I have never used a chrony and been reloading for over, well, guessing, 30+ years.
Started with a 30-06 then 38sp then blah blah...Took up some other hobbies and
always come back to reloading. I have always started light then worked up to
just "about" too hot then backed off just enough to get a good load that I
could use with my brass over and over again. I'm happy just to be pulling
the trigger, ya know. A good accurate load that hits consistent is what I'm
after here. I've had to G20SF now just about, maybe, 4 months I guess. Since
getting it the only factory ammo that has been in the gun has been some Corbon
hollow points for home defense mixed with some 8.0gr, PowerPistol under some
Winchester 180gr TC FMJ. I shot 5 of the corbons so I would know what to expect
if I had to use 'em. Corbon puts out some exceptional ammo! I really like it,
however the 1 gallon jugs of water DID NOT like it too much.
Anyways on to the range report here. I always buy the Winchester large pistol
primers, I also got some 500 starline brass from my buddies at MidWay and also
bought my chrony at the same place, and yes its the ProChrono Digital Chronograph
from Competition Electronics. As I said, I "always" buy the WLP primers BUT
couldn't find any at either reloading supply stores that we have here BUT
they had some Federal F150 so that's what I had to use for a while.
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Using 5.6gr W231 - Each charge was hand weighed
Bullet was 180gr Round Shoulder Berry's Plated Bullets - #31646
The manufacturer says Max Velocity 1250 for this projectile.
OAL 1.260 - 1.264 / F150 Prime
Crimp from Lee factory Crimp Die at just 1/2 turn.
High = 958
Low = 908
Average = 933
Ex Spread = 50
St Dev = 15
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Using 9.7 AA #7
Bullet was the same 180gr as above, again each charge was hand weighed.
OAL: Same as above and crimp was the same 1/2 turn. / F150 Prime
High = 1054
Low = 1005
Average = 1036
Ex Spread = 49
St Dev = 15
--------------------
Using 7.6 PowerPistol - I use so much of this that I know the measure
is throwing accurate charges.
Bullet was the same 180gr Berry's and still 1/2 turn on Crimp
OAL: 1.265 / F150 Prime
High = 1068
Low = 1016
Average = 1041
Ex Spread = 52
St Dev = 16
------------------
Using 5.5 BullsEye
Bullet was the same 180gr as above, this time Crimp went just over 1/2
turn but not a full 3/4 turn.
OAL: 1.263 to 1.265 / F150 Prime
High - 978
Low = 907
Average = 938
Ex Spread = 71
St Dev = 17
------------------>>Range Report: I have up 1- 10" X 7", 1 - 8" X 8", and plastic
2 - 4" X 5", 3/4" steel plates hanging on chains and 2 plastic
spinners and a big gong plastic target, hardly anyone shoots at the plastic
ones, LOL.
WHAT went wrong with my PowerPistol!!
Also Brass inspection on my PP load had more "After-burn" or had soot
at the very top of the brass. I think at this velocity that powder
should have been performing much better than that?
The BullesEye load was very good and I had no problem hitting the
targets at my 25 yard range, even the 4 X 5 inch targets. BullesEye
powder, I like it but one wrong move with the measure can mean
VERY bad results not only for the shooter but anyone standing near-by.
Also, I've found that it will always just fall short of delivering
the velocity I want, but the performance is always there with it. The
W231 I've found out that it is "Great" for loading - up rounds for my
daughters that hit dead-on with recoil that they can handle so I will
always try and keep some of that on hand for the girls.
-------->>>>>This is getting a little long so I'll cut to the chase
here. I thought I had an ignition problem so I examined my primer
pockets, no problem there, I clean them every-time. My supplier
finally got some Winchester Large Pistol primers and come to find-out
that was my problem, also found-out, with the help on my chrony that
I can back-off my charge and get better performance, accuracy and
save some powder with less wear and tear on my brass!! BTW: that
fricking chrony has NOT failed me one single time to give a reading
and I was actually using it less than 15 minutes after I received it.
Love that AA #7 !
AA #7 proved best for me at 10.1
Bullet was same 180gr Berrys / Just beyond 1/2 turn Lee Factory Crimp Die
OAL: 1.265 / F150 Prime
High = 1070
Low = 1050
Ave = 1060
Ex SP = 20
St Dev = 6
This load was great, had no problems hitting the small steel targets
from standing position on my 25 yard range.
All loads presented were 15 shots, I'm not responsible if you
burn your house down or blow your hand off with these loads. All
loads were shot from stock G20 SF. Nothing modified on this gun
except I took it apart and took some rubbing compound to the major
trigger parts and then gave them a generous coat of turtle wax
to make them as slippery as possible.
I also have more information I found - out since I got my
chrony that will be coming up, I also fixed my PowerPistol
load with Winchester LP Primers which I'll be posting ASAP.
HOW I ever done w/o a chrony, man, wish I would have purchased
one when they were invented, LOL.......
DarkCloud