SmeeAgain
Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2022
- Messages
- 257
Curiosity got the best of me so I loaded up some common cartridges with black powder to test.
The first was a .357 Magnum. 158 grain lead bullet. As expected, it didn't perform like the normal .357 mag but it did work... respectively well.
My chronograph fluctuating between 700-900 fps.
38 Special from the same weapon dropped significantly about 150-200 fps lower than the .357.
Next was the .45 acp. The 230 grain bullet crawled out of the barrel. It was pathetic. I'll try again with a much lighter projectile.
The last two were both rimfire. .22lr and .22 Magnum. Both performed extremely well... Closely competing with factory smokeless powder! I didn't expect that!
Cleanup was a pain in the rear but I knew that going in.
So... if the day ever comes when ammo is extremely scarce or completely unavailable, we still have a viable option.
The first was a .357 Magnum. 158 grain lead bullet. As expected, it didn't perform like the normal .357 mag but it did work... respectively well.
My chronograph fluctuating between 700-900 fps.
38 Special from the same weapon dropped significantly about 150-200 fps lower than the .357.
Next was the .45 acp. The 230 grain bullet crawled out of the barrel. It was pathetic. I'll try again with a much lighter projectile.
The last two were both rimfire. .22lr and .22 Magnum. Both performed extremely well... Closely competing with factory smokeless powder! I didn't expect that!
Cleanup was a pain in the rear but I knew that going in.
So... if the day ever comes when ammo is extremely scarce or completely unavailable, we still have a viable option.