New chrono, factory ammo and a day to play

[Rick R]

Since my friendly mail man (who wears an NRA cap on his rounds) dropped off my new chrono this week I decided I deserved a range day.  I loaded up a pile of guns and ammo then headed to the range.

Nothing fancy I just set up the chrono at 10 feet, a target at thirty feet and plugged up to my iphone.  I fired five rounds each and then emailed the results to myself.   The results are the average of five rounds.

My results:                     SR1911              GP-100 3"
Factory
CCI 200gr GD                      1053fps.             1013fps
SIG 180gr V Crown.             1218fps.             1120fps
Handloads
200gr NOE WFN Unique Lite  1042fps.             970fps
200gr NOE WFN BE-86 Warm1136fps.            1088fps
200gr NOE WFN BE-86 Hot.   1203fps

FWIW My Browning Hi Power averaged 1152fps with Hornady's American Gunner 9mm 125gr XTP +P loading. 

I believe the new Caldwell Precision chronograph was a good investment for this bullet nerd. 

[The_Shadow]

Very nice Rick!  Thanks for sharing.  What Chronograph did you get?
Like to hear more about the BE-86 loads you used with the NOE 200 grain!

[Rick R]

The_Shadow,
I got the Caldwell Precision chronograph that Midway USA had on sale for $70
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/626107/caldwell-ballistic-precision-chronograph
I'm impressed with it so far.  I downloaded the app to my iPhone and used the included cable to record the data. It gives you velocity, energy or power factor, sd, avg, min, max, spread, temp, barometric pressure automatically and allows you to enter bullet weight, coefficient and distance to the chrono. There is also a way to photograph your group and include it.  When you email the package it includes a .csv file with the data. 

With the 200gr NOE bullet I normally use 7.3gr of BE-86 for 1136fps.  I goofed and loaded 20 with 7.8gr which is my 180gr XTP load and 0.2 gr over the Alliant max load for a "190gr jhp".  I decided to try them anyway and groups opened slightly but brass and primers looked good in both the SR1911 and the GP-100.  Recoil is a step up from the 7.3gr load.  I only had enough leftover to chrono them in the SR1911 and got an average of 1203.8fps.  All were loaded in new or newish Starline brass with CCI 300 primers.

My normal disclaimer is that I reload while drinking tequila so if you use my data and blow your fool self up we reserve the right to attend your funeral and laugh at you before we all split up your stuff. 

[The_Shadow]

Its all good Rick, I know the drill with the warnings.   Thanks for the info, BE-86 has shown some great performances and velocity for the powder charge weights. 

[Rick R]

I try to make disclaimers as dire as I can since you never know who's going to surf by and use your data. 

I like the way BE-86 flows through a powder measure and I haven't found much variance between a full or nearly empty hopper.   I don't use a progressive press but I do use a RCBS Little Dandy powder measure and it seems like a match made in Heaven.  I find BE-86 works well in all my 9mm and 10mm guns.

My next project is Speer's 180gr Gold Dot at around 1200fps from my SR1911.  Both Speer and Alliant only list data using Unique, Blue Dot and 2400 for that bullet. 

[The_Shadow]

The Gold Dots seem to have slightly less frictional resistance compared to other cup and core jackets.  They should do well with BE-86 pushing them.  The 200 grain pull downs were interesting to see and they could be pushed harder as well.

[Ramjet]

Looks like barrel length has more impact than gap loss in this data.

[Rick R]

Looks like barrel length has more impact than gap loss in this data.

I'd like to see data from a Glock 20 with the same ammo since the breech to muzzle distance for both guns is 4.6".  But you still have the cylinder gap and the allegedly superior gas seal with a polygonal bore.   Maybe a Glock 20 with an aftermarket cut rifled barrel?