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Range Report - 180gr WFN-FB HiTek Coated (.357 Mag)

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Replies

  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Yeah.........
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    knitepoet wrote: »
    Now for the IMPORTANT question....
    Notice any LEADING when you cleaned it???

    Haven't cleaned it yet. Still testing loads and have more results to post.............
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Well, there is no zeroing the GP-100 with these loads. It is flat bottomed out. I will either have to aim low or get a different front sight. BUGGAR!!!!!

    Here is the progression of impact.

    180grWFN-GCPOI5_zpsbd68b1d9.jpg
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Next, I tried the 180gr loads in my 340 M&P.

    HELLO!!!! ( 1st shot is a 110gr factory load / 2nd shot is a 180gr handload)

    th_IMG_3345_zps8c57611d.mp4

    IMG_3347_zps92faed7b.png

    IMG_3348_zps7deaf6a8.png

    That sucker's got some get up an GO!!! I tell you what.........that ain't no hand shake. Joker thumps your palm without a doubt.

    Here is a 110gr frame capture at max recoil for comparison.

    IMG_3346_zps21404c00.png

    I ran a similar POI test with the 180gr loads in the 340 M&P with fixed XS Big Dot sights.

    180grWFN-GCPOI1_zps9ffcbf02.jpg

    I fired 1 round at 5 yards, 1 round at 7 yards, and 1 round at 10 yards. Thinking I'd screwed the pooch on the 10 yards shot............I fired another at 10 yards. Nope. No pooch screwing. That sucker jumps up from 7-10 yards. I didn't even try 15.

    For comparison, I did the same thing with the 110gr factory loads.

    180grWFN-GCPOI3_zps18daac61.jpg

    Well, ain't that a crock. This science project is NOT going well.

    So, as it stands...........I don't know what I'm going to do next.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • JasonMPDJasonMPD Posts: 6,583 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    Well, there is no zeroing the GP-100 with these loads. It is flat bottomed out. I will either have to aim low or get a different front sight. BUGGAR!!!!!

    Here is the progression of impact.

    180grWFN-GCPOI5_zpsbd68b1d9.jpg

    Effects of pre-bullet-exit muzzle climb?

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
    “There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” – Will Rogers
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    JasonMPD wrote: »
    Effects of pre-bullet-exit muzzle climb?

    I guess.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • WeatherbyWeatherby Posts: 4,953 Senior Member
    Well on the bright side you can only kill something "so" dead
  • WeatherbyWeatherby Posts: 4,953 Senior Member
    practicing for that 1000 yard steel shot ?
  • NNNN Posts: 25,236 Senior Member
    Bullet is just too heavy and thus slow leaving the barrel
    Get some 158 gr and be able to hit where you aim
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    Just use a "center crotch" POA at 25 yards!
    Jerry
  • WeatherbyWeatherby Posts: 4,953 Senior Member
    Teach wrote: »
    Just use a "center crotch" POA at 25 yards!
    Jerry

    His or the targets ?
  • BigslugBigslug Posts: 9,875 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    Well, ain't that a crock. This science project is NOT going well.

    So, as it stands...........I don't know what I'm going to do next.

    Fear not my brother! I have your front sight problem SOLVED!: http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/parts_store/front_sights.html

    Couple options there for you - extra tall and file to fit. Since you have an adjustable rear, I'm thinking extra tall is the way to roll.
    WWJMBD?

    "Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
  • breamfisherbreamfisher Posts: 14,114 Senior Member
    Zed,
    FYI your Redhawk front sight should fit your GP-100 and might be tall enough to compensate.

    Or you can go with:
    http://parts.bowenclassicarms.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=27
    http://parts.bowenclassicarms.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=26
    http://shopruger.com/Ruger-Front-Sight-Set/productinfo/90047/

    Redhawk front sight is $9 at Midway, $10 at Brownells.
    Meh.
  • Ernie BishopErnie Bishop Posts: 8,609 Senior Member
    Weatherby wrote: »
    practicing for that 1000 yard steel shot ?
    :rotflmao:
    Ernie

    "The Un-Tactical"
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    HOPE!!!!!

    Being as I never throw anything away that's gun related, I found another sight in my cave in the GP100 box. I guess I got it at the same time as the other. But.....it's a tad taller.

    Current
    IMG_3355_zps7c216ee4.jpg

    New
    IMG_3353_zps4be3f65c.jpg

    Ain't much........but maybe it'll do the trick. Even if it cuts the POI in half, I'll be happy.

    It's roughly .052" higher than the one I was using.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • WeatherbyWeatherby Posts: 4,953 Senior Member
    That will make a big difference
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Weatherby wrote: »
    That will make a big difference

    Already installed. Maybe I can hit the range again tomorrow.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Old
    IMG_3358_zps9060c737.jpg

    New
    IMG_3357_zpsdbff50c4.jpg
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Weatherby wrote: »
    practicing for that 1000 yard steel shot ?

