At what point do you use a weaker load for better accuracy?
Specifically, I have just started reloading again for my Charter Bulldog 2.5" DAO 44 special. I bought 200 of the Speer GDHP 200gr .429 bullets, had some Hunter's supply 200gr LRNFP on hand from my first adventures in reloading several years ago and am currently testing loads with Titegroup and Power Pistol.
So after testing a few loads, I have found that my Bulldog really likes a load of 5.6gr of Titegroup under the GDHP. I also am good with 7.6gr of Power Pistol. (The load data is from the Speer website for these bullets)
So the issue is this: I do not have a chronograph, but the Power Pistol load should be getting roughly 30-40fps more than the Titegroup load according to Speer's data. However, Today I was getting ~2" five-shot groups at 7 yards with the 5.6gr of Titegroup and ~3" five-shot groups with the Power Pistol. I know neither of these are amazing for some people, but are both quite good groupings for me with a SD load. I consistently got 4-5" groups shooting the Underwood Bulldog specific GD load I previously had (which is definitely more powerful and harder recoiling than either of these loads tested).
The question is: Would any of you give up say about 40FPS MV from a snub 44spl to have 2" or smaller groups vs a 3-3.5" group, or would you give up the smaller groupings and faster followup shots for an increased chance of the HP expanding given that these loads are likely around the minimum published velocities for guaranteed expansion and even 3.5" puts all five shots within center mass?
Specifically, I have just started reloading again for my Charter Bulldog 2.5" DAO 44 special. I bought 200 of the Speer GDHP 200gr .429 bullets, had some Hunter's supply 200gr LRNFP on hand from my first adventures in reloading several years ago and am currently testing loads with Titegroup and Power Pistol.
So after testing a few loads, I have found that my Bulldog really likes a load of 5.6gr of Titegroup under the GDHP. I also am good with 7.6gr of Power Pistol. (The load data is from the Speer website for these bullets)
So the issue is this: I do not have a chronograph, but the Power Pistol load should be getting roughly 30-40fps more than the Titegroup load according to Speer's data. However, Today I was getting ~2" five-shot groups at 7 yards with the 5.6gr of Titegroup and ~3" five-shot groups with the Power Pistol. I know neither of these are amazing for some people, but are both quite good groupings for me with a SD load. I consistently got 4-5" groups shooting the Underwood Bulldog specific GD load I previously had (which is definitely more powerful and harder recoiling than either of these loads tested).
The question is: Would any of you give up say about 40FPS MV from a snub 44spl to have 2" or smaller groups vs a 3-3.5" group, or would you give up the smaller groupings and faster followup shots for an increased chance of the HP expanding given that these loads are likely around the minimum published velocities for guaranteed expansion and even 3.5" puts all five shots within center mass?