Matt -

More than likely, the issue is that your weight is closer to gross and
closer to the forward end of the CG envelope in the 304C. Both of
these things would favor a higher stalling speed and poorer steep-turn
performance (because the wings and tail are more heavily loaded in a
turn, and because the slow flight also necessitates more trim/elevator
deflection - resulting in increased drag).

Take care,

--Noel

mattm wrote:
Being one of those "stockier" types I find a fairly different
experience in the 304C that some of us fly. For me, full back trim
results in about 50 kts (nominal landing speed), and thermalling beyond
about 30 degrees of bank seems to massively increase the sink rate.
However, in an L33 full back trim flies about 5 kts slower and it loves
steep banks with me. Other pilots in the 304 (at the rearward end of
the CG range) report performance much more like I get with the L33. It
must be that the elevator design is different...