short barrel .45 chrono

[choochboost]

Has anyone chrono tested Winchester Ranger .45 230gr (RA45T) out of a short barrel? I want to get an idea of the velocity this load gets with a 3" barrel.

 

[jeepmor]

I've never tested it, but have seen the avg 230 grain fodder out of 3" barrel runs about 700-750fps. Hope this helps.

 

[MJZZZ]

Is that fast enough to get full expansion out of the RA45T? I've done alot of reading on this ammo and finally bought some. I have both 5" and 3" 1911's to use it in, so I hope so. Mike Z

I found some info to compare ballistics from the 3" 1911's.
http://forum.m1911.org/printthread.php?t=963

 

[choochboost]

Is that fast enough to get full expansion out of the RA45T?

That's the issue. I want to get an idea of the fps this load gets out of a 3" barrel. I already know the fps range it gets out of 5". Some have suggested the RA45T does better than others in short barrels so I just want to see what kind of numbers are out there.

The link you provided were tests with a 4.25 barrel.

 

[MJZZZ]

Look again, he states he does not own anything shorter than 4.25", so he had to borrow this Defender. The Colt Defender only comes with a 3" barrel. Mike Z

 

[choochboost]

Yes, thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Walkalong]

When I get home I will check some velocities I've recorded from my 3" CDP and post. It may help.

 

[MJZZZ]

Thanks Walkalong, I would love to see that info. Mike Z

 

[choochboost]

Thanks Walkalong.

 

[Walkalong]

I shot Remington 230 Gr. Golden Saber factory ammo in my 4" CDP and got an Avg. 788 FPS. I thought I had checked it in the 3" also, but I was wrong. My bad. I have been getting about an avg. of 30 to 40 FPS loss from the 4" CDP to the 3" CDP with the loads I have shot with both.

I shot some Zero 230 JHP's in reloads in a 4" gun And a 3" gun the same day and got 774 and 740 Avg. for a loss of 34 FPS from 4" to 3"

I shot some Berry's 230 Plated from a 4" and a 3" gun for 768 and 732 Avg's for a loss of 36 FPS from 4" to 3"

I shot some 185 SWC's in a 5" a 4" & a 3" gun the same day and got 820,763,&744 FPS. for a loss of 57 from the 5" to the 4" and a loss of 19 from 4" to 3"

I checked the link to Mr. Camps tests and he did use a 3" gun. He borrowed a Defender for the test.

Remington 185-gr. MC-Flat Nose:
Average Velocity: 923 ft/sec

Federal 185-gr. Classic JHP:
Average Velocity: 885 ft/sec

Corbon 200-gr. JHP +P:
Average Velocity: 958 ft/sec

Sellier & Bellot 230-gr. FMJ:
Average Velocity: 722 ft/sec

Winchester USA 230-gr. FMJ:
Average Velocity: 765 ft/sec

Federal 230-gr. Hydrashok:
Average Velocity: 799 ft/sec:------------Real good

Winchester Ranger 230-gr. JHP
Average Velocity: 797 ft/sec:------------Real good

Winchester Ranger 230-gr. JHP+P
Average Velocity: 866 ft/sec:-----------WOW

 

[choochboost]

Okay, I found some numbers to compare.

Ranger T-Series 230gr
5" barrel - 905 fps
3" barrel - 797 fps
A difference of 108 fps.

Ranger T-Series 230gr +P
5" barrel - 990 fps
3" barrel - 866 fps
A difference of 124 fps.

Paul Nowack, Senior Technical Specialist at Winchester LE Ammunition provided me with the 5" data and the 3" data is gathered from Stephen A. Camp's post here.