Is the 158 grain 1500 fps

I might make some members mad, or at the least...a little upset but...... Too much emphasis is being put on barrel length in relation to velocities. In the real world, barrel length is all relative.

Get a copy of SPEER Manual #12 and flip to pg.434. Dave Andrews explains "WHY BALLISTICIANS GET GRAY" (the actual title), and has a list of revolvers, single-shots, and rifles with barrel lengths from 2.50" to 24.0" w/ test bbl. @ 10" with 125; 140; and 158gr loads.

It should [at least] explain to some, that, barrel length is NOT the last word in the Nth FPS in any load shot in various firearms.

Give it a read and check for yourself. Just my $.02.

WILL
 
From what I recall, the Alliant "manual" is putting most of them in the 1300-1400 fps range.
Until you get to the Power Pro 300 MP.
Advertized at 1600 fps.

Might want to check it out. I don't have my "manual" in front of me at the moment. Just going by memory.
 
7 Mag: If I'm not mistaken, Alliant data is mirrored in the SPEER Manuals, and no info on barrel length is printed in the Alliant manuals, at least, not in the ones I have.

As posted before, by another member, it does no good for a company to use [X]" barrel length....with, or, without porting.....as there is no specification of the amount of area under the vents which would equal the barrel/cylinder gap space...etc., or any other data for that matter, as it pertains ONLY to the testing done by that facility with the components used THEN. It's all relevant, and each single-shot pistol, revolver, semi-auto, or whatever else you wish to compare is EACH a law unto itself, and no two will ever be identical in anything about them.

Whatever velocity(ies) may be achieved by gun (A) w/*X* length barrel at SAFE pressures may very well destruct gun(B), and take you with it, if attempting to achieve gun (A)'s velocity, even with the same barrel length........Just a thought.

WILL.
 
The fastest I can push a 158 out of 18.5" barrel is 1686 fps.

That same loading out of a 6" GP100 gave me 1342 fps.

The Buffalo Bore 158JHP gave me 1346 fps out of the same gun.

No way you can get 1500 out of a 6" gun. Maybe from an 8", but I highly doubt it.
 
No way you can get 1500 out of a 6" gun.
Click to expand...

If you had said 4", I would agree. With a 6", it depends on the gun. Medium frame guns will probably give you sticky extraction when you get close to 1500fps. Large frame guns may not.

I wish I had chrono data on some hot 158s, but I don't. Although based on some data I do have with 125s, I expect I can get 1500+ from a 6" N frame S&W, pushing hard.

A friend had some 125gr ammo, loaded hot (for rifle, it turned out). Fired from his 6" model 19 (k frame) turned in clocked 1620fps. Was too hot for his pistol, cases had to be driven out of the cylinder with a rod.

Same ammo, fired from 6" Model 28 (N frame), clocked 1670fps. Cases ejected with normal hand pressure.

1670fps. 125grJHP. based on that, I think a hard driven 158gr would crack 1500 OUT OF THAT GUN! What you can get out of a different gun depends on the different gun.
 
Sorry I don't have the link

But I watched a YouTube vid from a guy in Australia with a Coonan 357 claiming over 1500 fps with 158 grains out of the factory barrel....ummmmmm....ok
 
My 6 inch Coonan gets 1800 FPS with the buffalo bore 125 grain bullets. I Would guess that it gets 1500 from the 158 grain fairly easily.
 
As a reloader, I would add it is just about pressure. 1500 for a 158 out a 6" gun can easily be done. Can it be done safely is the other question.

I am sure I have tossed 158's out of my 5.5" redhawk 357 Magnum at over 1500. I also know I was just testing limits and I won't post the load or the velocity online at all. I got chewed out for exceeding XX grns of 2400 a while back but my gun can take it easily. The brass just dropped out with the lightest touch of the ejector.

Look up some 353 Casull loads and see what you can do.

I would not recommend them in ANYTHING other than a 353, Md83 or possibly a Redhawk if you are careful.
 
I started using the Lyman 46 manual when it first came out. Up until then I was using my pop's older manuals with the plastic rings in them from the early to mid 60's. I worked up some of the 357 loads to the top listed charge weights for my GP-100 for hunting. I cannot say what the velocity was then but they were very accurate and exhibited plenty of pop and flash. To be honest I hadn't even looked at the listed barrel lenght until about a year or so after working up the loads. They used a 4" and mine is 6".

I can however say this, the newer #49 manual list a load of 13grs of AA-9 for a cast 170gr SWC for a velocity of 1231fps out of a 4" test barrel and I get just over 1300 out of my GP-100's with 6" barrels using the same load. Granted it is a heavier bullet, but I can attest to hunting with these same bullets it doesn't take 1500fps to put the hurt on something real good. The ones I haven't had a chance to use while hunting are the MP 359-640's. (link to some pics) Not mine which is why I link to them. I do however have these that I was testing when I worked up the load,
attachment.php


Mine are 160grs when sized and lubed, and thee were loaded over 13grs of AA-9 topping just over 1300fps from my GP and were recovered from my bucket trap at 25yds. I really want to put one to use on some medium sized feral hogs for the freezer though. I don't think they would do the trick on one much over 150# but they should do just fine on that and below. Of course the best thing about those molds is the selection of pins you get with them so I can cast a flat nosed of the same bullet which weighs 170grs from my alloy and will punch right through the full length of my bucket at 25yds with the same load.
 
That was a 1907 Husqvarna which is the 1903 Browning design.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Model_1903
It was originally in 9mmBrowning, and sold as surplus bushed to 380.
The magazine will feed 1.09" ammo, which is sort of cheating.
Many of the other 380s I have tested can only feed 0.97" ammo.
It has a heavy slide, long barrel, thick chamber walls, and great case support.
 
Thanks for the information about the Husqvarna and the link to the 1903.

(I was wondering about getting a 158 grain bullet into a .380 case.)
 
9mm

It was originally in 9mmBrowning, and sold as surplus bushed to 380.
The magazine will feed 1.09" ammo, which is sort of cheating.
Many of the other 380s I have tested can only feed 0.97"
Click to expand...

I'd love to see a picture of that gun. Bushed from 9mm Browning Long (9X20) to 9mm Browning Corto (.380 ACP/9X17)
From your description, It sounds like it is still more 9mm than .380. How do the different length cases headspace....on the rim, the extractor, or the case mouth?
Still though, the question about pressures.....OK, you have a very strong gun.....at what pressure is the round operating?
I ask because pressure has to be very high. The larger 9mm Luger (9X19) case runs a 147 grain bullet at a bit over 1000fps at, depending on the powder, around 30Kpsi. I cannot find pressure specs for the rarer 9mm Browning.
(Saami 9mm Luger +p max is 38.7kpsi)
So you have a smaller case, a heavier bullet, and a 18% increase in velocity.....
Proof pressure for the 9mm Luger is at 45.7Kpsi
I suspect that the smaller .380 case loaded as above will be close to/more than that. It'd be interesting to know.

Pete
 
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