Point of Impact Difference in .45 Colt?

[.455_Hunter]

Say you have a 5.5" Ruger Blackhawk that is "zeroed" for stand pressure 250/255 gr .45 Colt loads at 25 yards. All things remaining the same, what will the approximate point of impact be if you shoot Buffalo Bore 335 gr +P loads out of it? Would they shoot significantly higher or lower at 25 yards? How about at 15 yards? Thanks for your experiences!

 

[Magnumite]

You would have to shoot it to find out. A couple of things to think about, especially noticable with longer barrels revolvers.

A firearm begins its recoil while the bullet is in gun because of the equal and opposite reaction of the bullet/gun relationship. This causes the barrel to be tipped upward at the muzzle as the bullet leaves the bore.

- Heavy bullets tend to shoot higher than lighter ones because of greater recoil.
- Slower bullets tend to shoot higher than same weight faster ones because of the bullet's longer "dwell" time in the barrel. More time for barrel to move under effects of recoil while the bullet is still in the bore.
- Slower, heavier bullets tend to shoot higher.
- The Buffalo Bore load you are going to shoot is a much heavier bullet (shoots higher), greater recoil (shoots higher) but is considerable faster (shoots lower).

I'd say it would shoot higher.

 

[dagger dog]

The heavier the bullet driven at the same velocity as the lighter bullet or faster will always hit higher than the lighter. Especially at hand gun ranges out to and beyond 50 yrds.

The heavier bullet causes more muzzle jump (recoil) before it clears the barrel. The lighter bullet does the same but with the extra bullet weight comes more recoil.

 

[Hammerdown77]

Those Buffalo Bore loads will hit significantly higher than standard pressure .45 Colt loads using a 250 grain bullet. Like 4-6 inches higher (or more) at 25 yards.

I've tried it out of my Blackhawk. Needs a taller front sight with +P loads using 300+ grain bullets because I can't lower the rear blade enough to get the POI down.