Border Boarder

There is, I believe, a case to be made for an uncommon defensive loading of the .357 magnum cartridge. This loading is the result of taking into account an oft-ignored factor in defensive ammunition. No doubt I will be reviled by my reader for for optimizing for something other than the typical end results - and perhaps he/she will be right. This is largely theoretical, as I've never shot anything but paper (and bugs), nor do I carry a weapon in public. With that disclaimer...

Dear Readers, I give you the .357 Special

This non-breakthrough cartridge is nothing more than a specification for a particular .357 magnum load. It satisfies the following criteria:

1. It throws the heaviest practical .357 bullet: 180gr JHP...
2. at a maximum velocity of 1000fps out of a 3" barrel...
3. while tapering off in velocity gain reasonably quickly in longer barrels...
4. reaching an estimated pressure maximum of 25000psi (up for debate)

Wherefore the .357spl? I have considered at length, with no input from any experts or personal experiments, the probable effect on my hearing of touching off a supersonic cartridge in a defensive situation indoors, and decided that for the noise level of a .38+p (also fits in my gun), I could get a much more effective payload without damaging my hearing quite so much as stepping up to the heavier .357 loads.

Think about this: 180gr at 1000fps. Sound familiar? Sure it does. These are mass/velocity figures of a .40S&W. They are also strikingly similar to the 185gr .45ACP load. They are also within the plausible range of many .44spl handloads.

I would expect there to be a trade-off of somewhat more penetration at the expense of the hydrostatic shock imparted by fatter bullets. However, the extra mass behind the hollowpoint would possibly improve expansion over what you typically see from a .38spl. (Anyone care to try? I have no such facilities available.)

"Sure E, but what do you know about these things?" A valid question. The answer is little. However, I do handload 180gr XTP-HP's into .357 brass at ~1050fps in my 50th Anniversary Blackhawk (4-5/8" barrel). Now my specimen has a rather oversize barrel/cylinder gap, so my typical handloads are probably a smidge hotter than this proposed spec. Regardless, they are nice and accurate, and don't recoil noticeably more than a 158gr XTP-HP at the same velocity. The longer bullet takes up more space in the case, which leaves less empty space in which the powder can slosh around, wrecking consistent ignition. The long bullet gives you plenty of beef without the undue wear typical of the 125gr super-hotties. The B/C gap is well-sealed as the bullet enters the rifling beyond the forcing cone. Kinetic energy figures are lower than 125gr loads (401fpe vs. 546fpe: 401/546 = 73%), but momentum is actually higher. Velocity stays safely below the sound barrier turbulence zone, and the long, lumbering slugs have a far better ballistic coefficient (.230 vs. .151 from Hornady's website) for consistent downrange performance at the target range. Recoil is tame compared to high-pressure alternatives, being more the shove of a .45 than the snap of a 9mm or .40.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the .357 spl, the product of a theoretical and idle mind:

• 180gr JHP .357
• .357 mag case (only in this long brass, and for .357mag guns!)
• a moderate charge of 2400 (W231 to be attempted)

Accurate, comfortable, dependable, easy on the ears.

Why bother with so much text for a pet handload? Because given the general debate surrounding handloads for self-defense, I'd love to see a reputable ammunition manufacturer (Buffalo Bore, anyone?) make just such a factory load so I could BUY the dozen rounds to keep handy for my defensive gun, were it to be a .357.

This article is primarily about pellet testing, but first some background...

Based on long-term lust, aligned interests of my shooting partner, and a great review by B.B. Pelletier, a Russian (via EAA importer) IZH-61 air rifle arrived by FedEx truck yesterday. Also in the box were 4 tins of pellets that she wanted to test in the FWB-102 and Beeman HW30.

But more to the point, I tested 8 kinds of projectiles against a USBR target using two air guns. The three new kinds of pellets combined with the contents of the rest of the armory produced around 12 kinds of pellets, 8 of which are tested here. I started both out of wanting to know what shot best in the new IZH, and to see what the new ammo would do. Then it got out of hand. Please note that these are my results with me shooting these particular airguns. In order to get a good statistical sample, many more targets would need to be shot.

Index

• Baikal IZH-61
• Beeman Tempest
• Testing Environment
• Ammo Specs
• IZH-61 Target
• Tempest Target
• Conclusions

IZH-61

First off, this rifle is cool:

The IZH-61 is a spring-piston side-cocking polymer-stocked 5-shot repeater. it has a lot of "high-end" features implemented in a VERY affordable package. It's a very interesting convergence of trade-offs. It has a click-adjustable rear sight and hooded front. The sight picture is excellent, and reminiscent of a pistol. However, both are plastic. The ingenious 5-shot magazine and magazine well are also plastic. The butt is adjustable across a wide range (look for the second screw stop!) from tiny carbine length to nearly full-sized rifle dimensions. It even has a dovetail "rail" (polymer) at the rear of the action which accepted a Williams WGRS peep sight with a little convincing. Three drops of Phil's Tenacious Oil on the mainspring smoothed things out a bit, as did a drop on the cocking lever lock pin.

