Chrono test help please!

[bersaguy]

Just got my 1st chrono and took it out to test some 45 loads. Test environment is as follows:

Caldwell chrono
Chrono 10' from barrel
Full sun
5" Argentine Sistema Colt (1911)
NOS Vietnam era Colt barrel

230grn rn Berry's plated
1.260 coal
4.6 - 4.8 grains of tite group

Ladder results
4.6 grains TG - 750fps average
4.7 grains TG - 770fps average
4.8 grains TG - 775fps average

So, if my goal is to get a 230 grain projectile to approach 850fps, should I be looking to increase my powder charge, or decrease my COAL? 4.8grains is the max load in the Lee manual for Titegroup. No pressure signs on the fired brass, but I'd imagine pressure signs on 45 brass start way over where I should be for my barrel. Or should I be looking for a different powder? I have some CFE pistol, HP-38 and have access to some power pistol if that would help. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Walkalong]

Keep your OAL at whatever it is that feeds 100%, and 1.260 is good for the Berrys (I load it to fall between 1.260 & 1.265), adjust the powder charge, within the data of course.

So, use another powder if 775ish isn't what you want. What other powders do you have?

 

[bersaguy]

I have cfe pistol and hp38 on the shelf, I have a friend who can lend me some power pistol to try

 

[Walkalong]

I know HP-38 will get close with today's data, and get there with the older data, CFE Pistol should, and PP definitely will.

 

[bersaguy]

I know HP-38 will get close with today's data, and get there with the older data, CFE Pistol should, and PP definitely will.

Thanks for the insight...I'll work up some new loads with new powder, see if I can get the velocities up. Good to know the loads I have are soft, I can use them for general plinking, or in the old Remington Rand from time to time.

 

[Hondo 60]

I'd try something slower than titegroup which is a pretty fast powder.

 

[JRadice45]

Max HP-38 5.3 gr with 230gr fmj rn out of a 5" 1911 got me 740 fps avg over 10 shots. I have some older data that I have used extensively before @ 5.5gr of HP-38 using the same bullet gets me 786 fps avg over 10 shots with the same pistol.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Max HP-38 5.3 gr with 230gr fmj rn out of a 5" 1911 got me 740 fps avg over 10 shots. I have some older data that I have used extensively before @ 5.5gr of HP-38 using the same bullet gets me 786 fps avg over 10 shots with the same pistol.

Take a look at the stated COAL in the Hodgdon load data, it's 1.200" . That's why the charge weight of HP-38 is so low. I'm not telling anyone to do anything, I'm only pointing out a fact.

I can safely get to where you want to be with 231/HP-38 but a slower powder will get you there with room to spare. CFE Pistol will do it as will the fairly new W572.

Edit to clarify I was referring to HP-38 max charge weight.

 

[Walkalong]

Take a look at the stated COAL in the Hodgdon load data, it's 1.200" . That's why the charge weight is so low.

I am 99% sure that was for the old Hornady truncated flat point which loads much shorter than the typical 230 Gr RN, while not being seated much, if any, deeper. I would have to see if I still had some and measure them to be sure about the seating depth vs a typical 230 Gr RN.

That said, I would be leery up going up much, if any, on the 4.8 Grs of Titegroup.

 

[Dudedog]

CFE-P should get you there (less flash than PP )
Bullet Powder Powder Len Start Gr Vel Pressure Max Gr Vel Pressure
230 GR. HDY FMJ FP Hodgdon CFE Pistol .451" 1.200" 6.0 815 16,000 PSI 6.8 934 19,800 PSI (Note FP so OAL is shorter because of bullet shape)
230 GR. LRN Hodgdon CFE Pistol .452" 1.200" 5.4 816 14,600 PSI 6.2 942 20,100 PSI

I find plated usually fall somewhere between lead and jacketed.
Hodgdon show HP38/W231 only being about 14 fps faster than Titegroup, CFE-P 116 fps faster than Titegroup.

Alliant 2017 Shows a 230gr Speer TMJ RN 1.26 Power Pistol MAX 8.1 Vel 916 reduce 10% to start.
(8.1 seems high but I have never loaded it, plated will probably have a little lower MAX)
Lyman shows a MAX of 7.2 with a jacketed 230 RN 7.0 with a 225 lead RN Start 6.3
Hope one of those two get you what you need.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That said, I would be leery up going up much, if any, on the 4.8 Grs of Titegroup.

I should have made it more clear, I was referring to the HP-38 charge of 5.3gr directly above my post. I stay away from Titegroup and couldn't make any recommendations on it.

I will edit my post above.

 

[Walkalong]

I was referring to the HP-38 charge of 5.3gr

Ah, yes, and I agree.