range report with ?s

[Flashole]

Finally got to the range today with my new 45lc.  I mounted a Bushnell 1.5 x 4.  I like that scope and have 4 mounted on some of my lever guns.  All the shots were taken at 50yds.
First up a 240 XPT/HP  over 18grs of W296 shot about 2.5 inches.  Real mild load and I had the sand bags just forward of the trigger gaurd and it  had a very different feel for me. Next was the same bullet over 23grns of W296 and the groups were getting smaller. Next up a 300 XPT over 21 grns of Lil gun and holes started connecting. 20 rounds of that started to soften me up so I tried some new rounds that I never used in my lever gun.  250 Gold Dot HP over 22grns of 4227 and it opened to about 4 inches. I made 10 rounds with the 250 grn FTX and the same charge and after an adjustment of 1.5 right a tore the bulls eye out of two targets.

My questions are, After ever shot except the ones with Lil Gun powder there was a lot of smoke and what looked like a ton unburned powder in the barrel.  Wonder if I need to change to magnum primers ?

My son who works at the range came by to see how things were and he saw the FTX.  He realy wanted to shoot but they have a rule for their range masters about setting at the benches.  He took a few standing shots from an unknown load , I just have to plead STUPID.  It was a hot round that I had used in my Puma and did to group and some how made it out of the marked box it started in.  Any how the gun broke open on the first shot but  did not from the bench when I shot it earlier. Turns out that it opend about 50 % of the time from the standing position.  The round was stout but I don't think It was dangerous. I did not try any other loads to see if it would open.   Were do I start to look for issues.

Except for the action coming open I would call this a very good day at the range for a first trip with my first handi  and think there may be a few more of these things headed my way.  Thanks for any feed back you guys can give. 

[quickdtoo]

Read pop open medicine in the FAQs and the Handi Basics sticky, or have your son read em if he was doing the loading and shooting.  Not closing the action with enough force will cause pop opens, specially on a new gun. It also doesn't help accuracy.

Tim

[Flashole]

The one thing I rememberd for all the info here posted here was to make very sure the action was closed tight.  Any clue about the powder in the barrel.  Except for a Contender in 445SM this is my first single shot and the first time to be able to look down the barrel after shot.

[dpe.ahoy]

W296 is supposed to have mag primers, Hodgdons uses the same behind their 4227 power as well.  That, close to a max charge and a good crimp should help.  W296/H110 should not be reduced below listed charges and your 18.0 gr load is a bit light.  The load of LilGun under the 300gr XTP is over max in Hornady's book but may be ok in the Handi.  DP

[gcrank1]

I have read that the debris we see is not unburned powder, but the 'plastic' residue left after the propellant has burned off. I dont know. Some powders are worse than others, and I never liked to see a lot of it. I have seen it happen when I used a lighter projectile with the powder charge that had worked well with a heavier one. It makes me wonder about  back pressure and the effect on the burn rate.
I use IMR4227 quite a bit in reduced loads for cast bullets and get a little, but in my 38-55 c/w 255grLFN over 18.0 of it and std LR primer (Wolf/WW/Fed) there is very little. Ive never tried 22.0 gr. as 18.0 works pretty well for my application.

[Flashole]

Next time out I will bring a rod and a brush and take a look at what is really there.  I never saw any thing in my contender barrel. I'm hoping a differnt primer will clean things up a bit.  From what I have read here I was pleased with the results of the first day at the range and I'm looking forward to spending many more days at the range.  I plan on stepping up the load on the FTX a little and see what happens, then start looking for a good load to hunt with.  The amount of info and feed back here is amazing.  I just saw some info on the FTX and it looks like it may not be all that tough of a bullet. Still think it is OK for deer but may not be so good on Hogs.  Any how no matter what next hunting seasons holds in store for me this little handi is going to be packed in the truck.