Load Testing: Winchester WSF powder

[Wobbly]

That roller handle has breathed new life into my experimentation, and what better experiment than to see how to bring Winchester WSF to PF using a jacketed 124gr bullet. Bullet in question was a 9mm RN 124gr Armscore, .356 dia x .600 long. This bullet tested OK in the chamber of my SP-01 at 1.200" using the standard "push test".

Following the WSF recommendation from the Hodgdon web site, 5 rounds each of the following were loaded at 1.140" with mixed brass and Federal primers. The following results were recorded...

4.4gr   977 fps avg
4.6gr   985 fps avg
4.8gr  1021 fps avg
5.0gr  1059 fps avg
5.2gr  1080 fps avg

Since we were looking for a speed slightly above 1025 fps to make reliable PF, I decided to reduce the OAL to 1.130" and try 4.8gr again. 4.8gr @ 1.130" shot at an average speed of 1039 fps. Lowest speed was well above 1025.

In that load range, the cases were burning amazingly clean, and the ammo shot the center out of the 2.3" target from 30 feet. I was please enough to load another 180 rounds for further "testing". I can hardly wait !!

 

[1SOW]

Excellent.

Will record that one. 128+ PF is good. 
A  .6"  bullet length is similar to another 124 gr bullet we know, but it might need 1.125".

[Wobbly]

It won't be perfect in every application, but it will dang sure get you in the zone.

 

[1SOW]

How did it "feel" ?  Like n320 or more push?  Snappy?

[Wobbly]

Felt just like our 4.1gr load of N320, except 1/2 cent cheaper. 

[Wobbly]

More lab work this afternoon....

This time with WSF and Berry 124gr RN plated (the standard RN, not the newer HB).

1.140" with 4.8gr WSF gave avg speed of 1037 fps

1.130" with 4.8gr WSF gave avg speed of 1044 fps


Draw your own conclusions.   

[1SOW]

Muchas Gracias!
Good to know stuff.

Felt just like our 4.1gr load of N320, except 1/2 cent cheaper.

'Our man Clint' made a convert. (Imagine appropriate music)

I think I may swing to a little less expensive too if component prices keep going up.  I'll wait until  November to decide

[painter]

Muchas Gracias!
Good to know stuff.

Felt just like our 4.1gr load of N320, except 1/2 cent cheaper.

'Our man Clint' made a convert. (Imagine appropriate music)

I think I may swing to a little less expensive too if component prices keep going up.  I'll wait until  November to decide

a convert to lead or WSF?

[1SOW]

I was born on MI, where I learned to stay jacketted.

[painter]

I was born on MI, where I learned to stay jacketted.

Gets chilly here in NH too.

[Wobbly]

I think I may swing to a little less expensive too if component prices keep going up.  I'll wait until  November to decide

I've already decided. In November I'm definitely switching to someone less expensive.

Oh, sorry. You're talking about components. 

[jwc007]

Very Interesting load development for a minor power factor loading! 

I've used WSF in the past and still have a pound of it left over.  Could put it to good use if I ever run out of WST.

[Wobbly]

More testing, this time with N320 and Armscore 124gr RN.

These are some bullets Graf & Sons were selling cheaply so I decided to try some. They exhibited a bright brassy color similar to Montana Gold, but on close inspection they were not exactly like MG. In the photo below, the conical nose are real MG, the RN are Armscore. You can see the difference.



Loaded 5 each at 1.130" with VihtaVuori N320 and Federal #100 primers in Win brass. Fired then all over my Chrony in my back yard range. Results were...

4.0gr    1015 fps
4.1gr    1028 fps
4.2gr    1040 fps

All 3 test sets showed SDs around 10, so the results were consistent enough to believe in.

When I have shot MG before they left a brassy color inside the barrel, these Armscore did not. So these were not as hard as MG, even though they might pass for MG.

[1SOW]

They also seem take just a skosh more powder to make a usable PF than some other 124 gr FMJrn, like Winchester or Zeros.   Again similar to the MG 124 FMJs.
Will the Armscore load long in a CZ75?

[Wobbly]

Will the Armscore load long in a CZ75?

Yes, they had a maximum OAL as measured by the "push test" well in excess of 1.169" in my SP-01 chamber. In that sense they were similar to 124gr RN by Winchester, Remington and Berry. So I used 1.130" as a general competition length others might be using. Feeding was excellent.

I will make one further note I forgot to add. As far as the slide was concerned, 4.0gr was just barely getting the job done as evidenced by the shell cases rolling along my right arm and falling at my toes. 4.1gr was better with the cases flying clear and making it about 2 feet away.