Eggleston Munitions 148gr RN / Titegroup .38SP Load Data (with chrono testing!)

[matteekay]

Howdy, everyone!

 

I'm a big fan of the Eggleston 148gr RN for .38 Special, but there's not much load data out there for it. So... I thought I'd provide some! 

 

Full test results are located here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TD9LtYk8x4LHljzIY8YTDf4d4Ki8Hh_o9HxhYkwFvB0/edit?usp=sharing

 

Load Info:

- Eggleston 148r Coated Lead RN Bullets, .358

- Federal .38 Special Cases

- Federal #100 Small Pistol Primers

- Titegroup Powder (weights listed out below)

- Bullet seated to crimp groove, medium-tight roll crimp (3/4 turn on a Lee die)

 

Test Info:

- Test Gun 1: S&W 627 PC 5" barrel (16 rounds per load)

- Test Gun 2: S&W 14-3 6" barrel (12 rounds per load). This gun has the most narrow chambers of all of my revos so it's the most susceptible to sticking.

- Chrono: Competition Electronics ProChrono with indoor lighting kit

- All rounds were loaded into moonclips to test for sticking

 

Results are shown as "Gun 1 / Gun 2".

 

Load 1: EM 148gr / 3.9gr of Titegroup

• Average: 845 (125 PF)  /  883 (130 PF)
• High: 859  /  901
• Low: 827  /  884 
• Extreme Spread: 32  /  57 
• Standard Deviation: 9  /  15
• Sticking: None  /  None

 

Load 2: EM 148gr / 4.0gr of Titegroup

• Average: 862 (127 PF)  /  891 (131 PF)
• High: 883  /  918
• Low: 839  /  860 
• Extreme Spread: 44  /  58 
• Standard Deviation: 11  /  20
• Sticking: None  /  None

 

Load 3: EM 148gr / 4.1gr of Titegroup

• Average: 873 (129 PF)  /  908 (134 PF)
• High: 893  /  935
• Low: 846  /  887 
• Extreme Spread: 47  /  48 
• Standard Deviation: 10  /  13
• Sticking: None  /  None

 

Load 4: EM 148gr / 4.2gr of Titegroup

• Average: 889 (131 PF)  /  919 (136 PF)
• High: 914  /  953
• Low: 863  /  856* 
• Extreme Spread: 51  /  97 
• Standard Deviation: 12  /  23
• Sticking: None  /  Some sticking on ejection

 

*This looks like a low charge

 

Load 5: EM 148gr / 4.3gr of Titegroup

• Average: 909 (134 PF)  /  942 (139 PF)
• High: 926  /  901
• Low: 887  /  884 
• Extreme Spread: 39  /  65 
• Standard Deviation: 11  /  15
• Sticking: None  /  Severe sticking on ejection

 

 

Hopefully someone finds this info useful!

Edited July 17, 2017 by matteekay

[matteekay]

I should add that all loads burned cleanly. Also, I'm not responsible for whatever you do with this info, lol.

[chenault]

Man I've got a ton of these but I can't load them in my cz without them running into the lands 

[revchuck]

@matteekayJust FYI, my old IDPA revolver load was (IIRC) 4.3 gr. of TG under a 158 gr. LRN or a bit more under a Berry's 158 plated RN.  Both loads ran ~830 fps from a 4" barrel.  While both loads were accurate, they heated up the cylinder really quickly.  This wasn't a problem during a match, but during high-round-count practice sessions, it was definitely an issue.  Additionally, the lead bullet loads smoked like a freight train.