Ransom Rest and Chronograph Results

Black Powder Substitutes Vs. Goex Cowboy

The Ransom Rest was courtesy of Brownells, Inc. (Part # 164-100-008 with Ruger Grip Inserts)We couldn’t have done this project without their assistance.

Setting up the Ransom Rest was more difficult than expected. To be accurate, the Ransom Rest must be immovable. The problem was there was no immovable place to mount it at the Tejas Pistoleros Range. Jake Cutter kindly built a mount in concrete. I had intended to put the chronograph between the mount and the 25 yd target and redo the chronograph testing from April as I shot groups. This didn’t prove feasible at this time, but I’ll probably manage it for further test sessions.

For the purpose of ease of use, I’ve combined April chrono test results with June accuracy testing.

Why 25 yds? Aren’t SASS targets supposed to be close and big? Yes. Unfortunately I shoot at clubs that do 25 yd pistol targets. In any case 25 yards is the standard, and it takes that much distance to show much difference between loads.

Winchester factory 250 gr. Cowboy loads were used as a “control,” and Trail Boss was tested to compare it to Winchester Factory. Since it was more accurate, we’re considering it the “control.”

Trail Boss

			Accuracy and Chronograph Results
Ruger Vaquero, .45 Colt, 4-3/8" barrel, New Starline Brass, Hunter's Supply 200 gr. .452 bullet, Winchester Large Primer
Ransom rest used for group testing, all at 25 yds. Oehler Model 35P Chronograph
Weather, 6-5-05, Group Testing, 92°F, Windy, clear. Chronograph testing 4-2-05, 80°, windy, clear
Cartridges	gr. Vol.	H-in.	W-in.	notes	Hi	Lo	ES	MV	SD
Winchester Factory		2.00	1.25	250 gr. Bullets	655	580	75	635	36
Trail Boss		1.50	1.50	5.5 gr. (w) 215 gr. Bullet	710	691	19	699	8
777 ffg	33	2.50	2.75	33 gr. No compression	898	829	69	873	27
APP 2f	34	5.88	5.00	Not same lot as chrono results	580	508	82	558	30
APP 3f	34	5.50	5.00	New ammunition, not chronoed
Pinnacle 2f	34	4.00	3.50		684	578	106	642	42
Pinnacle 3f	34	5.25	5.25		694	577	117	637	46
Cowboy	34	4.38	2.38		742	731	11	737	4
16 gr. Pinnacle 3f	16	1.25	2.25	Black Dawge filler	581	527	54	553	23
16 gr. Pinnacle 2f	16	1.50	3.00	Black Dawge filler	526	497	29	511	11
16 gr. Cowboy	16	2.00	5.25	Black Dawge filler	509	495	14	501	5
Percussion
Ruger Old Army, 7.5" barrel used for group testing, 5.5" barrel used for chronograph testing. 147 gr. .457 round ball (Dawge Balls)
777 fffg	30	4.50	5.25		842	793	49	810	20
Pinnacle fffg	30	2.50	2.50		763	657	106	731	45
APP fffg	30	1.75	1.75	(best 4 = .75 x .75)	669	467	202	553	83
Cowboy	30	2.00	1.875	Wonder Wad	711	669	52	681	19
777 fffg	20	3.50	3.25
Pinnacle fffg	20	4.50	5.25
APP fffg	20	5.25	2.75
Cowboy	20	2.00	1.00	Wonder Wad

Best load in each group is highlighted in blue. Worst is highlighted in pink.

best BP cartridge load, 16 gr. Pinnacle 3f, Black Dawge filler, 200 gr. Hunter’s Supply Bullet

There were some surprised. The “full case”, or 34 gr. volume loads were expected to be the most accurate. Of those I expected Cowboy to be the most accurate because of the low SD. Instead, the 16 gr. loads were considerably more accurate. Pinnacle was almost as accurate as Trail Boss.

APP and 777 were not included in the “reduced recoil” load testing since both manufacturers prohibit using wads or fillers.

In the percussion pistols, APP, which had not been impressive in cartridtges, was best overall. The 20 gr. loads were expected to be less accurate because of the extra bullet jump since the bullet was further from the forcing cone. But the Cowboy load was about the same as the 30 gr. Cowboy load. The other groups grew. Conclusion: If the match director throws in long range pistol targets, use 30 gr.

The Ruger Vaquero used is 6 years old and has had extensive shooting. The forcing cone is stock, and the base pin is stock. Best case results were comparable to published accuracy test of Ruger Vaqueros. Obviously ammunition makes a big difference.

In the percussion testing, the substitutes used no lube, but Wonder Wads were used with Cowboy. The bore was swabbed after using Cowboy and periodically during testing.

Conclusions:

• ¥ou can’t estimate accuracy from chronograph testing, but it helps.
• All of the loads are acceptable for speed shooting like SASS . Some are not what I’d choose for anything over 15 yds., though.
• The difference between best and worst is considerable.
• A Ruger Vaquero with no accuracy enhancement is pretty accurate with the right load.
• Chronographing and accuracy testing this many loads takes a long time.
• Your results may vary. You won’t know without testing in your own guns.

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