Sixshot, the 327 and 2400...

[Doc Barranti]

Posting some pics for Dick! He will fill you in on the details.....

[sixshot]

Did some additional testing today with the Miha 113 gr. GC HP bullet, its powder coated as always. I've been using Longshot powder but decided to try some Alliant 2400 & bump up the horsepower a bit. Both 10.5 grs. & 11 grs. were tried in my 8 shot Blackhawk, these loads might be a little toasty for your Single Sevens so always start lower because you can't seat in the crimp groove with your gun like I can.
As always when switching powder it takes a shot or two to make things settle down, at least for me & that first shot always seems to go high, always. The gun had been fired with a couple hundred rounds of Longshot & then I switched to 2400 & there went the high shot, then the next 7 dropped into just under 1 1/2", this at 20 yds shooting out the window of my truck. Not the most steady position but one I use a lot in the winter & it gives me a pretty good idea of the potential of the load. Remember, my loads are crimped in the crimp groove because of the longer cylinder. I had fired this load before & got vertical stringing using Federal primers, today with Winchester primers I did not.
Next I went back to my proven load of 5.5 grs of Longshot with the same 113 gr. HP bullet, again powder coated. Also the first shot went high & the next 7 clustered into a nice little group well under 1 1/4". Not bad for shooting out the window. I don't know the velocity of either load, its too cold & windy to chrono but both loads are minute of Ground Squirrel & yesterday I saw 2 Rock Chucks so its game on! I didn't get vertical stringing with Longshot & Federal primers like I did with 2400 powder.

Dick

[contender]

I'm gonna try some of the 2400 in my Blackhawk 327 if I can get the time. I'm currently working on a different caliber & load etc. All this is great info to start with!

[snappy]

Nice shooting Dick! I really gotta tighten up my groups so I have to ask ..................... what kind of tires are you running on that truck? haha

Always nice to hear from the crew up in Soda.

[hoover]

Yeah, how fast was the truck going when you shot! I bet they would tighten up if you slowed down a little. Great shooting as usual, Dick! I have a bunch of loads to try when the weather clears here. Still have around 5" of snow on the ground and had a bad ice storm last night. Hopefully later in the week.

[2 Dogs]

Amazing shooting considering that truck had to be rocking in the wind. Plus you got Callshot in the passenger seat wiggling around eating sunflower seeds....

Still, the PETA crowd (Paint Every Thing Available) bullets seem to be doing quite well!

REMEMBER, Dick is NOT shooting a 327 Single Seven, he is using the full size Blackhawk 327!!!!

[wdr2]

Dick - what color crocs give you these fine groups? Nice shooting.

Bill
Idaho Falls

[sheriff]

Dick, if you get one of those window mounts for a spotting scope and a threaded 'v' yoke from a shooting stick, it makes shooting out the window a lot easier.....
a little STP gas treatment will take some of the engine vibration away and help, too.

[callshot]

Russ, I put a flat board on my window mount and it works pretty good also. Dick hasn't seen or tried it yet. Fermin, I wasn't with Dick when he shot these groups. I'm glad to see the new acronym PETA because it will be easier to spell instead of Powdercoat Painting or lipstick bullets.

Good shooting Dick.

[sixshot]

I know a lot of people have commented about switching powders & having to fire a couple of shots to get their new load to settle down but I've never understood why those first shots always seems to go high, anyone else ever notice this? I remember several years ago JD Jones mentioning when switching powders that it takes a few shots for a new load to settle down & I've always had the same results but that first bullet going high has always baffled me. Thoughts?
I can't honestly say its 100% of the time but it seems like it. Also, it might be that I'm noticing it more since switching over to powder coating all my bullets.

Dick

[hoover]

Maybe the burnt residual powder residue affects the coefficient of friction of the barrel? After the first shot of a new powder, the barrel takes on a different characteristic of that powder? Just SWAGing it, Dick.

[wdr2]

I suspect hoover is correct about a slight change of the coefficient of friction. Powder fouling is not well understood and certainly differs between powders and pressure levels. Dick - you need some velocity measurements including that first shot to investigate this further.

[sixshot]

Bill, you are correct in that it has to be a velocity change with the first shot, just like fouling a barrel after cleaning. As soon as the weather starts getting better I'll get more serious about finding out whats going on. Probably after I get back from my bear hunt. Right now I'm content knowing the load with Longshot shoots very well & I'll whack some squirrels & chucks along with running a bunch of 385 gr. HP's through my Alan Harton 480. I need to talk with you one of these days about the upcoming gathering, it will be here before we know it.

Dick

[contender]

I too have seen where the first shot with something new seems to go elsewhere by itself. Kinda like a fouling shot with a rifle. I just shot 12 rounds out of one of my 45's friday, and it was with a new load. I had one "stray," in the group that was the first shot fired.

Work hard on the bear hunts & then we'll get more serious about the gathering!

[callshot]

Dick, take your first shot to warm up the barrel, at something else then shoot your group at the target. Just wondering if that would make any difference.