Ruger LC 5.7 x 28: Barnes TSX 45 gr Handloads testing quest for 2400 fps: w/Acc #7 & #9

[@jw-sigp2258]

Nice video. Good to see you getting close to 2400 fps like that. I think that bullet is going to do amazing for you at those speeds. Maybe try 75 yard ballistic test and see how expansion looks. Maybe even try at 100 yards just to see.

[@ShastaBean]

Thanks! According the ballistics-calculators, the velocity should be ~2070 fps at 75 yards, with muzzle velocity of 2400 fps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmPVn2V6hsZgbLs So, the 2nd bullet from the bottom in those 2 views shown. ~1950 fps should be the velocity at ~100 yards, which is the bullet at the bottom. And that bullet did a number on the pork, even though it was too close to the edge of the pork, and blew out the side - which might have limited expansion, a bit? Dunno. But I even wonder if that partial opening where the petals are facing forward like they are could be more damaging than when they are folded back? It seems it would cause more "drag" and rip tissue when formed that way? I plan to try a few more, at 2000, 1975, and even drop below 1950 and see if it opens at all with 1900/1925. I'm even curious on the effect if it doesn't open, and only tumbles. I've never really seen any test I can recall that shows tissue damage from a tumbler. In gel, tumbling makes a huge disruption, but is only 2-D (not cylindrical)...so I'm curious how that translates to tissue damage. I'd like to be able to stagger a couple in the pistol carry-magazine. The biggest flaw I've seen, and needs more testing, is POI. I am not sure if I can stagger rounds in a defensive load-out rifle magazine, and it also be of any use at distances over 25 yards. TBD. But as for a hunting round? Yeah, this thing is boss, 100 yrds & in. For defense, I prefer fracturing, but like to have something like this mixed in. I sure wish they made a 40 grain, or equivalent of the 37 grain Makers' (that only has 3 petals, but works great - if you can find them). They have been OOS for well over the last year!! ugh! I'm also going to try some IMR-4198, which should be sufficiently slow-burn enough to finally see some fire out the muzzle. But if 2400 or 2375 is the max I can do, I'm good with that.

[@triggerbarPhD]

Accurate #9 with the 7.9 or 8.0 seemed reliable and the pretty close to the sought velocity. 45 gr is no joke for 5.7. Thanks Shasta!

[@ShastaBean]

YW & yes - progress; those powder weights might be good "enough"...but still think I can get faster.

[@triggerbarPhD]

@ trying a different powder or bullet or seating depth?

[@ShastaBean]

@@triggerbarPhD powder. IMR-4198. There's no fire out of the muzzle with #9, so I should be able to theoretically use something a bit slower - until I see some blast. We'll see?

[@craigm1954]

Nice SB. I wonder if the faster #7 with this bullet and its weight is interesting in shorter pistol barrels. I have everything ready, but haven't loaded this round so far.

[@ShastaBean]

I was thinking same thing, and going back over the pork results, and based on those, don't think it's going to be anything viable for the pistol in any way other than perhaps tumbling, or FMJ type performance. Which is certainly not nothing & worth considering. Looking back at the LC & 57 tests into the rubber blocks, where it tumbles and shows those large disruption tracks that are very deep and very wide, even though they are only 2-dimensional. And ~20" of penetration. The one possibility I'm wrong - is if it actually opens at lower velocity in tissue that isn't just "pork shoulder"...i.e., bones, skin, organs, fluids, etc. That could be possible. But needing 1950 - 2000 fps for expansion means it's going to be 380 - 400 ft-lbs and not where I feel comfortable loading. I consider that like +p+ ish. I might do a batch of 10% organic gel, and see if perhaps it does open at 1850 - 1925 fps. Then I'd probably feel better about staggering some in defensive pistol mag. How do you feel about that tumbling effect? I might actually test that into pork, and see if it's more significant than I give it credit for.

[@ShastaBean]

and now I'm glad you mentioned faster powder...and it coaxed me to look at the muzzle closely on these shots...not even a speck of a hint of flash coming out except for at 4:15 and the two shots of 8.2 grains. So shouldn't that be suggesting to me to try an even slower powder? I might be able to go well beyond 2400 fps if I can start seeing some fire out the muzzle - meaning unburnt powder? I may give IMR-4198 a try.

[@craigm1954]

@@ShastaBean Generically, I know it can be effective, but I have the thought that I prefer bullet stability, and then have bullet performance engineered in for the intention. This, in regard to tumbling. I can see so many acceptable or desirable exceptions, though. Your example of tumbling, and 20" on penetration is impressive. In the distant past, I've noticed more inconsistency with tumbling. And on a partially unrelated note, random veering is always a little question mark, to me. But, I'm biased, there was a time that I cast and shot a bunch of heavy for bore bullets. I'm not much of a big game hunter, but from the penetration point of view, I've seen that those bullets can track amazingly straight and deep, through varying bone and tissue densities. Admittedly, not what you're looking at. Just thoughts.

[@craigm1954]

@@ShastaBean I think that could very possibly be true, in the longer barrel. That's what prompted my comment in the opposite direction, and the shorter barrel, but in combination with the relatively heavy 45 gr bullet, possibly mattering. Again, just conversation. On a side note, I have no idea how it would work in the 5.7 cartridge, but my messing around with IMR-4198 is dirty, if the case is too small to build good pressure. Again, that may have nothing to do with reality.

[@ShastaBean]

@@craigm1954 I only have it because I tried it in 40 gr VMAX in .223. It worked ok. Not spectacular, but decent. I do think it's worth testing, because even if it's not the one - it might give me an idea of whether to stay closer to Acc#9's burn rate, or the IMR's. Just typing out loud....

[@caseyb1346]

I have successfully used lil gun for 40 grain loads. That may be the powder to use to get 2400 fps out of a 45 grain bullet.

[@ShastaBean]

agreed...and just replied to Craig - your notion along the same lines. I don't have lil gun, but definitely going to try some slower powder, given there's no flash from the muzzle with this #9, until a slight bit seen with 8.2 gr...should suggest I can use a slower powder. I have IMR-4198 and so I'm going to try that. If it proves to be too slow, I'll get something in between, like lil gun