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Eight different.41 Avenger 'oads printed these 25-yard machine rest groups, averaging
on'y 1. 19 inch. They show potentia' match accuracy of the Avenger.
nitely more controllable than the same cine
using A5 ACP with loads ofsimilar power.
In fact, I fired one 2.2 inch group and several
other good ones, and I don't shoot that
well. Then I got down to serious bench
testing, knowing that my pistolstnithing
had produced a smooth, reliable gun.
TEST FIRING
Mounting the gun in a Lee machine rest,
I fired five-shot groups on a reversed target
at 25 yards, clocking each shot over the
Oehler Model 33 Chronotach Skyscreens.
I have confidence in the Lee rest and my
ability to turn out reliable, repeatable results
with it.
The first group was 1.56 inch, measured
center-to-center ofthe widest hits. Then
they began to get even better: 1.38 inch and
1.20 inch. The fourth was 2.12 inch, but it
was definitely overpressured,judging from
the primer cratering. In fact, several of
these loads caused cratering of the CCI
# 350 magnum large pistol primers.
The first four loads were in full-length
A5 Winchester Magnum brass; then I
switched to a series in old Federal A5 ACP
cases, expecting poorer accuracy.
Here are the groups which followed, in
order: 1.51 inch, .89 inch, 1.25 inch, 1.36
inch, 84 'inch, 1.16 inch, 1.43 inch, and 1.11
inch. Eight straight groups and all different
loads with two· different bullets. And all
grouped into 1.5 inch or less. That may be
the best series of diverse handloads ever
fired from a big-bore semi-auto. The ve-
locities ranged from a mild 854 feet per
second to a hot 1,287 fps.
Hand cyCling shows chambering of a .41
Avenger round in a Co't automatic.
Only one conclusion was possibl~: the
Al Avenger is a great caliber. In later firing,
I have seen nothing to lower that opinion.
If anything, it has become even more
solid.
I also made a load with a 21O-grain cast
semi-wadcutter; it printed a 1.5l-inch
group. The average size for all 13 groups
fired that day was a splendid l.33-inch.
.,That is far better than many custom accurized
.45s will average with factory
match ammo.
Such results cannot be accidental, or
lucky. One or two lucky groups, yes. But
13? Everything has to be just right. Yet, I
had done nothing beyond my usual handloading
and test-firing methods. There is
no reason why most any other shooter
could not h~ve done as well, using the
same hardware and methods.
VARIOUS LOADS
Now, let's consider specific handloads,
picked to show the versatility, power a,nd
accuracy of the Avenger. My favorite bullet
in this caliber is Sierra's nO-grain jacketed
hollow-cavity (JHC), because it is
very accurate and it can be pushed to maximum
power with mild recoil. For instance,
a nice medium load was 6.5 grains
of Winchester 231 powder in Federal A5
ACP brass with CCI # 350 magnum large
pistol primers. This gave that fine .89-inch
group at 1,027 fps. Winchester 231 is cleanburning
and often yields exceptional accuracy.
In the same brass, 7.0 grains made
the .84-inch group at 1,072 fps. These loads
have fine target potential, but I have yet to
confirm or optimize them.
The maximum charge ofWinchester 231
with the Sierra nO-grain JHC bullet was
7.5 grains in my gun, in .45 Winchester
Magnum-type cases. CCI # 350 primers
are a bit soft for this load and cratered too
much; even so, the load clocked 1,162 fps
and I had two groups of 1.38 inch and 1.34
inch yielding 510 foot pounds of muzzle
energy. With harder CCI #200 rifle primers,
the cratering was nil and the same
charge gave 1,155 fps and produced a 1.54­
inch group; but eight grains was too hot.
Although all the loads listed here are
based on SSK data, my velocities were definitely
higher than the data indicated, and
my maximum reasonable charges were
smaller. This points up again that heavy
loads must be worked up carefully for each
gun.
The differences were so sizable and consistent
that they require comment. A major
factor undoubtedly is temperature. My firing
was done in 80-90 degree summer
weather, and each degree adds 2-3 fps to
velocity. Also, the chamber and bore ofmy
gun may be tighter than the original barrel
used for the SSK tests.
Mild cratering of primers is acceptable,
although such loads should be limited to
stronger, full-length brass-not the weaker
A5 ACP cases. I had no blown primers or
brass; but it is possible that some cases
might bulge or blowout in the unsupported
area around the extraction groove.
None of my cases bulged, but brass does
vary in strength and resiliency.
The use of harder primers, such as
Winchester-Western's (W-W) 7M-l1lF
magnum large pistol or CCI # 200 rifle
primers, is best for heavy loads. Heavier
gun springs also help to prevent primrr
cup extrusion into the firing pin hole. For
the heaviest loads, I substituted Wolff
springs in my Gold Cup: a 22-pound recoil
spring, a 28-pound hammer spring, and an
extra-power firing pin spring. The gun
would not cycle with light loads, but the
springs protect it and make acceptable
loads out of touchy ones.
Continued on page 77
AMERICAN HANDGUNNER . JANUARYIFEBRUARY 1983 61