Chrono results w/.357 mag, please comment

[pharmseller]

I used my Shooting Chrony Alpha Master Chony for this first time this afternoon. I'll tell you what I did and how I did it.

I chrono'd 3 different factory .357 mag loads in my Browning B92, 20" barrel and 2 of the same loads in my Ruger Blackhawk 6.5" barrel. The loads used in the Browning were:
Magtech 158 grain SJSP, American Eagle (Federal) 158 grain JSP, and Cor-Bon 180 grain BCSP.
I used the Magtech and American Eagle loads in the Ruger (I ran out of Cor-Bons).
The chrony was approximately 10' from the muzzle. I used the chrony with and without skyscreens and saw no major differences in results.
I shot 10 and 5 shot strings in the Browning and 5 shot strings in the Ruger.
I cleared the memory after each string.

BROWNING RESULTS
10 shot string, Magtech:
Average 1565 fps, SD 19.0, ES 64, High 1586, Low 1522.
5 shot string, same load: Average 1568, SD 15.0, ES 34.9, High 1585, Low 1550

10 shot string, American Eagle:
Average 1759, SD 14.5, ES 44, High 1785, Low 1741
5 shot string, same load: Average 1774, SD 18.0, ES 46.7, High 1795, Low 1748

10 shot string, Cor-Bon:
Average 1503, SD 19.0, ES 67, High 1526, Low 1459

I was surprised that the Cor-Bon had such low velocities. Granted, we're talking about 180 grains v. 158 grains, but 250 fps is a big difference for 22 grains of lead. I was also pleasantly surprised that the AE had such good numbers. Good velocity, low SD, decent ES.

RUGER RESULTS (two 5 shot strings each)
Magtech loads: Average 1186 and 1230, SD 20.4 and 44, ES 52.3 and 113.6, High 1220 and 1299, Low 1168 and 1186.
AE loads: Average 1311 and 1344, SD 29 and 37.3, ES 71.9 and 83.6, High 1344 and 1365, Low 1272 and 1297.

Those American Eagles are great in both firearms. I have to get to the range and see how they group.

Just for fun I chrono'd a 6 shot string of Federal Power-Shok 170 grain .30-30 in my model 94 to compare with the .357 mag. The Winchester really likes this load:
Average 2063, SD 11.9, ES 29.6, High 2079, Low 2049.

No surprises with the .30-30. 170 grains and 2000 fps will kill anything on this continent.

How do these results match up with previous range sessions?

Quinn

[Chuck 100 yd]

Sounds like the results I get. 3-400 fps difference between rifle and revolver is what I expect.

[meanc]

The Magtech and Fed are within 30-40fps of the velocities I was getting out of Winchester Trappers and Blackhawks.

And the velocity of the Federal 30-30 (an absolute tack driver with my Marlin 30AS) is pretty much spot on with my Marlin and Win94.

[meanc]

BTW I purchased 10 boxes of the Magtech/ 10 boxes of Fed 2 years ago from Midway.

I believe the Magtechs were $7 box and the Feds were $8 box.

I still have about 6 boxes left of the Magtech and 7 of the Feds.

Don't think I'll see those prices again anytime soon.

[crs]

Good post. Thanks for the reminder that I need to do some similar comparisons with my 1892 an M19 .357. I will use some different ammo plus some Buffalo Boar 158 and 180 gr loads.

[Old Savage]

That pretty much falls within what I would expect though I haven't seen anything in the 1500s in the 158 weight but the range. In my 20" Marlin, low is - Blazer 1643 fps and high - Win Super X 158 1891 fps. or, 250 fps. I am glad so see your tests. Gives me something to compare to.

My rifle so far seems to shoot the best in the 1675 to 1700 fps range.

[Old Savage]

Let me correct - I have had velocities in the 1500s for 180s.

[O.S.O.K.]

BTW I purchased 10 boxes of the Magtech/ 10 boxes of Fed 2 years ago from Midway.

I believe the Magtechs were $7 box and the Feds were $8 box.

I still have about 6 boxes left of the Magtech and 7 of the Feds.

Don't think I'll see those prices again anytime soon.

You would do better than that reloading

And my personal velocities using H110 and Hornady XTP's have been 1800's with 158's and 1600's with 180's. That's from my Marlin CS with 18" barrel. Those are max loads as published. These are also among the most accurate loads for this rifle that I've tried.