Ballistics laboratory for hire?

[Rabid Rabbit]

I'd like to know what exactly what pressure and velocity some of my loads are creating. I don't think I;m close to being dangerous, just like to know. Is there a lab that does this?

 

[taliv]

this is next up on my "wish list"

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

Interesting. It might get added to my list as well. Post your results sometime and let us know how well it works.

 

[Black Snowman]

There are a few services avaliable that will do it although I can't remember them off hand. Some judicious post and web searching should dig them up. It's not cheap as I recall. Something like $35 for a 5 round batch.

 

[redneck2]

Fwiw...

assuming you're using published loads, velocity is supposed to be an excellent indicator of pressure

Cough up $69 for a chronograph and you're good for life, with any published load

 

[BroncoGlenn]

If this is something you will do frequently, you might want to invest in an Oehler 43.

 

[cracked butt]

Velocity is not a good indicator of pressure. A given velocity that is safe with one powder in one gun may not be safe in another gun, and if you change powder, the previously safe velocity load could become a dangerously overpressured load.

Best way to determine if you are getting close to 'dangerous pressure land' is to guy a good micrometer and measure the casehead diameter before firing and after firing. If the case head expands by .0005" or more, you need to back your loads down.

 

[taliv]

cracked, that was my initial reaction as well... but then i reread his post which started with assuming published loads.

 

[Grump]

Whottt!??!!

Not one mention of the legendary H.P. White Laboratories???

Let me Google this. I think they're in Rhode Island or one of those postage-stamp states.

Try this link: http://www.hpwhite.com/ Great view of a revolver letting go.

Okay, they're in Maryland, NW of Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Don't see any pricing but I'm not looking.

 

[griz]

Here is the picture Grump is talking about. That's pretty spectacular. Look at the way the adjacent chamber is coming apart.

 

[only1asterisk]

HP White will test just about anything you pay them to. I have sent things there and always been very pleased with results.

David

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

Thanks for the info. I replied earlier but I must have screwed something up. I only use published data, I'm really curious about my 40S&W loads with the amount of crimp and I have two sources of data for unique and the max load differs by 1.0 gr and I'd like to know what is really going on. I contacted the sources of data and they both said dont worry about it if kabooms happened over a grain of powder the whole reloading industry would have been sued out of existance years ago. The portable lab mentioned above looks more my style but in the interim I'll check out the H.P. White lab, they're only a 1.5 hours away. I did several searchs before asking this question and found nothing.