Recommend a load to make my M&P shoot to POA

[EddieCoyle]

I got a great deal on .38 cal (.357) 125gr Montana Gold bullets on ebay. I loaded up a bunch of .38 Special (4.4 grains of Bullseye) and tried them out in my pre-Model 10 M&P. I haven't used this revolver much since I bought it. They shot very high. In fact, with these cartirdges, the gun shoots to point of aim at 100 yards!

Now that I've got my 100 yard load nailed down, I'd like to come up with something that shoots a little closer to POA at say, 50 feet.

Can anyone recommend a starting point that will allow me to (more quickly) get POI closer to POA at short range?

 

[Hutch]

Eddie, as wrong as it sounds, you might try some hotter loads for your 125's. The longer the dwell time in the barrel (slower velocity), the more the recoil impulse has to act on the gun. At some point this effect ends and reverses, but it's quite common for hot, light bullet loads to shoot very LOW with fixed sight revolvers.

Let us know how this comes out.

 

[cliffb]

The sights should be close for the standard load.

I believe the standard .38 Special load in those days was a 158gr lead bullet at 750-800 fps.

 

[EddieCoyle]

Eddie, as wrong as it sounds, you might try some hotter loads for your 125's. The longer the dwell time in the barrel (slower velocity), the more the recoil impulse has to act on the gun. At some point this effect ends and reverses, but it's quite common for hot, light bullet loads to shoot very LOW with fixed sight revolvers.

Hutch, I thought the same thing but I'm already at the top end for a non +P load.

 

[Deanimator]

Your best bet is to stick with loads similar to the standard velocity 158gr. lead bullet load. I guarantee you that's what the gun was regulated for.

If you insist on a different bullet, you might want to try a different powder, perhaps Unique.

 

[Hutch]

Eddie, since you're stuck with that lot of bullets, you might try a different powder. Other than that... a lot of "hold-under". Sorry, bro'.