Chronograph testing of 250 gr. Jacketed 41 Magnum bullets:250 grain jacketed soft point bullets made by Outlaw Bullets of Bend Oregon.
JCUnclejoe@aol.comThis is a continuation of the work I posted last week on GB:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,105728.0.htmlI'm not advertising these bullets just excited to have a new 41 mag jacketed bullet to use.
Chronograph is an Oehler 33 with sky screen 3's with a 4 foot separation.
The mid point was about 15 feet from the gun muzzle.
Readings are raw, no effort was made to calculate actual muzzle velocity.
After a couple strings, I decided I should have set up a blast baffle to cut the effects of muzzle blast on the screens.
Temperature was about 10 degrees F.
The bench was a bit of a problem. To get high enough over the screens, I had to use a spare tire laid flat on the bench as a firing base. On it, I placed a 2x12 board and a shot bag. I could not get the stable base I had for my earlier tests. So I was a bit teetery and not near as comfortable shooting. And lets face it, I’m just not that good a marksman.
The cold didn't help; I had to shoot with a knitted glove on my trigger finger and it really affected my grip and trigger control. Also my glasses would fog up now and then.
A big distraction came about the 4th string when I thought I saw a bird fly across the range - the blast baffle blocked my view. At the next hammer drop, a fox went tearing up the side berm. DRAT! I would have loved to test a 250 Outlaw on him but he was gone too quick. And the way I was shooting, it would have been a really unlucky day for him if I could have connected at the 100 yard mark.
GunsMain test gun: stainless Ruger Redhawk with 7.5 inch barrel, 2.75X Burris scope, fired off a bench.
Marlin FG 41 Magnum with a 2x-7x Beeman scope at 7x off the bench, supported just in front of the lever.
Smith & Wesson M 57 4 inch barrel iron sights - late 1970's vintage.
41 Magnum Loads and chrono results: All powder charges weighed on a Hornady Scale.
I chose these powders and loads partly on what powders I had, the experience I gained from the previous tests, and Hodgdon’s recommendation to try powders and charges recommended as starting loads for similar weight cast bullets in their loading manual. I am most interested in Lil Gun given the relatively low pressures they show in their load manual. I am using the 2004 load manual.
I could detect no pressure warning signs - primers are not deformed as much as some Corbon ammo in warm weather. BUT NOTE the COLD temps. These loads in warm conditions may act differently especially in other guns. All cases ejected easily. I make no warranty of the safety of these loads in other guns or other conditions. Use at your own risk. Note too: These bullets can be ordered with 2 cannelures for different overall loaded lengths (OAL). If you get these bullets and use this data take careful note of the OAL – too much powder with a deep seated bullet could be dangerous.A) 18.5 gr H110, Win Large Pistol Primer, R-P brass 250 JSP Outlaw, 1.70 OAL loaded length, Lee Factory Crimp
REDHAWK: 5 shots low 999 (
debris?) hi 1094, ES 95, Avg. 1053, SD 36 , 30 yd group approx. 2 inch ctc
B) 19 gr H110, Win Large Pistol Primer, R-P brass 250 JSP Outlaw, 1.70 OAL loaded length, Lee Factory Crimp
REDHAWK: 5 shots low 984 (
debris?) hi 1127, ES 143, Avg. 1073, SD 57 , 30 yd group approx. 2.5 inch ctc
NOTE I wrote the SD wrong on the target. That one high shot could be the really slow one but I sure couldn't detect and different feel to the shot. Was it junk not stopped by the blast baffle? Weird brass, erratic crimp, temperature? I might have to watch my cylinder to see if I have one that gives a significantly different velocity. That low velocity shot was not the first in the string, in fact the low readings in both H110 tests were the 3r or last – can’t remember. Maybe the bullets walked out of the crimp.
I wonder too if I should be careful and work up in less than .5 grain increments in case I'm pushing max levels. Don't recall how temperature sensitive H110 is. I thought it was supposed to be pretty good compared to old Win 630 etc. The cold makes everything a lot harder to do.
C) 19.5 gr Lil Gun, Win Large Pistol Primer, R-P brass 250 JSP Outlaw, 1.70 OAL loaded length, Lee Factory Crimp
REDHAWK: 5 shots low 1138, hi 1222, ES 84, Avg. 1191, SD 32 , 30 yd group approx. 2.5 inch ctc
MARLIN FG: 5 shots low 1572, hi 1622, ES 50, Avg. 1597, SD 22 , 30 yd group approx. 1.2 inch ctc accurate feeds very well in my gun.
