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Best handgun powder for light loadsDiscussion regarding the reloading of ammunition and tuning of loads for accuracy
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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I got a pm from stovey. He asked me if I would spot him $50 on the colt! Told him not if Bushy is holstering his .45!!
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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Not sure when I'll be able to go shooting again as I'm traveling a lot over the next 6 weeks. Had to do something constructive with the firearms today. Mounted a scope and then worked up a light load for 9mm. A friend didn't have room to use his Dillion 550 in his apartment so he set it up on my work bench. Tested the powder throw for accuracy and couldn't believe it - spot on all charges to the 0.1 grain - 10 in a row. This was with Clays and 231. Boy, that progressive press is nice. I bet I could load 500 pistol rounds in the time it takes me to do 30 rifle rounds. Dialed up 3.2 in Clays and loaded up 115gr Berry copper-coated lead bullets in Blazer brass and Winchester small pistol primers at a COL of 1.10". At least I'm ready when I go to the range next time.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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Ominivision1 Super Member
Joined: Sep 20, 2010 Posts: 2984 Location: Iowa
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:50 am Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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I bought some Rainers plated bullets early last year for my .357 in 158gr with 3.5grs of Clays at col 1.61 and my groups went from 2" at 25 yards to 9-10" at the same yardage. After firing 10 rounds with 8 only hitting the paper, I knew there was something wrong. Unloaded and put my cast bullets back in and shot, groups went down to 2-2.5" at 25 yards.
When I got home I pulled all 40 of the bullets and weighed the powder and they were all at 3.5grs. So I measured the plated bullets diameter and all were at .353-.354 when they are suppose to be at .357 to .358. I chucked it up to a lost because I had them for 6 months before I loaded them and ended up cracking open the plating to save the lead for my own cast bullets.
I imagine the bullets that went down the barrel were probably bouncing around before exiting the barrel.
_________________ Regards
Limitations are but boundaries created inside our minds. |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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Thanks for the tip OV1. I will do some checking on the quality of the bullets I have.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11393 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:55 am Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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With all this discussion on various powders [and bullets]. I figure I should simplify it a bit.
I reload .380, 9mmX19, .38 Spec., .357 magnum, .45 ACP, .30-30 (of course) and .30-06.
Powders on my shelf: Clays (still experimenting), W-231, WSF, W-748, H4831SC, W-296 and 2400.
Bullets on my shelf: 95 gr lead RN Missouri Bullets and Hornady 90 gr XTP (.380). Remington 140 gr SJHP (.38 Spec., .357 magnum). Rainier 124 gr Plated HP and 124 gr Hornady XTP (9mmX19). Rainier 185 gr Plated HP and Hornady 185 gr XTP (.45 ACP). Speer 170 gr SPFN Hotcore (.30-30). Sierra 180 gr BTSP and 165 gr BTHP (.30-06)
Primers on my shelf: CCI and some Winchester.
A combination of all these in their various calibers hand all my needs and then some. Both for fun, hunting and self defense.
ByTheWay...I have not had any problems with accuracy using the Rainier bullets...
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:06 pm Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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Thanks for the feedback on Rainier bullets, Bushy. I measured the 115, 124, and 147gr 9mm Rainier bullets I have, 10 each. They all were spot on to 0.355. I may get to do some shooting this week.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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I got to shoot the first pistol bullets I have reloaded today. I wanted to make sure accuracy was not being compromised so shot off a bag. After 19 shots I realized the many stove pipes and failure to feed were the same symptoms of a limp wrist so shot one in a normal pistol stance and it cycled fine. Well at least I got some good data but will have to go shoot some more. Darn the bad luck!
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_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein
Last edited by slimjim on Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:54 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11393 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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Looks like 3.1 is your good load.
Fails to cycle off the bags? Bit unusual don't ya think?
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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Bushmaster wrote: |
Fails to cycle off the bags? Bit unusual don't ya think? |
Glocks are known not to cycle in a limp wrist condition, especially the 9mm. May be in part to their light weight. These velocities are 200+ fps below factory loads so I wasn't surprised at first that they loads weren't moving the slide fully aft. However, I think I'm going to have to repeat 3.1g and above in a normal shooting stance to judge cycling reliability.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 7:53 pm Post subject: Re: Best handgun powder for light loads |
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took the 9mm out to the range with multiple Clays loadings for 115 and 124 Rainier bullets. This time I did not shoot from a bag to avoid limp wrist. In a normal Weaver stance, all rounds cycled and could lock the slide back. 124 with 3.3 grains of Clays gave a nice tight group at 25 yards and will become my standard 9mm load. With the light loads, you don't have to chase your brass very far. Now for some Titegroup and 147gr Rainiers before I move on to .40-cal!
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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