Range Report and chasing away the Handi Group Gremlins !

[watkibe]

I have finally gotten loads that I like developed for both my 223 Ultralight and 357 Maxi barrels.
The 223 gives me an honest 3024 fps out of the 20" Ultralight barrel with the 55 gr Hornady SP and H4895, and shot a pretty good group: not tiny, but no Handi Syndrome fliers. This was better than the same powder charge and Nosler Ballistic tips, quite a surprise.
The 357 Maxi gave me 1856 fps with the 180 gr SSP and H110, and put 4 shots in 15/16". There was still sort of a flier, but with a 1 inch group, who cares ?
I also tried 2400 with the SSP, but it shot a 4" vertical group, and the action popped open on the last round I fired. Never had that happen before.

[keith44]

no gremlins there   

Glad you got it sorted out.  I am suprised by the action popping open,  2400 in .44 mag shoots very sweetly for me.

[ratdog]

my 223 is shooting about the same going to try some 62 gr bt hollow points next week thay shoot real good in my ar really tightened group.

[gcrank1]

Sometimes shooting works some oil out onto the latch, clean it with a Q-tip before a session. Most likely though, was that once you got into the routine of shooting those nice groups you didnt quite close it up with enough authority and it barely hooked on.
Keep 'shooting it in' and it should just keep getting better.

[watkibe]

Thanks for the encouraging words guys.
I picked up a partial box or Speer's awesome 70 gr semipointed bullets on GunBroker, can't wait to see how my 1 in 9 twist does with them.
I will check the latch for oil too, good idea, thanks gcrank1.
This is my first can of 2400, I guess I was always so happy with H110 that I never tried it before. I'm still trying it out in my 357, 41, and 44 mag handguns.

[yukondog]

I'v had pretty good luck with 2400 in the 41 and 44 mag. but so-so in the 357, it does better in my pistol than in the handi.

[gcrank1]

2400 has been a dirty powder for me, and I didnt spend too much time with it. The Accurate Arms family of powders has treated me pretty well, they have something in every burn rate.
Long ago I switched to mostly ball powders because they meter so well in powder measures that after verifying the weight on the scale 3 times I can load from the measure with confidence.
Ive heard many good things about H110 but never used it, just because I always had something else on hand.
The 'grunchie ' rod powders have always worked well in spite of the frequent cut piece. I think they are so bulky that minor weight variations dont result in much velo/pressure change to a load.
In pistol cartridges my old standard has been Unique; it may not be the absolute best, but you can always find a load that works decently with lots of history/data behind it. About the same with Bullseye, RedDot and 700X, but watch out for double charges. I am thoroughly convinced that the unrepeatable blown gun from 'reduced charges' is from double charging. To my knowledge, 'detonation' of reduced charges hasnt been reproduced in a lab but the very same 'blown gun' results can be duplicated with a double charge; go figure...and none of the owners of blown guns wants to admit to a failure of himself. Human nature and denial go hand in hand. I dont want that blown gun to be mine and in my hand, and/or with a buddy standing near.......

[yukondog]

I agree with gcrank1 on ball powders they meter well, my favorite has to H-110. I try to stay away from powders that only give partial fill just for that reason, 2400 is a littel dirty but my guns seem to like it pretty good so I dont mind the extra cleaning, besides it keeps me out of the house and in my shop far away from the honey-do-list.

[watkibe]

I have found one good application for 2400. It's the powder I use under 165 gr cast round nosed bullets in my 357 Maximum single shot rifle. It's a good, moderate, plinking and practice load.