Contender source

[GameHauler]

I have been looking for a good source of load data
for TC pistol barrels.
The manuals and powder manufactures data
are testing mostly in rifle barrels
and being new to loading I question the data for shorter barrels.

Should I just trust the start loads and work up?

My TC barrels that I will load for are
15" 7-30 Waters
16" 223
14" 30-30
10" 45-410

Not asking for loads at this time
Just a place to go and look and compare

Thanks,
Mike

[quickdtoo]

Several manuals have TC data in their handgun section including the $7 Hodgdon Annual, same data that's available online, but the Annual lists the barrel length, primer and case. Their 45 Colt data is in a 7¼" barrel tho, the rest are the same as on your list or within an inch.

Tim

http://hodgdon.com/

[PaulS]

Typically the length of the barrel has nothing to do with an appropriate load. The same powders that give the highest velocities in a 26 inch rifle barrel will also give the highest velocities in a 12 inch barrel.
The cartridge volume and weight of bullet determine which powders work best in the firearm used. Powder is burnt long before the bullet gets more than about 3 inches in most rifle cartridges. Muzzle flash increases with shorter barrels because the gasses and carbon particles don't have as much time to cool as they move down the barrel. It is NOT unburned powder - just very hot gas and by-products of the combustion process.