Questions on evaluating 1st handloads.

[Fyathyrio]

So, for those more experienced with chrono's and hand loading then I am...can the wind wiggling the chrono affect the readings? I shot four strings of between 15 and 20 ea, and got what seems to me a large spread across the groups. Could easily be that I suck as a reloader and have to get more consistant also...here's the info...

.45 ACP Hornady XTP 185 gr JHP, Starline brass, Wolf primers, Bullseye powder. Put together on Hornady LNL AP press.

1st string w/ 5.3 gr powder - Hi 907, lo 831, avg 874, spread 75
2nd string w/ 5.7 gr powder - Hi 957, lo 879, avg 925, spread 78
3rd string w/ 6.2 gr powder - Hi 1017, lo 960, 992, spread 56
4th string w/ 6.6 gr powder - Hi 1069, lo 1004, avg 1031, spread 65

Above powder load info came from Hornady's manual, but they're higher then anybody else. They said max load for this was 7 gr, didn't wanna go that high without testing 1st, and don't think I need to after seeing the results from the chrono. I was about 50 fps faster then Hornady for a given amount of powder, so that's steady at least, I know what my combo does compared to theirs used to develope the info.

Could be I wasn't getting even powder, went back and checked that and tweaked powder drop a touch to ensure full range of motion with shell. Could be I wasn't getting even bullet seating, but I checked frequently and was always within a couple thousands COL, or could be the wind moving the chrono...steady decent breeze going on the whole time I was shooting.

Whatcha think?

Thanks,
Mark

[Rwnielsen]

At handloads.com they show a 185-JHP over 6.7g bullseye seated to 1.275" @ 995fps. Sound like you're in the right neighborhood. The amount of time the bullet is actually over the chrono shouldn't be affected by a small amount of wind.
Richard

[LGB Loader]

I don't have my Hornady in front of me but my Lyman 48th says

185 gr Jacketed HP - 1.175 OAL

Starting Load: Bullseye 3.5 gr 610 fps 7,300 CUP

Max Load: Bullseye 6.0 gr 976 fps 18,000 CUP

[Fjold]

Your spreads are not unusual, you're running a deviation from the average of about 1/2 of one percent.


Alliant says that the max load with a 185 grain Jacketed bullet is 6.4 grains of Bullseye.


Minimum OAL(inches). Bbl Length. Primer. Powder. Charge Weight...........Velocity(fps)
............1.2............. 4.4......... CCI 300..Bullseye.. 6.4 grains............... 986

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipePrint.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=185&shellid=35&bulletid=59&bdid=186