Charge Burn Length in Short Barrel

[Corpe Nimrod]

Hurried home from work to shoot my Encore MZ Pistol tonight right at dusk to test the zero in preparation for tomorrow's hunt. Normally shoot 50 grains BM3 with a 250 grain SW. Tried to move up to 90 grains BH209 and it shot ok but it was a roman candle. Tons of muzzle flash. Then I moved to 80 grains, same issue. I switched back to 50 grains BM3 and the thing shoots better than I can. This got me thinking. Does anyone know the length of barrel necessary to fully burn a charge? With 80-90 grains, am I wasting powder out the end of the barrel?

Due to not wanting to reset zero, I'll stick to the 50 grains by volume BM3 and the 250 grain SW until I can get some real time to tune it in. Anyone have any guesses as to velocity of this load? I won't shoot much further than 50 yards with this. Tried the 200 grain shockwave but keyholed the projectile a bunch.

Built this from a rusted 209X50 muzzleloader barrel that I got taken on through Ebay and hoping to christen it tomorrow. Looks pretty good for a homemade project.

 

[Nugent]

TTT

 

[lane]

IMO, Stick with 50grains, that's all a short barrel like that can burn effectively.

You might try the Buffalo Bullets 245g BALL-ET, or a 245g powerbelt. Cause I don't think that Shockwaves will expand at those low speeds....

.

 

[AJ]

Nice project, it looks like mine:

I did the same thing. I bought a rifle barrel on line and took the hacksaw to it, chucked it in the lathe and gave it a nice target crown.

Anyhoo, I had decent success with 80 gr of 3f Triple Se7en and a 250 gr bullet. It did kick a bit but I had it for my close range hunting of whitetails (sub 100 yards) so it did the trick. I am sure it may be more efficient with a lesser charge, but I was in a hurry and did not play a lot with different loads.

 

[Corpe Nimrod]

AJ, Can you show me what you did to the end of that powerod. These are tough critters to load and it would be nice to have the T handle on the end. Also, I like how it gets out of the way of the muzzle.

Lane, I've got some PR Bullets, maybe pure lead would be better at these speeds?

 

[leftyred]

I think its like 24" is the barrel length needed to burn up to 100gr of propellent.

I want to say I read that in BACKWOODS MAGAZINE or DIXIES BPJ.

Not gospel, so take it with a grain of salt.

Jerry

 

[Corpe Nimrod]

Lane, you scared me right out of hunting this morning and I used the time to work up another load. 70 grains of BM3 and a 240 grain dead center was shooting dead on at 50. With the all lead bullet and lighter charge, I feel better about the likelihood of good expansion. Tomorrow morning will see the dawning of a new breed of pistol hunter! I think I'll use the stage name Larry Shockey when all those sponsors put me on the Outdoor Channel. I promise I'll take all my MM buddies on those exotic hunts when we begin taping the show!

 

[lane]

Corpe

That sounds like an Excellent load Should put'em down for sure! Let us know how it works, and don't forget the Pics 8)