Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading impact change with increased velocity

I have asked a similar question but did not get the information that I was looking for- Perhaps asked in this way it will make more sense.

I have a 240 gr 44 magnum load that is 1050 fps out of a 4" barrel that I shoot regularly for practice, if I increase the velocity to 1200 fps what change in elevation impact can I anticipate (at 25 yards)? I ask this as I am replacing a front sight and want to insure the new front sight height will be acceptable for both those loads.

Thank you

I think you’re just going to have to shoot them to find out. There are too many variables…..your grip, do you have skinny arms or are they Popeye arms, etc.

The faster load will shoot lower.

The faster load will shoot higher.

Handguns lower, rifles higher as velocity increases with the same weight bullet.

Shorter barrels generally shoot higher with handguns as well over longer barrels with the same load.

A taller front sight provides more leeway and adjustment range, similar to a rear elevated rail on a rifle, just in reverse. It can also hang up easier, if that matters.

Yes, how you grip the gun, the weight of your arms can also effect impact.

Two inches, roughly, with these variables adding 150-200 fps..

At 100 yards or more it exponentially gets greater.

^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^ memtb

Thank you.

Balistics say less than half inch at 50, ~.0015 of an inch at 25.

Yeah, if a 4" 44 didnt recoil in someone's hands.

This has nothing to do with the base trajectory of the load.

Does it say anything about windage when the gun recoils away from a single hand hold?

Didnt think so....

Ahh the butt hurt begins. Ballistics don’t lie, the difference is minuscule. So it all falls on your abilities and evidently that hurts to know. Shame it is, but the truth is if you can’t hold better than 2 inches with a ~.0015 difference in ballistics that’s your fault. Ask the bullseye shooter who cuts out the 10 ring at 50 yards one handed.

Ballistics dont lie, niether does recoil and POI changes from a handgun.

A bullseye shooter isnt mixing target loads with full magnums expecting them to land in the same place without adjustments, none of which have anything to do with minimal change in the base trajectory.

The faster load has more momentum, so it will recoil more. You will find that it shoots a little higher at 25yds. I know this because I used to load 240gr930fps plinkers and 240gr1250fos carry ammo.
Now if you step up in bullet weight to 300gr and keep the same 1050fps velocity, you'll see the POI move up 5-6" at 25yds.

Imo, you want the sights to be "usable", not necessarily "perfect". I.e. you want enough sight so you can adjust mentally while you are shooting.

"Curious things sometimes happen when we fire different loads in one gun. Some of them I understand fully, some I do not even after a lifetime of experiment. Take the .357 S&W Magnum. Usually it prints different loads to different points of impact, the lighter loads going highest on the target. The same has proven true for me with the S&W 44 Magnum. With the latter gun, the 44 Special factory load prints highest on the target; the heavy handloaded 44 Special with 18.5 grains 2400 and the Keith 250-grain slug prints considerably lower; the heavy handloaded 44 Magnum with same bullet and 22 grains 2400 prints still lower; and finally, the factory .44 Magnum load prints lowest of all with the same sight setting.

This is due largely to different barrel time for the four different loads. The old .44 Special factory load, at about 700 to 750 fps, takes a longer time to travel through the barrel and out the muzzle than do the higher velocity loads."

-Elmer Keith
Gun Notes May 1962

Don't shoot handguns much it appears. Hawk is correct

Yes, he is.

Thanks gents.

Just trying to point a serious question to a serious answer.
dla is correct regarding heavier bullets.

I will tell the OP to post what he finds, because that's the answer in this situation.

Elmer is correct, and its not very often he wasn't.....

Yes dla is also correct

Just so I can clarify for myself, a 240gr @ 1200fps is likely to impact lower than the same bullet at 1000 fps (even though recoil will be somewhat greater with the faster load)

It is my experience that a heavier bullet will impact higher than a lighter bullet at the same velocity (due to greater recoil)

Thanks

Correct.

Muzzle rise and barrel time are the working variables.

In general, the slower load has longer barrel time, the muzzle has risen further before the bullet clears the barrel. Impact is higher.

YMMV.