Today at the Bench.....

[JeffreyDeGraff]

I finally got some trigger time yesterday. Spent a few hours with the chronograph and the 300 blackout as well as the Ruger Super Redhawk, 44 mag and special. The 300 is an 16" AR shooting suppressed yesterday. I shot a wide array of reloads, both super and subs and it cycled and fed every one perfectly. Subs are certainly a different animal when reloading, but I am having a blast with it. The Ruger is just a pleasure to shoot, this is the first time shooting my 44 special reloads in it and was gathering speed data rather than shooting groups. I was shooting at 75 yds because I was set up there for the Blackout and would have had to move to another range to get a closer target. I can do ok with the 44 mag at 75, but the special opened up pretty much. Plus, a couple of my 44 special loads were pretty lethargic according to both recoil and the chrono, lol. At any rate, was a good morning of therapy followed by cleaning 2 very dirty guns.

Sounds like you had a great time, and some research and development done.

Have you ever tried loading 44 special loads in 44 magnum brass? I quit loading 44 and 38 specials years ago, and just use the magnum brass for both.

That’s nice that all of your loads cycled your AR. A lot of people struggle trying to get the subs to cycle. What kind of velocities were you getting with the subs?


JTD

[Flyeralan]

Sounds like you had a great time, and some research and development done.

Have you ever tried loading 44 special loads in 44 magnum brass? I quit loading 44 and 38 specials years ago, and just use the magnum brass for both.

That’s nice that all of your loads cycled your AR. A lot of people struggle trying to get the subs to cycle. What kind of velocities were you getting with the subs?


JTD

JTD, I never thought of loading special loads into magnum brass, but that would have to help with the buildup that happens in the cylinders because of the short "special" brass. I had a little of that fouling to deal with when cleaning yesterday. As far as the Blackout, I have some subsonic loads as slow as 875 fps that still cycle good with bolt hold open on last shot. Yesterday, I was low 900's up to low 10's. This is a 16" barrel with a pistol length gas system and an adjustable gas block that I just don't have to mess with. I have found that 1680 is dirty and loud, but my fav by far is IMR 4227, it is both cleaner and oh, so quiet!!!

[muforester]

Sounds like you had a great time, and some research and development done.

Have you ever tried loading 44 special loads in 44 magnum brass? I quit loading 44 and 38 specials years ago, and just use the magnum brass for both.

That’s nice that all of your loads cycled your AR. A lot of people struggle trying to get the subs to cycle. What kind of velocities were you getting with the subs?


JTD

I am always afraid that I will end up with a load that might not ignite the powder with too much empty space. I had that problem in 45 colt once. I guess it boils down to choosing the right powder.

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[JeffreyDeGraff]

I am always afraid that I will end up with a load that might not ignite the powder with too much empty space. I had that problem in 45 colt once. I guess it boils down to choosing the right powder.

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What powder did that happen to you with?


JTD

[muforester]

What powder did that happen to you with?


JTD

185gr xtp, 8gr Unique.

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[Flyeralan]

I am always afraid that I will end up with a load that might not ignite the powder with too much empty space. I had that problem in 45 colt once. I guess it boils down to choosing the right powder.

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Yeah, I guess this is something I hadn't thought about. One of my 44 special loads that was really soft was with Unique if I recall correctly. Thanks for a heads up on this, it make sense.