Wreck-n-Crew
New member
Been looking forward to running some test using various hand loads in a carbine and a pistol. Common thinking that the velocity increase in the carbine will produce a measurable increase in velocity percentages over faster powders and some factory ammo. So i set out using 3 of the four powders i have on hand to see just how much increase is possible.
Its common knowledge that some of the slowest burning powders are used for rifle and some of the fastest burners for Shotgun and common pistol calibers like 9mm, 45, and 40 respectively. Between those lies a variety of powders that are slower burning and load many calibers as well as shotgun. once again... common knowledge...
Powder choices were Unique, Red Dot and Power Pistol. I loaded enough for a five shot string for use in both the pistol and the Carbine. First mistake was made here with only loading 5 each. I failed to account for errors and other unforeseen issues and my ammo ran short. Some strings were only 4 in lieu of 5. The biggest issue is the Power Pistol muzzle blast was causing Chronograph read errors and velocity readings in the 300FPS range. I had to move it back to 15ft (rifle setup distances) to prevent the errors on the pistol test. Wow...all I can Say. I wasted too many rounds doing this...lesson learned.
Some notes worth mentioning:
The hand loads all were coated bullets and were not my own. I have not had to chance to do a batch or i would have used my own. So improvised I have
Components used
Company make: Precision Bullets
Material:Hard swaged coated
Weight: 115gr
Profile:RP
Primer: Winchester SPP
Brass: Mixed Head stamp
OAl: 1.10"
Factory ammo used:
Remington Green Box 115gr FMJ
Chronograph:
CE Prochrono Digital
Note on loads: None were max with the exception of the 9mm Red Dot load and it was at max according to one published source. some Data has Max at .2gr less than What I used. So
Warning, Some Data Using Alliant Red Dot Smokeless Powder in this test exceed max load data in SOME published data and any use or copy of said data in your firearm is not advised. furthermore i am not responsible should anyone cause harm to themselves, their firearm, or anyone else who may be in the vicinity should a failure, ricochet, over penetration, or any other type of loss as a result of using said load
I had three firearms with me as I was testing some Power Pistol Loads and Red Dot Loads in 10mm with the Chronograph. The 10mm was not a part of the reason for the test but I figured id throw the result in anyway. Also Used was a 44 Magnum Carbine with only one Factory load and I also threw those in the results because of the interesting velocities recorded. The 44 magnum was rifle length at 20"
Firearms Used in the Test:
1st Pistol:
Tanfoglio Witness Elite Match
Caliber: 10mm
Barrel length: 5"
2nd Pistol used:
Sarsilmaz B6P
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Barrel Length: 4.5"
Carbine used: Hi Point 995
caliber: 9mm Luger
Barrel length: 16.5"
Note: in the following strings data from errors or lack of loaded ammo will be Omitted from the string and averages will be based on string size.
Sar B6p Hi Point Carbine
Unique 5.3 Gr
1186 1390
1092 1460
1128 1430
1130 1400
AVG 1134 AVG 1420
PP 5.6gr
1105 1384
1112 1409
1061 1404
1135 1330
AVG: 1103.25 AVG:1381
PP 5.8gr
1080 1450
1199 1374
1233 1491
1224 1466
1224
AVG: 1192 AVG: 1445
PP 6.0gr
error 1470
1240 1461
1229 1525
1211 1481
1212 1476
AVG: 1223 AVG:1482.6
PP 6.2gr
1244 1508
1240 1491
1226 1539
1227 1499
1243 1583
AVG: 1236 AVG: 1524
Red Dot 4.1gr*
1200 1419
1189 1297
1203 1317
1179 1330
1182
AVG:1190.6 AVG: 1340.75
Factory Ammo: Remington UMC 115gr Green Box
1149 1317
1125 1337
1109 1318
1133 1273
1117 1322
AVG: 1126.6 AVG: 1313.4
Other test not related using the 10mm Witness Elite and Marlin 44Mag......
Pistol: Witness Elite Match
Caliber:10mm
Barrel length: 5"
Powder: Red Dot
Load: 5.8gr
Bullet: 170 Gr SWC Cast & Powder Coated
1035
959
1024
1051
956
AVG:1005
Powder: Power Pistol
Load 8.1gr
Bullet: 155gr RNFP Precision Hard Swaged Coated Bullet
1004
1201
1159
1164
1169
AVG1139.4
Both loads below Max.
Rifle: Marlin Leveraction
Caliber: 44 Magnum
Barrel length: 20"
Bullet: Winchester 244gr JSP
1711
1691
1758
1721
1685
AVG: 1713.2
Man that Power Pistol was moving!
Final notes:
I haven't crunched the numbers but i dont see a large percentage gap at first sight between slow and fast powders. Maybe the numbers will show a smaller increase than i thought.
I also noticed that contrary to some reports that coated bullets are a smidgen slower than a FMJ or Plated round but I did not see that. Also those 6.2 gr 9mm loads in the Carbine were at .357 velocities. it was funny how you could hear the bullets smack the target with a thud. Awesome day.
I took a lot more away from this day than just the 9mm loads. looking at the 44 mag speeds was surprising from what i thought they would be.
