.38 POI w different loads

[MauserMike]

So I recently started reloading .38 spl for my S&W 586.

With 3.3gr of red dot under a 148 gr BBWC it seemed to shoot point of impact. But I wanted to get away from red dot because it doesn't meter well.

So I loaded up 100 of the same but with 4.1gr of Winchester 231 ball powder. Stuff meters amazing. Very happy with the decision from that point of view.

But the gun is now shooting way low and to the right. Was I just having a bad day? 5 shot groups total 25 rds. Before I start mucking with the sights IS THIS NORMAL?

That said, I'm not the best pistol shooter but to pull to the right consistently? I put the revolver down and shot great with my S&W 41, right to where I looked.

 

[NAA]

I've used both Red Dot & Win 231 in .45ACP loads in the past. My POI's for both in a 1911 were relatively identical. I agree that Red Dot doesn't meter well as it is too flaky however 5.2 Red Dot behind a 200 gr SWC lead bullet is sweet in any 1911 I've tried it in. I find that although Win 231 does meter well it is very dirty. I'll stay with Red Dot for my pet .45ACP loads.

Could also be that your particular pistol just prefers the Red Dot load over the Win 231 load..... Personally, I'd stick with what works best over what powder meters best, though.....

NAA.

 

[Viper26]

Missing one important piece of info, and that's the speed of both loads. In theory, the slower load should print higher due to the gun being deeper into the recoil cycle at the moment the bullet exits the barrel. That's the theory anyways... How noticeable the effect is at 25 yrds is anyones guess. I've seen it with my 9mm loads in the 115 gr (faster) vs 147 gr (slower) bullets.

 

[Buck45]

Maybe we should meet . I have some 100 and 148 grain swaged HBWC you might like trying. With 2.8 Bullseye excellent load. Give you some lead and let you try them with your load and revolver.

ACCURATES AA2, the other is WST like the old 452A WINCHESTER.

 

[MauserMike]

I get the POI can move up and down but right 4-6"? I don't own a chrono, I"ll have to check the book values for the velocity.

Buck, are you anywhere near the London area? I can probably find some hollow based wad cutters locally. They only had the beveled base when I stocked up with the first 500 bullets.

 

[BCRider]

Missing one important piece of info, and that's the speed of both loads. In theory, the slower load should print higher due to the gun being deeper into the recoil cycle at the moment the bullet exits the barrel. That's the theory anyways... How noticeable the effect is at 25 yrds is anyones guess. I've seen it with my 9mm loads in the 115 gr (faster) vs 147 gr (slower) bullets.

It's more than just a theory. For my Model 10 using the same bullets for a series and loading with Bullseye I found that going from 2.7gns up through to 3.5 gns in .2 gn steps was enough that my patterns of 6 shots each rose by about 0.75 to 1 inch with each jump in powder weight. So yeah, the powder matters for getting the velocity for each bullet weight to what is needed to exit the barrel at just the right spot.

I had scored an old collection of powder and bullets that likely came from an estate. I had enough of each type that I was able to work up different loads of Bullseye for each bullet type and weight. Each one had to have it's own loading recipe to achieve POI that matched my POA. They all responded in a similar manner to the "sighting in" loading series of powder measures.

For the same reason as this when I shoot .357 Mag out of my revolvers I find that they hit consistently 3 inches low when shooting at around 12 to 15 yards when the .38Spl is the round that the sights are set for.

So yeah, to MM; first thing to check would be the velocity of each of your loads. From there be sure the sights didn't get nudged by something. Can't help much with the pull to the right unless you were shooting semi gansta' style....

 

[Buck45]

send me a PM, yup to the question member EESA . Float you some free HBWC. 100 AND 148. GRAIN stuff. The 100 is ideal at 50 feet . The 148 dead on out to 50 yards. Used them in SW 19 and a 686 years ago.

PS have a Chrony need to use it still new in box. Wanna morning at EESA???