I took a day off of work to get some things done. With the tasks behind me, I loaded the car with targets, ammo, and the new Ruger SP101 in .327 Federal Magnum.
The ammo I took with me today:
Fiocci .32 Wadcutter (this is the .32 S&W Long case loaded with a wadcutter. I understand this is a popular target load in Europe.
Federal 95 grain SWC .32 H&R Mag.
Federal 85 grain JHP .32 H&R Mag
Federal 85 grain Hydrashok JHP .327 Fed Mag
Speer 115 grain Gold Dot JHP >327 Fed Mag
I shot some of all at 30� using the two-hand isosceles stance, single action in to a 25 yard bullseye.
Good groups, for me that is, all in the 3� to 4� range. I started with the lower recoil loads and worked up to the hot stuff.
I moved into 21� and shot rapid double-action in to a silhouette target alternating between 6 85 grain Hydrashok .327s and 6 115 grain Gold Dot .327s. The resultant cluster was in the 5� diameter size.
When I first got the gun and shot the 115 grain load I was surprised by the recoil. The first time out with the 85 grain Gold Dot rounds I found the recoil much lighter. Today shooting the hot stuff was much easier.
I would like to see S&W come out with a six-shot J-Frame comparable to the M&P340 in .357 Mag cal which I own. I am sure the defense load of choice will be the 85 grain Hydrashot. In an aluminum frame revolver the 115 grain Gold Dot would really kick.
I had some extraction issues with the 115 grain load the first time out. Extraction with these loads was stiff today but the 85 grain Hydrashok round dropped out without a problem.
I plan to have my favorite gunsmith chamfer the rear of the chambers for speed loaders and while he is at it, I will ask him to polish the chambers themselves to enhance extraction.
The weather today was perfect. Conditions at the Atlanta Conservation Club perfect too. I had the place to myself. Sometime I like company and sometime I need solitude. Today was a good day to shoot alone and concentrate on the shooting.
The ammo I took with me today:
Fiocci .32 Wadcutter (this is the .32 S&W Long case loaded with a wadcutter. I understand this is a popular target load in Europe.
Federal 95 grain SWC .32 H&R Mag.
Federal 85 grain JHP .32 H&R Mag
Federal 85 grain Hydrashok JHP .327 Fed Mag
Speer 115 grain Gold Dot JHP >327 Fed Mag
I shot some of all at 30� using the two-hand isosceles stance, single action in to a 25 yard bullseye.
Good groups, for me that is, all in the 3� to 4� range. I started with the lower recoil loads and worked up to the hot stuff.
I moved into 21� and shot rapid double-action in to a silhouette target alternating between 6 85 grain Hydrashok .327s and 6 115 grain Gold Dot .327s. The resultant cluster was in the 5� diameter size.
When I first got the gun and shot the 115 grain load I was surprised by the recoil. The first time out with the 85 grain Gold Dot rounds I found the recoil much lighter. Today shooting the hot stuff was much easier.
I would like to see S&W come out with a six-shot J-Frame comparable to the M&P340 in .357 Mag cal which I own. I am sure the defense load of choice will be the 85 grain Hydrashot. In an aluminum frame revolver the 115 grain Gold Dot would really kick.
I had some extraction issues with the 115 grain load the first time out. Extraction with these loads was stiff today but the 85 grain Hydrashok round dropped out without a problem.
I plan to have my favorite gunsmith chamfer the rear of the chambers for speed loaders and while he is at it, I will ask him to polish the chambers themselves to enhance extraction.
The weather today was perfect. Conditions at the Atlanta Conservation Club perfect too. I had the place to myself. Sometime I like company and sometime I need solitude. Today was a good day to shoot alone and concentrate on the shooting.