Pietta 3" 1860 44 cal snub nose - chronographed

[Squib_Load]

Today I used a Garmin XERO C1 to chrono
a Pietta 3" 1860 44 cal snub nose with BHG in two configurations:

Cap & Ball, 5 shots
35 gr Goex FFFg paper cartridges made with Rios Innovations paper cartridge former kit. Powder measured by volume.
143 gr .457 round ball,
CCI #11 caps,
lube over the chambers

min - 584.7 fps
avg - 640.7
max - 693.8
ext sprd - 109.1
std dev - 35.9 fps
avg ME - 130 ft-lb
----------------------------------------------------

Howell 45 Colt conversion cylinder, 5 shots
HSM 45 Schofield factory smokeless cartridges
200 gr RNFP Cowboy Action Lead, rated at 700 FPS

min - 645.4 fps
avg - 647.4
max - 649.7
ext sprd - 4.3
std dev - 1.4
avg ME - 186 ft-lb

I am very happy with the results. The consistency of the 45 Schofield factory cartridges was amazing.

Both 5-shot groups went into 3.5" groups from 7 yards. Both shot to POA.

 

[Danny boy]

That's solid chrono data! Your Pietta's holding up nicely. Those Schofield rounds are crazy consistent, it makes sense your groups stayed tight. You mostly run it for CAS comps or just fun plinking?

 

[Squib_Load]

That's solid chrono data! Your Pietta's holding up nicely. Those Schofield rounds are crazy consistent, it makes sense your groups stayed tight. You mostly run it for CAS comps or just fun plinking?

I just shoot steel and paper targets in the woods or at the club.

 

[Focused_king]

That's excellent data, especially how tightly the factory .45 Schofield grouped, you don't see those single-digit spreads often with any snubby, let alone a conversion cylinder. Did you find you had to hold high or low to keep that 3.5" group centered with the heavier .45 Schofields, or is that short sight radius actually holding up better than expected?

 

[Squib_Load]

Like all Colt C&B revolvers it shot high, but the windage was perfect. I have two of these and in one of them I'm gonna try filing down and deepening the V notch in the hammer.