12.5 max out of the Accurate data. I think I will work my way up to that, along with working up to the Underwood 800x level (9.2-9.4 gr.)
Quote from: RMM on May 30 2013 01:16:55 PM MDTThe bullets tend to expand more in water and some bullets that have performed well in gel disintegrate in water (9mm 9BPLE, 147 gr. +p+ UW GD, among others).
That's why I like to see them tested in water since water tends to be so tough on them.
Updated OP. (223/5.56 chrono, a few 9mm loads).