My DW 44 Mag Accuracy Test - 2011

I’m anxious to share this experiment with fellow DW accuracy enthusiasts. I hope you follow along and enjoy the story. I’ll try hard to finish Part 1 - establish baseline - by the end of August. I could be quicker but we have one vehicle and its scheduling problems with ‘her who must be obeyed’.

I’d appreciate constructive review and criticism. For some like IHMSA80x80 this is elementary. I’ll explain my operating, measurement, and collection parameters. I’ll keep all subsequent post updates factual; just target scans, updated excels, and observations.

I’m a solitary shooter and handloader, self taught through studying reloading manuals and reading Precision Shooting, Rifle, Handloader and others. Past tense, but every once in a while I reactivate my love of the hobby. I shoot against myself.

I never plink, nor have I hunted. Only shoot groups for aggregates and averages.

I got my first firearm about 35 years ago, a 22.250 Rem 700 BDL. It’s my 100 yd factory poor man’s benchrest. I apply benchrest accuracy practices as best I can afford to tuning my handloads. Federal factory ammo averaged .865” and I got it down to .356” 100yd with my custom loads. Took a while and no excel! I still have every target.  

I bought the DW44mag Pistol Pack, detailed in my ‘ReReRe WidowMaker’ post in Dan Wesson Large \ Supermag’ section, for my son. We tuned for Metallic Silhouette, developing our loads and click tables, open sights. My copy of the IHMSA July 1982 Signature Edition ‘Handloading Guide for Handgun Accuracy’ was our bible. Too long ago and no details other than my current load information.

I measure accuracy by the aggregate, the same as benchrest shooters (what else did I know?).

Each of my targets has 5 aiming points

I fire a controlled 5 shot group, regroup mentally, then another group, five times for 25 rounds before I need a target change – no matter distance or calibre. I pace myself.

I use different firearms for different distances - like golf clubs.

When testing rimfire rifle I fired 4 targets per outing. If I could accurately shoot two 44 targets per outing I’d like to do that. I could do an A/B. I’ll check fatigue during sighting in. (the MS guys are laughing!)

At home I measure the groups using digital dial calipers. I then calculate the aggregate for the target’s 5 groups, and record all parameter. Conditions play a part so I tend not to shoot 200 yds on a windy day. Then I average aggregates for the number of targets for that variable in the experiment. Excel certainly rules with the volume of date that needs to be analyzed in rimfire!

Small groups are great for bragging but it’s the average that’s relevant to me. And I know my bigs and smalls.

I’m going to establish my first/new 44mag baseline. I’ll shoot all targets through the 8” barrel and 6” factory shroud plus 2” dickhead extension, topped with my M8 4x Leupold LER.

LOAD DATA

Federal match prep brass

old Nosler 240gr jhp

21 gr 2400

F155 primers

1.6” OAL

Same load & 250 rounds of 44 federal brass I’ve been using since forever. I’ll load up the 125 rounds right away so as to have a controlled group for testing.

I’ll’ try my Bald Eagle rifle rest & Outers Pistol Perch to see what works best.

(old photo)

So 5 targets, 125 rounds, average the aggregates and I have my baseline “average” for this phase of the experiment.

First outing I’ll sight in and shoot a couple of targets for practice. I only go on weekdays.  “Go you retired guy”.  Tried weekends and you have to keep ducking hot brass. Not conducive to accuracy testing.

I like to shoot 22rimfire rifle at 50yds using Match ammo.  My friend Gary, he of the WidowMaker mastery, also helped me with my Anschutz 54.18 MS-ED     http://www.neonfeather.com/5418/

He made me a delrin sleeve to slip on the Anschutz to easily give me a great benchrest stock profile. Gary was magic.

I mention this because on this project I’m wondering if I should get a sleeve/shoe machined that would fit on the shroud. It would dimensionally conform to the 3” benchrest profile, 8’ long and probably weigh 8-9 pounds. It should help with eliminating, as much as possible, cockpit errors and reduce fatigue.  I’m thinking of how to attach it so they become one; quick removal and no damage or scarring during assembly/disassembly.  

Running out of time because of our short comfortable shooting season. The shoe could be my first delta for Part 2, to compete against the established “average”.

I’ve made up my own 25yd pistol benchrest target for this. I use Visio. Visio doesn’t export well but here is an inaccurately scaled version:

I’ll use the crosshairs in the circle for the aiming point. I’ve put different line weights on each of the 5 aiming points to see what I like best with my M8 Leupold 4x LER.  I’ll print my groups 1” high and centred so as not to obliterate my aiming point. Hope to group them in the circle, I hope I hope I hope.

And here is my simple excel I’ll record & update.  

So get off my ( . ) and off to the range.

I hope this isn’t too much information.

The DWs are one accurate package. Didn’t DW just dominate! Still do? Back in the day I just JUMPED on the 44magvh pistol pack.

I can’t afford a Ransom, $600. Maybe some of us should chip in and sponsor a DWF project. An experimenter could tell us about DW accuracy. Do they still make inserts? 

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