| Posted: Sun Jan 29th, 2006 06:55 PM |
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1st Post |
Timberghozt
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My first loads of ALLIANT ,Power Pistol I started off low and began going up,they sucked up to 7.2 grains,at 7.6 grains with the Hornady 155XTP they started to come together.This group measured 2.10" at 20 yards with the 7.6 grain load.
Using the SAAMI spec for trim length and Hornady`s C.O.L. with WSP primers.They chamber easy as can be.I don`t know why I haven`t taken up loading for handgun cartridges sooner but its a lot of fun and a pound of powder goes a long ,long way compared to what I am used to with a 300 Win Mag.
I can`t hear any airspace left in my cartridge at 7.6 grains.The book says 8.6 is max so they musta compressed the hell out of em to get it.
I don`t know,what do you think?Would you try to push it any harder?Without my chronograph set up I think I am somewhere around 1100 fps with this load according to similar barrel length suggestions...
One thing I can say for SIG.They can shoot better than I can with a pistol.I don`t shoot a pistol very much but I wouldn` want a man shooting at me with that SIG at 20 yards..
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"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster; For if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - F.Nietzche
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| Posted: Mon Jan 30th, 2006 12:37 AM |
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2nd Post |
Timberghozt
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Well I loaded me another 5 at 8 grains even.They shot about the same accuracy wise but I didn`t like what I seen on the case.I am gonna back off and go back to 7.6 grains and see if I can piddle around and tighten my group up a bit...
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"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster; For if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - F.Nietzche
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| Posted: Mon Jan 30th, 2006 01:50 AM |
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3rd Post |
Gunrunner
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Your off to a good start. Since the 7.6gs worked good and the 8gs didn't, I'd do like you say and make some more 7.6. Then practice with them. Then practice some more. Since they all fit and function fine it sounds like you're puting them together well.
See how easy handguns are.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 31st, 2006 01:19 AM |
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Timberghozt
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yeah they are pretty easy GR.I`ve been messing with the dies for just a very little while amd pretty easy to get everything set with the 40.I got carbide dies and I like the no lube stuff.
I`m gonna stick with 7.6 grains.It is amazing how fast pistol powder shows pressure signs with relatively little change in weight.
I`ll be tinkering with other bullets and powders too in the hope I find a combination that shoots very small accurate groups but,yeah, after I get my Tritium nights sights put on here and adjusted for me,I`d carry this load...
____________________
"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster; For if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - F.Nietzche
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| Posted: Tue Jan 31st, 2006 02:18 AM |
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5th Post |
dakotasin
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the 40 is a high intensity cartridge, and really takes a little bit of expertise to load for it well. also, i think handgun loading is kind of a nuisance, w/ the belling and crimping and all, but the no lube stuff is sweet.
when i work up loads in autoloaders, i do it in .1 grain increments. partly because i'm not that comfortable w/ autoloaders, and partly because pistol powders are so quick, ergo they develop pressure in a helluva hurry.
i load about 8.3 - 8.4 grains in my 40's w/ 150's. i can dump a magazine into ~2 - 2.5" at 25 yards w/ the sig. i haven't spent a lot of time w/ the xd, so not sure what it is really capable of, but preliminary results show that the sig is more accurate, and that the sig's best load is also the xd's best.
good luck w/ yours... i have to get my sights replaced because my poi is pretty high... they're tritium, too...
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| Posted: Tue Jan 31st, 2006 03:04 PM |
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caz223
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Yeah, you got good components there.
Favorite powders for .40, in order:
Power pistol
Longshot
WSF
HS-6
Unique
They're all pretty good, and they're all pretty versatile.
Why, I can use power pistol for .38 spl, 9mm, .357 mag, 357SIG, .40, .41 mag lite, 10mm, 44mag lite, .45 acp, and .45 colt.
I'll bet most of those powders would do most of those calibers, so I guess it's all personal preference.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 31st, 2006 04:34 PM |
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saddlesore
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I prefer Hodgon Univerasl Clays, It's about the cleanest burning powder I have found. Basically the same as W231. I use it in 45, .357, 38, 9mm.
