traveling1253
Member
Took my new batch of handloads to the gravel pit for some testing. Goal is a soft shooting, inexpensive and accurate round for plinking/target practice. Used Hodgdon load data for HP-38 with once fired Federal brass, CCI #500 SPP and some 180gr RS Berry's plated bullets. Starting load 4.1gr increasing .2gr each batch up to 4.9gr. all rounds set at 1.126" COAL. Testing with my 3.8"barrel XDM at 15yds, my Springfield had no problems cycling any of the various loadings. Noticed the recoil with HP-38 is lighter but more "snappy" than the only other powder I have used which is Longshot.
4.1gr was a very soft powder puff loading, noticed some soot on the casings(maybe not quite enough charge to fully swell the brass and seal the chamber?) decent grouping. Brass falls about 3' away.
4.3gr still very mild recoil, casings are very clean. Nice groups,POI right on.
4.5gr still easy recoil, noticeably more than the starting load. Best groups of all the HP-38 loads, POI slightly higher than the 4.3's.
4.7 & 4.9 Increasing recoil as expected but still quite manageable. Groups started growing in size and POI seems higher.
Not sure where to go from here as far as load development, groups are slightly better at 4.5gr but POI is better at 4.3gr. Logic tells me to try 4.4gr. Possibly experimenting with slightly longer COAL to tighten up groups?
Also played some more with my "full power" loads burning Longshot. I'm not changing a thing with that one. 7.0gr Longshot,Winchester brass,CCI #500 SPP, 180gr RS Berry's plated. Love this load POI right on the mark and even better groups than the HP-38 loads. Night and day difference on the recoil side of it, gotta hang on when using Longshot. Very loud muzzle blast and you gotta chase the brass alot farther.
4.1gr was a very soft powder puff loading, noticed some soot on the casings(maybe not quite enough charge to fully swell the brass and seal the chamber?) decent grouping. Brass falls about 3' away.
4.3gr still very mild recoil, casings are very clean. Nice groups,POI right on.
4.5gr still easy recoil, noticeably more than the starting load. Best groups of all the HP-38 loads, POI slightly higher than the 4.3's.
4.7 & 4.9 Increasing recoil as expected but still quite manageable. Groups started growing in size and POI seems higher.
Not sure where to go from here as far as load development, groups are slightly better at 4.5gr but POI is better at 4.3gr. Logic tells me to try 4.4gr. Possibly experimenting with slightly longer COAL to tighten up groups?
Also played some more with my "full power" loads burning Longshot. I'm not changing a thing with that one. 7.0gr Longshot,Winchester brass,CCI #500 SPP, 180gr RS Berry's plated. Love this load POI right on the mark and even better groups than the HP-38 loads. Night and day difference on the recoil side of it, gotta hang on when using Longshot. Very loud muzzle blast and you gotta chase the brass alot farther.
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