How does it shoot? I can hit a 6oz soda can (the stubbies) about 50% ofthe time at 30 yards, sometimes 5 shots in a row. Offhand. That'll do. At 50 yards the pellets are about a foot low, but I still managed to drop a couple Premiers onto the pistol-sized shoot-n-c by holding over the target backing. It's rated at 490fps, That probably means 450-475fps depending on the pellets, but I haven't chronographed it yet.

Beeman Tempest

Another springer in my case is a Beeman/Webley Tempest (pictured here on my reloading bench. I have a love/hate relationship with this pistol. It's a clever design which recoils backwards like a firearm, but the balance is mediocre, the trigger long and heavy, and the sight crude. The forearm piece is plastic and has a tendancy to crack around the pin holding it in. I've already replaced it once. However, it's fairly easy to open for lube, which improves the firing cycle substantially. I've clocked it from 410fps to 480 depending on the pellets, but it tends toward the 440 mark. Medium power, handy package, "field" accuracy. :-/
It's also my only non-CO2 pistol.

Testing Environment

The table below details the brand, model, and specs of the pellets tested over the last two days. All shooting was done indoors at 24ft. The rifle was shot offhand, and the pistol off a soft rest, sitting the butt on the rest. I tend to shoot the Tempest well this way. Informal testing of the IZH suggested that offhand was as good as bench for this crazy gun, and the pellets would go straight instead of dropping several inches. Sights were not adjusted during shooting with the exception of the first target with the pistol (which was regulated for 25yds). Pellets were weighed in batches of 5 on my Lee powder scale. The numbers below reflect the average of their combined weight. Dimensions were measured with a Lyman dial caliper. Roughly three pellets were measured to estimate each dimension and noticable variations are noted, but not enumerated. 5 shots were fired at each bullseye, and three bullseyes per pellet type (except where I got confused, as noted on the targets). Groups were not measured for size since I would nead at least 5 targets each to get a reasonable sample. However, I may go back and measure them for kicks. My chronograph does not have an indoors attachment, so no velocities were measured. Relative impact elevation on the target MAY show some correlation to velocity.

Imaginary FAQ:

• Why so many Gamo pellets? They're easy to find around here at mainstream sporting goods stores that sell airguns.
• Why no other domestic pellets? They suck. The Crosman Premiers appear to be the exception. Good pellets are still inexpensive even compared to the cheapest .22LR. Buy better ammo or shoot less. Domestic airgun ammo reflects domestic airgun quality and mainstream attitudes towards "bb guns". Beeman is a US company, but AFAIK all ammo and guns of quality they sell are imported (and often customized for or by them). Accessories are the exception since they are often domestic firearm accessories, which tend to be decent.

Ammo Specs

Brand/Model	Shape	Weight gr	Head Dia.	Skirt Dia.	Length	Significant Var.?	IZH c-t-c	Tempest c-t-c
RWS Hobby	Wadcutter	6.96	.177	.187	.210	no	0.790	0.853
Beeman Silver Bear	Semi-Wadcutter HP	7.16	.176	.187	.220	no	1.093	0.965
Crosman Premier	Round Nose HP	7.96	.175	.181	.215	length	0.720	1.134
Beeman Field Tgt. Special.	Round Nose	8.34	.176	.181	.230	no	0.791	1.323
Gamo Match	Wadcutter	7.84	.177	.184	.201	no	1.093	0.965
Gamo Magnum	Point, Extra Baffle	8.1	.177	.186	.281	skirt	0.721	0.986
Gamo Hunter	Round Nose	7.4	.176	.183	.230	skirt	0.998	1.451
Gamo Round	Sphere	8.18	.177	.177	.177	.001 variations

A picture of the pellets and their tins:

Target Results, IZH-61

Summary in rough order of groupings:

• RWS Hobby RULES!
  
• Crosman Premier's perform well.
  
• Beeman Field Targets are respectable.
  
• Gamo Match groups well, but unexpectely low. Slow?
  
• Gamo pointy Magnum groups well despite slight loading problems
  
• Gamo Hunter turns in one great group
  
• Beeman Silver Bear disappoints despite good performance other times.
  
• Gamo Rounds all in the scoring ring on the only bull shot.
  

I think this rifle shot most of the ammo rather well. The RWS Hobby's were the clear winner. The 5-shot magazine limits the overall length of pellets that will fit, and the Gamo Magnums were pushing this limit. Outdoors, the Gamo Match pellets dropped really fast. I think in a lower-velocity gun like this one, round nose pellets are best for anything beyond 50ft. The Premiers and Beeman Field pellets are good here, but probably a little heavy for a gun at this power level. I'd rather have a lighter round-nose pellet like the Gamo Hunter, but higher quality. I'll have to get my hands on some RWS Superdomes.

One obvious pellet variation with this rifle is the skirt diameter. The 5 holes in the magazine are not quite exactly the same size, so the skinnier pellets fall a little deeper into the wider holes. The gun seems to shoot best with wide-skirted pellets, the Premiers being the exception.

Target Results, Beeman Tempest

Summary in rough order of groupings:

• RWS Hobby wins again!
  
• Beeman Silver Bear groups well from this gun, confirming past experience.
  
