vaalpens
Member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2014
- Messages
- 2,618
I have been thinking of trying Winchester Autocomp in 357sig, but due to the lack of load data, never got around trying it out. Reading about CFE Pistol it seemed that Autocomp and CFE Pistol are very similar, with CFE Pistol maybe requiring a few tenths of powder to get to the same velocity as Autocomp.
So I decided to just buy some CFE Pistol since it has load data for the calibers I am loading, including 357sig.
The Hodgdon load data lists the 124gr XTP from 6.5gr to 7.6gr, and 125gr GDHP from 7.0gr to 8.0gr. These bullets are different lengths, which probably explains some of the difference in load data.
I started with a plated bullet 124gr Berry's HBFPTP ich has a length between the above two bullets, just to see how it performs, and then I will try some jacketed bullets and the RMR JHP's I have. With the plated bullets I know I get some copper fouling in 357sig, so at some time I will also test the CFE part of it to see if it makes a difference.
Today I finally had time to test my first loads using CFE Pistol with Berry's 124gr HBFPTP bullets. The loads I tested were 6.8/7.0/7.2/7.4/7.6gr with a COL of 1.135".
I have to say I am impressed, even with CFE Pistol so far. My testing was done at 15yards from a rest on a windy day. Following are the groupings:
6.8gr - 1.61"
7.0gr - 1.45"
7.2gr - 1.89" with a flyer (4 shot grouping of 0.88")
7.4gr - 1.92" with a flyer (4 shot grouping of 1.09")
7.6gr - 2.72" with a flyer (4 shot grouping of 1.55")
I expected the plated bullets to start spreading at the higher charges, but it seems that CFE Pistol behaves very well through the range and I should be able to find a decent load for the plated bullet.
A jacketed bullet test will be done once I found the load for a plated bullet, but I would think I will probably start at 7.0gr and work up from there.
Following is the target for the 1.45" grouping.
So I decided to just buy some CFE Pistol since it has load data for the calibers I am loading, including 357sig.
The Hodgdon load data lists the 124gr XTP from 6.5gr to 7.6gr, and 125gr GDHP from 7.0gr to 8.0gr. These bullets are different lengths, which probably explains some of the difference in load data.
I started with a plated bullet 124gr Berry's HBFPTP ich has a length between the above two bullets, just to see how it performs, and then I will try some jacketed bullets and the RMR JHP's I have. With the plated bullets I know I get some copper fouling in 357sig, so at some time I will also test the CFE part of it to see if it makes a difference.
Today I finally had time to test my first loads using CFE Pistol with Berry's 124gr HBFPTP bullets. The loads I tested were 6.8/7.0/7.2/7.4/7.6gr with a COL of 1.135".
I have to say I am impressed, even with CFE Pistol so far. My testing was done at 15yards from a rest on a windy day. Following are the groupings:
6.8gr - 1.61"
7.0gr - 1.45"
7.2gr - 1.89" with a flyer (4 shot grouping of 0.88")
7.4gr - 1.92" with a flyer (4 shot grouping of 1.09")
7.6gr - 2.72" with a flyer (4 shot grouping of 1.55")
I expected the plated bullets to start spreading at the higher charges, but it seems that CFE Pistol behaves very well through the range and I should be able to find a decent load for the plated bullet.
A jacketed bullet test will be done once I found the load for a plated bullet, but I would think I will probably start at 7.0gr and work up from there.
Following is the target for the 1.45" grouping.