This load recoiled much more emphatically than lighter loads in the Redhawk.
I'm pleased with the Marlin and REALLY pleased how well it cycles even the long seated rounds.
D) 18 gr Lil Gun, Win Large Pistol Primer, R-P brass 250 JSP Outlaw, 1.59 OAL loaded length, Lee Factory Crimp
S&W 57: 5 shots low 1064, hi 1173, ES 109, Avg. 1098, SD 43, 30 yd group approx. 4 inch 1 shot off the paper. This was one of the last tests of the day and I may have been a little cold.
NOTE short OAL on this load. I meant to try it in the Marlin but forgot and used out the S&W.
E) 18.5 gr H4227, Win Large Pistol Primer, R-P brass 250 JSP Outlaw, 1.70 OAL loaded length, Lee Factory Crimp
REDHAWK: 5 shots low 1042, hi 1112, ES 88, Avg. 1059, SD 40 , 30 yd group approx. 2.75 inch ctc
I think 2 shots may have passed thru one hole? I don't think one shot went to wild unless from a clean bore. Mild.
First string in test, so ammo and gun, even chronograph were pretty warm from being in the car.
.22 holes in target were shots to test chrono setup. I have to try the laser pointer trick I read about on GB.
F) 19.2 gr H4227, Win Large Pistol Primer, R-P brass 250 JSP Outlaw, 1.70 OAL loaded length, Lee Factory Crimp
REDHAWK: 5 shots low 1001, hi 1083, ES 82, Avg. 1047, SD 37, 30 yd group approx. 3.25 inch .
This was second test of the day and may show effects of colder gun an ammo. I was surprised right off the bat at the lower velocities. This is also when I decided to install the blast baffle, after this round of tests in case debris and muzzle blast were
affecting the chrono results.
G) 18 gr H4227, Win Large Pistol Primer, R-P brass 250 JSP Outlaw, 1.59 OAL loaded length, Lee Factory Crimp
S&W 57 4": 5 shots low 882, hi 954, ES 72, Avg. 935, SD 30 , 30 yd group approx. 4 shots in 2.25" 1 shot off page for over 4.25" 5 shot group! Strange. I need to check crimps, my grip.
A little more primer deformation with this load given the deeper seating of the bullets. The 250's bounce this smaller gun noticeably but I've shot quite a number of 250 Corbon and Federal and some 265 Corbon in this gun too - for much more recoil.
Last string of the day.
I will need to test these again in warmer times when I can take more time to watch all details starting down at 18 gr or so.
COMMENTS:I was rushing a bit to keep warm and before I lost daylight. Always seems like I'm in a rush when I try chrono work. There's a lot to set up and keep track of. The gun writers really do earn their nickels I think.
Some of those stray shots off the paper really mystify me. Often I know when I’ve messed up but I just didn't think I was jerking that much. I think I was getting a bit flinchy just from being in a rush. It was snap decision to go to the range so I might have got too hurried.
The extreme spreads on many of these loads seem pretty big. But looking at my load logs I have seen this wide a range in a lot of loads. My better loads usually range below 50 or 60 extreme spreads. I don't chrono the 41 that much. Maybe I should.
I may need to tighten up the crimp a bit and start with fresh brass. Also 5 shots is a pretty small sample.
I might back off a bit on the powder, firm up the crimp and wait for warmer times.
I could detect no pressure warning signs - primers are not deformed as much as some Corbon ammo in warm weather. BUT NOTE the COLD temps. These loads in warm conditions may act differently especially in other guns. All cases ejected easily. I make no warranty of the safety of these loads in other guns or other conditions. Use at your own risk. I need to contact Hodgdon about temperature sensitivity of their pistol powders.
Note too: These bullets can be ordered with 2 cannelures for different overall loaded lengths (OAL). If you get these bullets and use this data take careful note of the OAL – too much powder with a deep seated bullet could be dangerous.
I think I will settle on a single OAL and order future bullets with only one cannelure to avoid possible mistakes. I am fortunate that all my 41s will take the 1.70 OAL cartridges. Also Joe says it greatly speeds his production time.
I hope this is useful to other 41 mag fans. I think a better marksman could do much better than I. I’m not a great shot but I am an avid shooter
Merry Christmas.