• Gamo Magnum groups better than I expected
  
• Beeman Field Targets are passable.
  
• Crosman Premier's earn a shrug.
  
• Gamo Match is lousy in this pistol.
  
• Gamo Hunter is the same
  
• Gamo Rounds are ok at this range.
  

I shot the Crosman Premier's first and had to lower the sights. Then I skipped to the next target accidentally. This is noted on the target. I only shot two targets with the Beeman Field pellets. Wide-skirted pellets seem to be the order of the day for this pistol as well. They also grouped higher, which suggests higher velocity to me.

Overall Conclusions

• RWS Pellets are very nice AND very affordable.
• Wide-skirted pellets seem to be more consistent, generally
• Round-nose pellets in low-power guns are important except at close ranges
• Hollow-point pellets are useless (for expansion) below 700fps or so (supported by testing not shown here), but may perform accuracy-wise.

-E

After a lousy week and intermittent access during the first quarter of the year, my target work has started to settle down.

The local outdoor range is now open at all daylight hours all weekend, and the folk at the City indoor range have let me clean their rental guns. It's nice when your 10/22 doesn't foul up every 10-15 rounds, and a clean bore is a nice feeling.

I shot the range's beat-up standard Henry .22, and was very pleasantly surprised. It easily out-shot all but one of the (admittedly dirty) 10/22's I've been renting, and the feeling of working the action between shot really improves my rhythm. At 25ft I made one 5-shot hole, and at 50ft my groups were passable on the light rifle targets. The sights are crude, but much more usable than the 10/22's bead&cup. The finish on the aluminum receiver was beat to hell, and I mean squinched up, not merely rubbed off. The front post was painted red. Still, it turned up some nice scores for me, and the trigger better than a rifle in that price range deserves. It's fun shooting a rifle that has BKLYN stamped on the barrel. My old 'hood.

Last weekend I shot a 1/2" five-shot group off a sandbag with my grandpa's old Savage .22 and some "cheap" Eley Target ammo. When the peep sights are tight, that thing really performs. Replacing the factory rear peep with something click-adjustable remains a long-term goal, but the mounting situation is still a problem.

There's been plenty to be mad about since I last wrote, but nothing worth posting has bubbled up. The Bush administration once again appears to be unraveling, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I figure the title of this post will generate some interesting traffic...

My good friend and premier shooting student (Let's call her 'M') went to the range by herself (again) this week, expecting to shooting some qualifying targets for a local women's team. She was very excited (and so was I, as her coach). Unfortunately I had to be at the office.

'M' has been shooting for about a year, and has a veritable fount of natural talent. A day before she was due to go to the range she said to me "I hope [A] isn't one of THOSE women." Well... she was. And she had a deputy.

What do I mean by that? Is this where E gets chauvanistic? No. The archetype is the attractive, well-positioned woman who makes a place for herself in a traditional "man's sport" (job, whatever) usually in part through talent, and part via her attractive power over the men around her. She then proceeds to subversively defend her position from any other women whom she might consider a threat in any way. A combination of pretty and talented would rank up there very high on the threat scale. Snide remarks, exaggerated impatience, and zero support to threatening newcomers are typical tactics. She was one of THOSE. And she had a male deputy who stood behind my premier student the entire time she was shooting critizing unhelpfully at every shot.

M was not told what they were shooting for, what the spec was, how it worked, the context, or anything. It was just "Well? We're waiting for you." It was clearly a mixed blessing that the folks who run the range, excited to have a talented new female shooter in the house, talked M up to this awful woman in advance. M didn't have a chance.

It turned out that all they were doing was shooting qualifying targets for the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Light Rifle program, for which you can get patches after completing various courses of fire with particular scores. This is nothing that I (as an NRA coach) couldn't already do for her, nor is it an exclusive club in any way. But they didn't tell her this at all. She came home extremely upset (of course she shot below her usual ability) and completely demoralized about shooting. I had spent the better part of the last two years warming her up to the sport (she was previously very afraid of guns, yet intrigued), and she was now reading competition literature, Anschutz catalogs, etc. She told me she didn't think she wanted to shoot anymore after her experience at the previously welcoming range. She stuck it out the whole time instead of giving up in disgust (which would have been fine by me!), but it had a strong effect on her.

Why do people have to be assholes? It's hard enough to get the unaquainted interested in the shooting sports, and this is in New York City! That sort of selfish behavior is so bad for the sport - for any sport. Now I know that my designated markswomen will be back in her shooting boots in a few days, but the whole experience was completely unnecessary. So from now on we'll plan our practice days to avoid that woman's monthly visiting schedule. Too bad she's weaseled her way into being up for an NRA board position this year...

-E

About 18 months ago I started shooting again after a 10-year hiatus. This was due to convenience, social acceptance, and locale.
I'm so happy.

My collection has gone from my grandpa's old .22 and a couple airguns to a nice little quintet of rimfire rifles and my first handgun. I prefer the smaller calibers in general due to price, elegance, and the fact that I'm essentially a target shooter. My days of weekly competition are behind me - for now...

This is my category for cataloging my sharable shooting experiences.