I just came back from the range where I checked newly developed "home defense" loads for my .410/.45 "Judge" with a 3-inch barrel.
I used the Hornady Handbook, 4th Edition:
1) Hornady XTP 250gr
13.0gr of 2400 CCI 350Mag primer 800 fps(MAx = 13.3gr for 850fps)
2) Hornady 200gr cast #4526 SWC
13.5gr 2400 CCI 350 Mag primer 900fps (Max =14.6gr, 1000fps)
3) All American 200gr cast - same load as Hornady cast
The first load fired with nothing unexpected but sooty cases and evidence of unburned powder granules. 5- shot Group was all in a 4-inch square at 25 yards
Load #2 produced a normal sounding report with the first shot, then shot #2 made a "pphhttt"leaving me to believe there was no powder in that case. I saw the bullet hole in the target but I opened the cylinder anyway to find
unburned powder still in the case, the cylinders and the barrel. I cleaned everything out and fired the next 3, finding the same exact situation each time. However, all shots were in the target but with a scattered spread within the 5-inch square.
Load #3 did the same thing as load #2. I only fired 3 shots but the first 2 were touching each other while the third was a flyer because I just shot it to see if it would produce the same results: unburned powder in the bases, cylinder and barrel.
Why didn't the mag primer ignite all the powder? What's the diagnosis? I think I know but I want to see the opinions before I reveal my thoughts.
I used the Hornady Handbook, 4th Edition:
1) Hornady XTP 250gr
13.0gr of 2400 CCI 350Mag primer 800 fps(MAx = 13.3gr for 850fps)
2) Hornady 200gr cast #4526 SWC
13.5gr 2400 CCI 350 Mag primer 900fps (Max =14.6gr, 1000fps)
3) All American 200gr cast - same load as Hornady cast
The first load fired with nothing unexpected but sooty cases and evidence of unburned powder granules. 5- shot Group was all in a 4-inch square at 25 yards
Load #2 produced a normal sounding report with the first shot, then shot #2 made a "pphhttt"leaving me to believe there was no powder in that case. I saw the bullet hole in the target but I opened the cylinder anyway to find
unburned powder still in the case, the cylinders and the barrel. I cleaned everything out and fired the next 3, finding the same exact situation each time. However, all shots were in the target but with a scattered spread within the 5-inch square.
Load #3 did the same thing as load #2. I only fired 3 shots but the first 2 were touching each other while the third was a flyer because I just shot it to see if it would produce the same results: unburned powder in the bases, cylinder and barrel.
Why didn't the mag primer ignite all the powder? What's the diagnosis? I think I know but I want to see the opinions before I reveal my thoughts.