Today, I had 2 of my lever guns out at the range, trying out my new chrono. I had been unable to find loading data for 500 g. cast for the 1895, so I used some proven data from my 405's, in a mild starting load. I also loaded up a bunch of 405's with the same powder charge. Now this is very, very weird (at least in my experience). The 405's averaged just over 1500 fps, with a SD of 35.2. Now, the 500's, with the same powder charge, average velocity was 1600 fps, SD of 30.2. All boolits had been powder coated and then re-sized to the same diameter. There were no signs of pressure with either load, and recoil was n ot noticeably heavier. Can someone explain this? Also, would a 500 gr. pure lead bullet at 1600 fps be enough for bear defense?
Odd happenings at the range
- Thread starter Papaclaude
- Start date
The heavier bullet is raising the pressure of the identical power charge.
Maximum charges of the same powder are lower for heavier bullets than lighter ones to keep the pressure the same. Naturally it follows that if we can make the projectile sufficiently heavy it wouldn't require any powder at all.
My heart-felt apologies for stealing that from Jules Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon"
Maximum charges of the same powder are lower for heavier bullets than lighter ones to keep the pressure the same. Naturally it follows that if we can make the projectile sufficiently heavy it wouldn't require any powder at all.
My heart-felt apologies for stealing that from Jules Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon"
A 500 gr .45 cal slug at 1600 fps is good for whatever you need to defend against IMO. Provided it is sufficiently hardened I think it would be great for above water seamonster defense. Anything that doesn't die was going to destroy the city anyways.
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Usually with big,heavy and slow......BANG-flop.
Hadn't thought of the pressure aspect. Either way, it's not going to be a plinking load - Trail Boss loads for that.
Either way, it's not showing any signs of pressure on the case or the primer, and recoil is not substantially worse, so I'll assume (??) it's not beating the gun up too much? They are PC, pure lead. Doesn't seem to be any leading, but I'll know for sure tonite or tomorrow. Several years ago, I shot a small (175 lbs or so) bear with a 45-110 and the same pure lead bullet (not PC) moving at about 1200, and that poor phoqueur never knew what hit it. It was a through and through, in behind the shoulder, out further back. It opened up about a 3" hole, and its innards were strung out about 20 ft., so 1600 should do at least as well.
