Some chronograph results from this morning...

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Not sure why they uploaded sideways but it's still readable:)

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Always interesting to see how the loads chronograph in your own guns and how that compares to others' data. Barrell length does make a difference. Just for comparison sake, here is some of my data from back in the late 1980's:

357 Mag - 356158 @ 14.0/2400
..Ruger 10" 1467
..Ruger 6" 1404
..Python 8" 1434

44 Mag - 429421 @ 10.0/Unique..Redhawk 7" 1157
44 Mag - 429421 @ 21.0/2400..Redhawk 7" 1472

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A tight BC gap helps too. My 5.5" TLA will out run both my 7.5" SBH and 8 3/8" S&W by 50 to 100 FPS.

I would have to look at my notes but 10.0 gr Unique breaks 1200 and 21.0 gr 2400 is nipping on 1500 FPS.

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Tight chambers make a huge difference as well.

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It always amazed me how hard you have to run a .357 out of a 4-5" barrel to break 1200-1250 FPS with a 158gr bullet. Where .44 will do it from a 4" with out much trouble with a 250gr. For me the .357 gets to be unpleasant to shoot when I really start to stand on it. I just don't like the blast and snappy recoil.

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Look what you get in a .44 Magnum with a 250 grain Keith bullet and10 grains Unique...1100+ fps, easy to shoot all day long and extremely accurate. The 21/2400 load is very accurate as well but you feel that extra 160-170 or so fps in the S&W. Not bad at all though in my 4 5/8" SBH. I'd carry a .44 over a .357 any day if it wasn't for the size difference. I still haven't settled on a .357 load that is a keeper...at least in this GP100 (my only current .357)...save for 4.5 grains unique over cast 158-160's in 38 cases. But I'd really like to find a good accurate 158 XTP full power magnum load (at least in the 1100 fps range) that is accurate for a carry load. The 16.7 is ok but not anything to get excited about. Still working on it though.

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The way I look at it is 10.0gr of unique comes pretty close to the Keith load in a .44 special. I seldom shoot anything heavier through my S&Ws.

I looked at my notes and I was little off 21.0 gr 2400 and a Keith go around- 1450. And 10.0 unique was 1165.

With the 2400 load the TLA beat my 8 3/8" S&W by 82 FPS and with 20.0 gr WC820 it beat my 7.5 SBH by 35 FPS. With a MAG primer in the TLA jumped to 110FPS gain, but I didn't shoot that primer with the S&W . Or if I did I didn't record it.

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What kind of velocities are you getting from 20/WC820 and especially if you shoot it in other guns than the TLA since it would be higher than usual. I'm guessing you're talking about with a Keith bullet. I worked up to 20 or 20.5 grains with it and I'll have to look back and see but I think it was with XTP's rather than the Keith's. I didn't want to go further until I chronographed them and it's been on my to-do list ever since. I also think I was using standard primers at the time forgetting that I used WLP in my old .45 Colt loads with WC820. I need to start over with Keith bullets and WLP primers.

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250gr Lyman 429421 WC820 21.0gr Federal LP Mag. S&W 629 8.375 1494fps 9/3/2001

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That's moving pretty good. My 20 or 20.5 grain load sure felt a lot milder than that but it was with a jacketed bullet and a 4 5/8" barrel. That is gonna be my next chronograph test starting at 20 grains and Keith bullets. It was extremely accurate in my .45 Bisley and I suspect it will be in the .44 as well. I sure have a lot of it!

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lock, blueprinted everything and set the b/c gap at .0015". Too tight, really, as it will drag in less than 100rnds. But I wanted to see, so I saw. :-D

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My lot of 820 was WAY slower that what most everyone else reports. It is very close to H110/296. To equal H110 velocity I only have to reduce the powder charge by about 3-5%. I went through a 8 # jug just working with loads in all the calibers I have that it is suitable for. I still have a jug or so left but wish I would have bought more.

That was a start load for working up with a Win primer. The 7.5" was going around 1215 FPS. In my TLA it was going 1240 FPS. I topped out at 23.0 and a CCI 550 for around 1400-1450 out of my TLA. ( depending on which brand of Keith bullet or a 429244) with 22.0gr CCI550 and the 429244 my TLA is really accurate. It shoots the Keith bullet quite well too but there is a slight edge with the gas check over 1400.

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One probably has 5 pounds left and the other is unopened. I figure I'll start back at 20 grains and work up with the Keith bullets and the chronograph shooting for 1200-1250 fps. I really don't need anything more than the 10 grain Unique load but I have all that powder so I ought to use it. I may see how it does in the .357. It might give me a good magnum load and would certainly go farther and I may just stick with the Unique load in the .44.

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1200-1250 with mine is on the bottom end of the usefulness of the powder. My ES was over 100. A mag primer and more powder brought that number into the 40s, but velocity is well above what you are looking for.

Ignition can be sporadic if you go too low. I stuck a bullet in my .500 Linebaugh 27.0 gr and a 450gr bullet. Velocity was about 1075 but one shot left the bullet in the forcing cone with a glob of charred powder behind it.

I like it in the smaller calibers like .327, .30 Carbine .357 it works great.

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And if it works, reserve it for that. There really isn't much to gain in the .44 over 10/Unique and 21/2400 other than economy and I'm not sure we can replace the 820. I figure it will go farther in the .357.

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I would give you the data I worked up but since my lot is so different it wouldn't do you much good. Mine does much prefer magnum primers.

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in my .45 Colt load. 23 grains ran a 270 SAA almost 1250 fps. That was the most accurate load I ever ran through any of my .45 Colts.

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Sideways images...

I rotated them for you.

Awesome, thank you! NM