    Look out, Jerry! Here I come!!!
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    OK-- - - -belly button hold for COM hit!
    Jerry
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    cpj wrote: »
    Watch for the bullets pulling due to recoil.

    I fired a couple cylinders out of the little Smith this afternoon. No issues or sign of bullet pulling. At least, not enough to bind the cylinder. That makes me happy.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Teach wrote: »
    OK-- - - -belly button hold for COM hit!
    Jerry

    :up:
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Happy ME!!!!!

    Went to the range to try the same loads with the new front sight. I didn't change anything on the rear sight. Just popped in the new front and shot the gun. Here are the results. Odd at that.

    180grWFN-FBLoadwithnewsight7_zpsc80b45d5.jpg

    Riddle me this:
    1. The "group" is lower as expected with the higher sight.
    2. The string goes DOWN instead of up this time.
    3. The string is more condensed.

    Why?

    Anyway, I adjusted the rear sight and sighted the gun in at 10 yards. Which, judging by the "string".........seemed like a happy medium.

    10 Yard Zero
    180grWFN-FBLoadwithnewsight5_zps0ea34226.jpg

    10 Yard Zero Confirmation
    180grWFN-FBLoadwithnewsight4_zps71ee2d97.jpg

    Then, i moved back to 25 yards to see where the group went.

    25 Yards
    180grWFN-FBLoadwithnewsight6_zps413d5fa7.jpg

    I am apparently altering my POA according to the size of the target. I think I'm holding a tad lower (lollipop) on smaller targets and a tad higher (center) on larger targets. I don't know. But, either way...................I got it sighted in!!!!!!!!!!

    HAPPY!!!!
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • Ernie BishopErnie Bishop Posts: 8,609 Senior Member
    I would be happy too!
    Ernie

    "The Un-Tactical"
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    That should be some serious thump to anything within threat distance, and not much necessity to alter your sight picture to compensate for the load. How does it perform with lighter-weight bullets now, in case you need to grab some factory ammo in a pinch? I would think there won't be a great deal of difference with 158 grain ammo, but that will depend on how much recoil you're compensating for with the thumpers. Good shooting, BTW!
    Jerry
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    Teach wrote: »
    That should be some serious thump to anything within threat distance, and not much necessity to alter your sight picture to compensate for the load. How does it perform with lighter-weight bullets now, in case you need to grab some factory ammo in a pinch? I would think there won't be a great deal of difference with 158 grain ammo, but that will depend on how much recoil you're compensating for with the thumpers. Good shooting, BTW!
    Jerry

    Yeah, I think it'll do what I want it to. Maybe I can actually take a pig with it. That would be cool in my book.

    Like an idiot, I didn't take any of the 110gr factory ammo to the range with me today. I was so stressed about getting the 180 loads to work I didn't think about it. But, you're right. I should check their POI with the new sight and zero.

    Thanks for for all your help!! You've been very gracious with your knowledge.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    Glad to help! It was a real education when I started working up a 300 grain heavy hard cast load for my 6" barreled .45 Blackhawk. I encountered the same problems with a tight cylinder front, and then the recoil was heavy enough to require a Hogue Monogrip to avoid cutting and bruising my hands. I was interested in having a stopper backup on a canned hog hunt, which wasn't necessary because I dropped my hog with one shot from a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. Of course a 250 grain round nose handload loafing along at about 1800 FPS went about 18" diagonally through a 250 Lb. porker, from in front of the shoulder to exit ahead of the off-side ham. The dogs had it bayed up in the roots of a big deadfall tree so the range was about 15 yards!
    Jerry
  • jaywaptijaywapti Posts: 5,116 Senior Member
    Lots of good info on this post, I know about heavy bullets raising the POI, but since I've never loaded cast bullets, and generally stick with one bullet weight, I have no experience with that problem.

    As a side note its interesting that the 2 new Charter Arms I got the .357 has a built in muzzle break but the .44 doesn't .

    JAY
    THE DEFINITION OF GUN CONTROL IS HITTING THE TARGET WITH YOUR FIRST SHOT
  • JeeperJeeper Posts: 2,954 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    I'm also realizing that my cylinder chambers aren't uniform. A round that sticks in one chamber, fits perfectly in another chamber. It's kinda, sorta, maybe PISSING me off a tad.

    While accurizing some revolvers a friend and I discovered just what "within tolerance" means for most manufacturers. It means that most dimensions are NOT all that precise. We also discovered that almost every revolver we owned (all S&W or Ruger) has a restrictive forcing cone that virtually GUARANTEES some degree of inaccuracy with cast bullets.

    If you have not already slugged your barrel to check for this, I suggest you do so.

    Luis
    Wielding the Hammer of Thor first requires you to lift and carry the Hammer of Thor. - Bigslug
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,455 Senior Member
    On a longer barrel, I might consider it. Not likely for a 4" barrel with iron sights. It already shoots better than I can.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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