In the last month I have done some load development with Trail Boss for my S&W 686 & my wife's Rossi 92.
Some general notes:
1. As powder charges near "maximum," there is less fouling, if it existed to begin with.
2. As powder charges near "max," the groups tighten up
3. Not very smokey at all
4. All light loads
Now .357mag:
.357mag notes:
1. Not benchrest conditions: back resting against a terribly uncomfortable pole with elbows on knees.
2. Very clean burning & no signs of lead fouling
3. Will perfom one more develop[ment iteration: 3.9-4.2gr in .1gr increments.
4. BBL & chambers given a dry brass brush between bullet weights
Now .44mag:
1. 6.9gr charge was one ragged hole
2. Shot from supported prone
3. One more iteration of development: 6.9gr-7.3gr in .1gr increments.
4. Never more than light powder fouling, got less as charge increased
5. BBL was given a dry brass brush between charge weights.
---------
I am looking forward to comlpeting the next development iteration and getting some plinker loads produced in volume.
Some general notes:
1. As powder charges near "maximum," there is less fouling, if it existed to begin with.
2. As powder charges near "max," the groups tighten up
3. Not very smokey at all
4. All light loads
Now .357mag:
Code:
Cartridge .357_Magnum .357_Magnum .357_Magnum .357_Magnum .357_Magnum
Date 2005-12-19 2005-12-19 2005-12-19 2005-12-19 2005-12-19
Temp 44 44 44 44 44
Wind
Wpn_Manuf Smith & WessonSmith & WessonSmith & WessonSmith & WessonSmith & Wesson
Wpn_Model 686 686 686 686 686
Wpn_BBL 4 4 4 4 4
Bullet_Manuf Rucker Rucker Rucker Rucker Rucker
Bullet_Const Cast Cast Cast Cast Cast
Bullet_Profile SWC SWC SWC SWC SWC
Bullet_Wt 158 158 158 158 158
Bullet_Base Bevel Bevel Bevel Bevel Bevel
Bullet_Diam 0.358 0.358 0.358 0.358 0.358
Powder_Manuf IMR IMR IMR IMR IMR
Powder_Name Trail_Boss Trail_Boss Trail_Boss Trail_Boss Trail_Boss
Powder_Wt 3.2 3.6 3.8 4 4.2
Primer_Type SPM SPM SPM SPM SPM
Brass_Manuf Federal Federal Federal Federal Federal
Crimp Roll_H Roll_H Roll_H Roll_H Roll_H
Group_Size 19.25 6.5 9.25 4.8 9.125
Group_Num_Shots 10 9 10 10 10
Group_Dist 25 25 25 25 25
MOA 73.52958371 24.82817112 35.33239737 18.33464944 34.85493254
MOA/Shot 7.352958371 2.75868568 3.533239737 1.833464944 3.485493254
Comments Clean Clean Clean Clean Clean.357mag notes:
1. Not benchrest conditions: back resting against a terribly uncomfortable pole with elbows on knees.
2. Very clean burning & no signs of lead fouling
3. Will perfom one more develop[ment iteration: 3.9-4.2gr in .1gr increments.
4. BBL & chambers given a dry brass brush between bullet weights
Now .44mag:
Code:
Cartridge .44_Magnum .44_Magnum .44_Magnum .44_Magnum
Date 1/8/2005 1/8/2005 1/8/2005 1/8/2005
Temp 75 75 75 75
Wind 20_170 20_170 20_170 20_170
Wpn_Manuf Rossi Rossi Rossi Rossi
Wpn_Model 92 92 92 92
Wpn_BBL 20 20 20 20
Bullet_Manuf Rucker Rucker Rucker Rucker
Bullet_Const Cast Cast Cast Cast
Bullet_Profile SWC SWC SWC SWC
Bullet_Wt 240 240 240 240
Bullet_Base Bevel Bevel Bevel Bevel
Bullet_Diam 0.43 0.43 0.43 0.43
Powder_Manuf IMR IMR IMR IMR
Powder_Name Trail_Boss Trail_Boss Trail_Boss Trail_Boss
Powder_Wt 6.1 6.5 6.9 7.3
Primer_Type LP LP LP LP
Brass_Manuf Remington Remington Remington Remington
Crimp Roll_H Roll_H Roll_H Roll_H
Group_Size 1.071 0.8835 0.5085 0.7585
Group_Num_Shots 5 5 5 5
Group_Dist 13 13 13 13
MOA 7.867151264 6.489848872 3.735244087 5.571647277
MOA/Shot 1.573430253 1.297969774 0.747048817 1.1143294551. 6.9gr charge was one ragged hole
2. Shot from supported prone
3. One more iteration of development: 6.9gr-7.3gr in .1gr increments.
4. Never more than light powder fouling, got less as charge increased
5. BBL was given a dry brass brush between charge weights.
---------
I am looking forward to comlpeting the next development iteration and getting some plinker loads produced in volume.