Also the Power pistol 10mm loads were not hot at all. Actually on the low end but they were loud! Well it is power pistol. Also the light Red Dot 10mm loads were quiet...like 9mm quiet without the concussion of a standard 10mm round.
Its common knowledge that some of the slowest burning powders are used for rifle and some of the fastest burners for Shotgun and common pistol calibers like 9mm, 45, and 40 respectively. Between those lies a variety of powders that are slower burning and load many calibers as well as shotgun. once again... common knowledge...
Powder choices were Unique, Red Dot and Power Pistol. I loaded enough for a five shot string for use in both the pistol and the Carbine. First mistake was made here with only loading 5 each. I failed to account for errors and other unforeseen issues and my ammo ran short. Some strings were only 4 in lieu of 5. The biggest issue is the Power Pistol muzzle blast was causing Chronograph read errors and velocity readings in the 300FPS range. I had to move it back to 15ft (rifle setup distances) to prevent the errors on the pistol test. Wow...all I can Say. I wasted too many rounds doing this...lesson learned.
Some notes worth mentioning:
The hand loads all were coated bullets and were not my own. I have not had to chance to do a batch or i would have used my own. So improvised I have
Components used
Company make: Precision Bullets
Material:Hard swaged coated
Weight: 115gr
Profile:RP
Primer: Winchester SPP
Brass: Mixed Head stamp
OAl: 1.10"
Factory ammo used:
Remington Green Box 115gr FMJ
Chronograph:
CE Prochrono Digital
Note on loads: None were max with the exception of the 9mm Red Dot load and it was at max according to one published source. some Data has Max at .2gr less than What I used. So
Warning, Some Data Using Alliant Red Dot Smokeless Powder in this test exceed max load data in SOME published data and any use or copy of said data in your firearm is not advised. furthermore i am not responsible should anyone cause harm to themselves, their firearm, or anyone else who may be in the vicinity should a failure, ricochet, over penetration, or any other type of loss as a result of using said load
I had three firearms with me as I was testing some Power Pistol Loads and Red Dot Loads in 10mm with the Chronograph. The 10mm was not a part of the reason for the test but I figured id throw the result in anyway. Also Used was a 44 Magnum Carbine with only one Factory load and I also threw those in the results because of the interesting velocities recorded. The 44 magnum was rifle length at 20"
Firearms Used in the Test:
1st Pistol:
Tanfoglio Witness Elite Match
Caliber: 10mm
Barrel length: 5"
2nd Pistol used:
Sarsilmaz B6P
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Barrel Length: 4.5"
Carbine used: Hi Point 995
caliber: 9mm Luger
Barrel length: 16.5"
Note: in the following strings data from errors or lack of loaded ammo will be Omitted from the string and averages will be based on string size.
Sar B6p Hi Point Carbine
Unique 5.3 Gr
1186 1390
1092 1460
1128 1430
1130 1400
AVG 1134 AVG 1420
PP 5.6gr
1105 1384
1112 1409
1061 1404
1135 1330
AVG: 1103.25 AVG:1381
PP 5.8gr
1080 1450
1199 1374
1233 1491
1224 1466
1224
AVG: 1192 AVG: 1445
PP 6.0gr
error 1470
1240 1461
1229 1525
1211 1481
1212 1476
AVG: 1223 AVG:1482.6
PP 6.2gr
1244 1508
1240 1491
1226 1539
1227 1499
1243 1583
AVG: 1236 AVG: 1524
Red Dot 4.1gr*
1200 1419
1189 1297
1203 1317
1179 1330
1182
AVG:1190.6 AVG: 1340.75
Factory Ammo: Remington UMC 115gr Green Box
1149 1317
1125 1337
1109 1318
1133 1273
1117 1322
AVG: 1126.6 AVG: 1313.4
Other test not related using the 10mm Witness Elite and Marlin 44Mag......
Pistol: Witness Elite Match
Caliber:10mm
Barrel length: 5"
Powder: Red Dot
Load: 5.8gr
Bullet: 170 Gr SWC Cast & Powder Coated
1035
959
1024
1051
956
AVG:1005
Powder: Power Pistol
Load 8.1gr
Bullet: 155gr RNFP Precision Hard Swaged Coated Bullet
1004
1201
1159
1164
1169
AVG1139.4
Both loads below Max.
Rifle: Marlin Leveraction
Caliber: 44 Magnum
Barrel length: 20"
Bullet: Winchester 244gr JSP
1711
1691
1758
1721
1685
AVG: 1713.2
Man that Power Pistol was moving!
Final notes:
I haven't crunched the numbers but i dont see a large percentage gap at first sight between slow and fast powders. Maybe the numbers will show a smaller increase than i thought.
I also noticed that contrary to some reports that coated bullets are a smidgen slower than a FMJ or Plated round but I did not see that. Also those 6.2 gr 9mm loads in the Carbine were at .357 velocities. it was funny how you could hear the bullets smack the target with a thud. Awesome day.
I took a lot more away from this day than just the 9mm loads. looking at the 44 mag speeds was surprising from what i thought they would be.
Also the Power pistol 10mm loads were not hot at all. Actually on the low end but they were loud! Well it is power pistol. Also the light Red Dot 10mm loads were quiet...like 9mm quiet without the concussion of a standard 10mm round.