Chrono results from M65LS and M642

[Abner]

Before I received a Beta Chrony for Christmas, I used to spend HOURS looking through my old gun magazines trying to find an article in which someone had shot defensive loads through my particular handgun model.

For those of you who may have similar models, these are the results through my 3" S&W M65LS and 1 7/8" S&W M642. The temp was 70 degrees, twelve shots fired, highest and lowest dropped and average of the remaining 10. Sorry, I didn’t fire any full house .357s as I find they recoil too much for defensive purposes.

M65LS 3â€
Remington 125gr. Golden Saber .357
1214 fps for 409 fpe

Winchester 110gr. JHP White Box .357
1183 fps for 342 fpe

Federal 147gr. +P+ Hydra-Shoks 38 Spec
903 fps for 266 fpe

Remington 158gr. +P LSWCHP 38 Spec
872 fps for 267 fpe

Federal 110gr. Personal Defense 38 Spec
912 fps for 203 fpe


M642 1 7/8â€
Remington 158gr. +P LSWCHP 38 Spec
815 fps for 233 fpe

Federal 110gr. Personal Defense 38 Spec
883 fps for 190 fpe

-edited to show corrected velocity on Fed 110gr in 642 - thanks Jim!

 

[sm]

Thanks for sharing.
Curious, in YOUR guns, accuracy, POA/POI, best /worst...

 

[Jim March]

Ehhh...check your numbers again, 'specially on the Fed 110s?

 

[Abner]

re1973 - I didn't fire groups this time since it's a public range and I didn't have all day. From memory, at 15 yards, from a rest, SA, all loads listed shot low for me in the 65LS with none going over 2" for 6 shots. The closest to POA was the Remington 125gr. GS at about 2" low. Now, when I fire standing with a fast DA pull, all of the loads listed except the Federal Personal Defense will hit POA at the same distance with the Feds hitting low still. I guess that's b/c I am applying more downward force on the gun while it's in the rest?

NONE of the lighter-than-158gr. loads fire POA in my 642, all hitting low. That's why I use the LSWCHP for defensive purposes. I can't shoot it well enough to get a good group, the Remington LSWCHP go into 3.5" at 15 yards.

I was surprised that the Winchester 110gr. .357 averaged 1183 when the manufacturer lists it at 1295fps for a 4" tube. The Remington GS was closer to the rated 1225fps.

Jim March - Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Nick96]

Just looking at the 1 7/8" and 3" .38 velosity figures - so much for the theory that there is a gigantic FPS & FPE difference between longer and shorter barrel lengths.

What say you guys that claim there is no significant power differance between .38 and .357 out of short barrels?

 

[Jim March]

Ya, the differences may be small, BUT these 38s are often right on the ragged edge between "will expand" and "won't" .

A tight gap down around .002" may make up for a 1" loss in barrel length, compared to .006"+.