.251 TCR Coming Together

[silvermane_1]

at 126ft/lbs this is definitely in the .22 Magnum range for a revolver with a barrel this length, and there's room to drive this bullet (and others) faster... we'll see what this will do with another 1/2gr. of Power Pistol!

Have you tried slow burning powder in the .251 TCR there Michael Tinker Pearce?

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Have you tried slow burning powder in the .251 TCR there Michael Tinker Pearce?

Not yet- With the short barrel I figured faster burning would be the way to go, at least initially. I'd like to put together a long-barreled gun and see what can be done, but for now budget doesn't allow, and honestly I've got my hands full developing the short-barrel loads.

 

[silvermane_1]

Not yet- With the short barrel I figured faster burning would be the way to go, at least initially. I'd like to put together a long-barreled gun and see what can be done, but for now budget doesn't allow, and honestly I've got my hands full developing the short-barrel loads.

Ah, gotcha there Michael Tinker Pearce, who knows somebody might donate a 4.5"+ barrel for the .251 TCR.

 

[joneb]

I like your idea, kinda a 270 ren for a revolver, best of luck I hope I get to shoot one some day : )

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

More .251 TCR testing from the 3-1/2" barreled test gun:

31gr. LHP, 2.5gr Unique, Federal #100 SPP

843fps., 49 ft./lbs.

SD: 79 fps.

31gr LHP, 2.8gr, Power Pistol, CCI 550 MSPP

1104 fps., 84 ft./lbs.

SD: 57 fps.

50gr. FMC, 3.5gr. Power Pistol, Federal #100 SPP

1108 fps., 136ft./lbs.

SD: 21 fps.

50gr. JHPWC, 3.5gr. Power Pistol, Federal #100 SPP

1013 fps., 114 ft./lbs.

SD: 13 fps.

65gr. LSWC, 2.8gr. Power Pistol, CCI 550 MSPP.

1038 fps., 155 ft./lbs

SD:15

The 31gr. LHP shows the largest standard deviation, while the 50 and 65gr loads are pretty tight.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Shooting the 35gr. GDHP at seven yards-


Not good at all. The bullets are yawing or even keyholing. The loads clocking 1450+ fps. were worse. The bullets just aren't stabilizing. I'll load them down to 1000fps., but if they aren't stable at that speed I'm giving up on them.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

More testing today-

31gr. JHPWC 2.5gr. Power Pistol, CCI 550 MSPP

726 fps 36 ft/lbs SD: 44.5

Since the 31gr. GDHPs weren't working out I swaged some of them into hollow-point jacketed wadcutters. I've started with a modest charge just to see if they would stabilize, and at this low velocity they have. Cookie-cutter holes with good accuracy. I'm going to go for more velocity, but may find I need to keep these sub-sonic. Never tried to drive a wadcutter over Mach 1, suspect it's not a good idea.

38gr. LSWC 2.5gr Power Pistol, CCI MSPP

875 fps 65 ft/lbs SD: 26.3

Cookie-cutter holes, good accuracy. They worked well at 912 fps, so there's room for more velocity. These are pretty soft lead, so I probably won't go much over 1000 fps.

57gr SPJSWC, 3.8gr. Power Pistol, CCI 550 MSPP

1078fps 147ft/lbs SD: 13.4 fps.

This load yielded mixed results; most hit the target squarely with good accuracy, but occasionally one would yaw or keyhole. I'm pushing the sound barrier here- maybe the odd faster than average bullet is hitting trans-sonic turbulence? I think this bullet shows promise; I'm going to back off the velocity slightly.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

The first gallery load is done-
31gr H&N Grizzly hollow-point pellet, 1.0gr. Power Pistol, Federal #100 SPP

257fps., 4.6 ft/lbs, SD: 27.5

They always leave the barrel, punch holes in paper, fly straight and group well at 15 feet. About what you want in an indoor gallery load.

 

[silvermane_1]

What's the rate of twist on the barrel?, is it the same as 25 ACP?, because there was/is the 25 NAA which is a 32 ACP necked down to a 25 cal and I think they(North American Arms) used the same rate of twist as a 25 ACP but I am not entirely positive about that, oh also pm me the info to your shop so I can can make it over there at some time in the near future.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

What's the rate of twist on the barrel?, is it the same as 25 ACP?, because there was/is the 25 NAA which is a 32 ACP necked down to a 25 cal and I think they(North American Arms) used the same rate of twist as a 25 ACP but I am not entirely positive about that, oh also pm me the info to your shop so I can can make it over there at some time in the near future.

It's the same twist rate- 1:14. I was aware of .25 NAA, but a straight-walled case is much easier to deal with in a revolver. I'll send a PM.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

New load- I like this one! Punches neat mini-wadcutter holes in the target, no keyholing, good accuracy. I think this one is a winner.

38 gr. LSWC, 2.0 gr. Red Dot, Fed #100 SPP
1214 fps., 124 ft./lbs., SD: 18.7

I do need to switch to a CCI primer; the Federals don't seem to deal well with high-pressure loads.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Just ordered 500 hard-cast 55gr. TCL bullets from Rimrock. Looking forward to plating with those!