Nine Factory Loads in the 6" Kimber Target LS

[Grenadier]

The original post has been deleted due to issue with chronograph operator head space. As indicated in the comments below, something was just too good to be true! So, I contacted the chronograph manufacturer and they said that I needed to move back to 15 feet shooting distance from the screens. I had been using 10 feet. The manufacture's suggestion was in line with, and confirmed, sqlbullet's suggestion.

Also, the original post only provided info (inaccurate info) on the two Sig Sauer offerings. I have since expanded upon that.

I wanted to choose factory loads that are advertised as providing 600 ft-lbs or more muzzle energy. But I was curious about what the Colt Defense and Jesse James loads would do. So, I added those to the mix.

The box of Colt Defense is marked "Manufactured and Distributed by DOUBLETAP". The brass is also marked "DOUBLETAP". The Colt ammo is advertised at 1150 fps from a 5" barrel but my velocity readings were closer to the 1300 fps Doubletap lists for some of their own brand of 180 HPs.

The Kimber Stainless Target (LS) has a 6" barrel.  All of these loads fed and cycled flawlessly.

Code Select Expand


Brand         Weight Bullet Mfg's V0 Mfg's E0 Observed V0 Observed E0 SD Low High
Buffalo Bore 180gr JHP 1350 fps 728 ft-lbs 1404 fps 788 ft-lbs 11.8 1388 1414
Colt Defense 180gr JHP 1150 fps 529 ft-lbs 1301 fps 677 ft-lbs 17.38 1283 1320
FENIX         180gr FMJ 1375 fps 756 ft-lbs 1375 fps 756 ft-lbs 13.57 1355 1383
FENIX         180gr HP 1375 fps 756 ft-lbs 1367 fps 747 ft-lbs 18.07 1347 1390
Hornady         180gr XTP 1275 fps 650 ft-lbs 1312 fps 688 ft-lbs 8.32 1302 1325
Jesse James 180gr FMJ 1190 fps 566 ft-lbs 1268 fps 643 ft-lbs 20.29 1234 1283
Sig Sauer 180gr V-Crown 1250 fps 624 ft-lbs 1259 fps 634 ft-lbs 19.88 1215 1284
Sig Sauer 180gr FMJ 1250 fps 624 ft-lbs 1303 fps 679 ft-lbs 19.99 1285 1328
Underwood 200gr HCFN 1250 fps 694 ft-lbs 1235 fps 677 ft-lbs 14.62 1214 1254


[Intercooler]

I think your Chrony is giving you some very inflated numbers unfortunately. Their has been a few of us run them and they just don't have enough to get those gains in a 6" barrel.

[Grenadier]

I'll try again tomorrow, at least with the FMJ. I've now shot all the V-Crown. Distance to the chronograph was 10 feet. I had just finished measuring some rifle loads and they were right where they were supposed to be. That said, these 10mm numbers were completely unexpected.

[Azrckcrawler]

Best I have gotten with the SIG 180gr FMJ was 1378fps from a 10" barrel. The only other gun I have chono'd that load from is a SIG P220 which turned in an average 1212fps.

[Graybeard]

Grenadier, any chance that you were shooting from a different position when you changed from rifle to pistol? Is it possible the chronograph wasn't exactly level to the flight path of the pistol bullets? I've made this mistake myself and gotten some wildly different numbers from what I was expecting.

[tommac919]

The Sig rounds are good, and I'm slowly replacing my Silver Tips ( as  i'm running out ) with these.

But not that good !...  Even BB doesn't get that hot.

[sqlbullet]

I would guess ejecta was interfering with your readings.  And your rifle rounds were unaffected at the distance do to more complete burn of ejecta in the rifle length barrel.

I have seen this exact phenomenon before when going from a Glock 20 to a Glock 29.  The shorter barrel has more ejecta from incomplete burn, and it gets tracked.

Try moving the chronograph back to 15'

[Grenadier]

I'll try that. Maybe today but if not then very soon.

[Grenadier]

The original post has been deleted due to issue with chronograph operator head space. As indicated in the comments above, something was just too good to be true! So, I contacted the chronograph manufacturer and they said that I needed to move back to 15 feet shooting distance from the screens. I had been using 10 feet. The manufacture's suggestion was in line with, and confirmed, sqlbullet's suggestion.

Also, the original post only provided info (inaccurate info) on the two Sig Sauer offerings. I have since expanded upon that.

I wanted to choose factory loads that are advertised as providing 600 ft-lbs or more muzzle energy. But I was curious about what the Colt Defense and Jesse James loads would do. So, I added those to the mix.

The box of Colt Defense is marked "Manufactured and Distributed by DOUBLETAP". The brass is also marked "DOUBLETAP". The Colt ammo is advertised at 1150 fps from a 5" barrel but my velocity readings were closer to the 1300 fps Doubletap lists for some of their own brand of 180 HPs.

The Kimber Stainless Target (LS) has a 6" barrel.  All of these loads fed and cycled flawlessly.

Code Select Expand


Brand         Weight Bullet Mfg's V0 Mfg's E0 Observed V0 Observed E0 SD Low High
Buffalo Bore 180gr JHP 1350 fps 728 ft-lbs 1404 fps 788 ft-lbs 11.8 1388 1414
Colt Defense 180gr JHP 1150 fps 529 ft-lbs 1301 fps 677 ft-lbs 17.38 1283 1320
FENIX         180gr FMJ 1375 fps 756 ft-lbs 1375 fps 756 ft-lbs 13.57 1355 1383
FENIX         180gr HP 1375 fps 756 ft-lbs 1367 fps 747 ft-lbs 18.07 1347 1390
Hornady         180gr XTP 1275 fps 650 ft-lbs 1312 fps 688 ft-lbs 8.32 1302 1325
Jesse James 180gr FMJ 1190 fps 566 ft-lbs 1268 fps 643 ft-lbs 20.29 1234 1283
Sig Sauer 180gr V-Crown 1250 fps 624 ft-lbs 1259 fps 634 ft-lbs 19.88 1215 1284
Sig Sauer 180gr FMJ 1250 fps 624 ft-lbs 1303 fps 679 ft-lbs 19.99 1285 1328
Underwood 200gr HCFN 1250 fps 694 ft-lbs 1235 fps 677 ft-lbs 14.62 1214 1254


[The_Shadow]

I'm glad that you listed the barrel length as that alone can add 50 to 100 fps over the standard 5" barrel observations!
I would like to document the Jesse James round some day to see what is loaded inside those.

[Grenadier]

Today I was shooting these nine loads at 50 feet. I find the current sight setup difficult. I have a new front sight but I still need to get installed. I will reserve posting accuracy results until the switch is made. But, so far it looks like the pistol prefers Underwood's 200gr Hardcast.



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