Low Node Testing with Wheel guns!

JWFilips

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Well I think I mentioned early this summer that My Buddy and I started shooting our pistols again to take some pressure off the our stash of Rile Primers because of the shortage. I for one have not shot my S&W wheel guns since 2012 so that was a whole new learning experience for me!
First off, my hands are way shaker and my eye sight is a whole lot worse holding a pistol at 25 yards then it was back in 2012....so I have been doing most of my shooting from a handgun rest ( just so I did not get too disgusted with myself!)
Since most of my loads I had stockpile from back then were full trottle loads...which did not bother me back then, but started to wreak havoc with my wrist and hands now. I decide since I have so much success with Low Node Rifle shooting I could do the same with pistols!
Well I failed miserably!

Well I shot many different bullet styles with many different light loads and I failed to be able to come up with an accurate super light load that shot consistently from my 38 Specials and 357 Mags that could equal anything close to what I can do with my rifles!
The closest thing I came up with was when my Buddy Ed gave me 100 Spear HBWC ( pure lead) and I loaded them with 2.4 grain WST....I actually got real groups to form at 25 yards!
The only things that shot better then that were my souped up 2012 loads!

I probably have shot over 1000 Solid Cast soft 140 grain Wad Cutters over the summer with many different powders/ seating depths /etc; to create an accurate light load and all have failed!
Either I'm a P' Poor pistol shooter or I just can't do it.
Looking forward to going back to Low Node Rifle shooting sometime after the 3rd of Nov! I hope ! ;)
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Try a red dot type sight. My wife struggled a bit with glasses and the sights. Once she got used to the Vortex red dot it improved her shooting immensely.

I rarely shoot full loads in any revolver. My 357 brass sits unused much of the time while my 38 special brass is getting a workout,
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Well, Jim, it's the age old adage of practice, practice, practice.

Last outing I took the 6 1/2" New Model Blackhawk and the 5 1/2" New Vaquero, both .357 Mag, and neither grouped as closely as they did when I used to shoot them regularly, which was likely over a year ago.
 
Glaciers

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
I just worked up some 44 SPL loads with more along the idea of the cowboy loads. Just something easy handling for the light weight Charter Arms Bulldog. Both my BIL and my wife have Bulldogs. Went with a Lee 205 grain that I had Eric do his HP magic too, then powder coated. Used a light load of Unique 5.5 or 6 grains, but some unburied powder and (old Unique) cases all sooted up. Ended up at 7.5 grains, good load, but still a little hotter then I wanted.
So I'm looking for a different powder, hoping for some suggestions here. I have red dot, green dot, 231, bullseye, besides Unique.
Second I have a 153 grain wadcutter by NOE I'm going to try, haven't even broken it in yet, so it's time to get that mold out after sitting in the drawer.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
if your gonna go slow speed the powder up.
the 44 special does just fine with...... titegroup, about 4grs. worth and a 200-240gr bullet.
[there ya go, I recommended titegroup in something,, it does pretty good in the 45 colt too]

the 38 and 357 at 700-750 fps [140-160gr bullets] want the faster powders too, like 231 at 4grs. worth, or 3grs of clays.
 
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Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I shot some 44 special my father in law loaded. It was a 200 gr bullet I believe with Trailboss. I was shocked at how accurate the load was. Low recoil too.

Like River said, Titegroup could be your friend here. I use TG with a 260 gr swc in 44 special all the time.
 
Glaciers

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
No Titegroup on my shelves or in town. Matter of fact, no powder to speak of and certainly no primers.
I'm pretty well set on both powder and primers myself, but, no Titegroup. Unique worked well at 6 grains but every shot was leaving unburned powder in the gun. With Unique at 6 grains and the 200 grain bullet, I was right at a friendly 600 fps.
I was thinking of red dot and trying 231. I do have some Trailboss as well.
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Bullseye is never a bad choice, but Red Dot is a little more case filling if that is a concern with your loading technique.
 
Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
My favorite powder is Red Dot, I have a load developed for every gun I have ever loaded for.
However I have a wadcutter load for the. 38 special Using Universal, that is so slow you can see the bullet leave the gun.And it is spot on at 21 ft.If you double charged it you would definitely tell by looking. It makes shooting my .357 like shooting a.22. That is my favorite .38 special plinking load. I have wone many pistol canivels with it.
 
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JWFilips

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I have used all of what I call my Low Node powders ( BE, 231,WST Red Dot, American Select and Unique) I just guess that I can not get a pistol to shoot like a rifle as low speeds. It seems the 38 class pistols are more accurate over 1000 fps but yet I can shoot a 100 gr .243 bullet in my Ruger 77V at 50 yards and get 1 ragged hole with 10 shots at 940 fps!
Yes loading & shooting pistols is more of a High Art!
 
Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
JWFilips said:
I have used all of what I call my Low Node powders ( BE, 231,WST Red Dot, American Select and Unique) I just guess that I can not get a pistol to shoot like a rifle as low speeds. It seems the 38 class pistols are more accurate over 1000 fps but yet I can shoot a 100 gr .243 bullet in my Ruger 77V at 50 yards and get 1 ragged hole with 10 shots at 940 fps!
Yes loading & shooting pistols is more of a High Art!
Click to expand...
I have have different load combinations for my .357
None of them for reaching over 25 yards is less then 1000 fps.
Kept it at or under 25 yards and you can have all kinds of fun with low nodes in a pistol!.
A fellow I miss greatly who has passed on once told me"When it comes to reloading, expectations should never surpass barrel length" I have found this to be true thus far.
 
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fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
even low speed stuff will carry distance.
I shot a lot of 158gr swc's [358477] on top of 4grs. of the old 231 in 357 cases and would sit across the road on my property and shoot the 18X24" plates I had at almost 300yds.
probably just barely hitting them but I could hear the tink and was happy enough.
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Trail Boss = fluffy Red Dot. Grain for grain, they run very close to one another. In the magnum revolvers, 80%-100% load density with TB produces 800-950 FPS with "standard weight" SWC castings, and darn good accuracy. Standard/non-magnum primers are best. 70% load densities produce case mouth burn-back from too-low operating pressures.
 
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