You need to get yourself a Dillon Square Deal for hadngun loading ,3-400/hour
Last edited on Tue Jan 31st, 2006 04:35 PM by saddlesore
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| Posted: Wed Feb 1st, 2006 10:37 PM |
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8th Post |
Timberghozt
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Thanks for the info Dakotasin and Caz.As you know this pistol loading business is new to me but its coming along pretty well.Heck its easier than loading for most of my rifles.It is rather time consuming for the amount of ammo I am turning out but I think saddlesore has a cyre for that...
Hey saddlesore.Yup you are right.I don`t like loading these bullets with my single stage press.It is too slow and that 40 can eat ammunition fast.I think I will end up with a Dillon or another progressive press.Dillon would be my first choice though.
Doc also metioned Universal Clays to me too.I think I will give it a shot also.
Hey if you start selling any bulk bullets in 40 cal let me know.I want to buy a few thousand for my gun....
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"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster; For if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - F.Nietzche
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14th, 2006 06:29 PM |
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anchorclanker
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when i bought a star 31P in 40, a few years ago, i used remington 155 gr. bullets bought in bulk so i could afford to shoot more, and imr pb powder i was using for 9mm. haven't needed to change anything. bought a lyman multi-expand die with all the expanders, found that lyman's expanders the easiest to adjust and gives me the best belling of case. the 40 is a great caliber and i love that big heavy star and light recoil.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 15th, 2006 01:31 AM |
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10th Post |
Timberghozt
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Hey anchor..I seen Remington`s 40 cal bullets in Midway`s catalog here recently.They are priced well.I think I am gonna give them a try too..
Hey Dakotasin.I am also going back up to the 8 plus grain range.What I first thought was a pressure symptom was nothing more than an indentation in the spent primer as it was being ejected and left a mark from the firing pin.Thats what it looks like to me and I grabbed some 40 Smith cases that Al sent me and looked em over,same marks.That was just inexperience on my part about reloading pistols and semi-automatics.. .Cases look good and I think you are right.I`ll see better accuracy in that 8.3-8.4 grain range..
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"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster; For if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - F.Nietzche
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| Posted: Wed Feb 15th, 2006 09:59 PM |
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11th Post |
dakotasin
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just some more rambling ideas...
i noticed that most gamers load the 40 w/ 180's and 4.5 +/- grains of titegroup for major.
i went the route i did because the 150's were readily availble, and i actually could reach the s.d. minimum of 500 foot pounds of energy for big game hunting w/ book data - but couldn't reach that figure w/ the heavier bullets. so, i loaded the lighter bullets, stuffed more powder in the cases, and had a ball...
now, back to the gamers... in order to play gun games, you have to make power factor to play. major is 165, and minor is 135. my load makes power factor in my sig around 175 (plenty for major, regardless of who is running the chrony). so, i wondered why do the gamers load the heavier bullet w/ a very fast powder to reach major power factor, when heavy bullets increase recoil. it seems to me, that for me to make major power factor, i have to break the speed of sound w/ the light bullets (~1050 f/s - depending on a lot of things). for the guys to do it w/ heavier bullets, they don't have to run as much velocity - ie, they aren't breaking the sonic barrier. this actually must equate to less recoil - because almost all gamers run heavy bullets, fast powder, and shoot a helluva lot faster than me... less recoil can get the gun back on target faster...
something to think about. i have no intention of switching anytime soon. i might play at asome time in the future, but i like my load where its at for the time being...
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17th, 2006 10:11 AM |
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12th Post |
billt
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I like the Hornady XTP bullets in all calibers. It's a nice solid, well made bullet. It's priced right and seats really well without any deformation regardless of the seating stem that is used. I go thru a ton of them. Bill T.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21st, 2006 05:16 AM |
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13th Post |
dakotasin
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took the sig out today, and ran some new, tester loads thru. i'm over 1200 f/s, and not even close to maxing out. book data goes to 9.0 (speer #13), and i was at 8.5.
the cool thing, though... i found an old can sitting out at around 15 yards, so i decided to see if i could hit the can quickly... i actually managed to get on target, and try to shoot before the slide returned to battery! i was trying a new way to grip the gun that was supposedly faster than my old method. i've never been that fast before, and w/ a load generating 500 foot pounds of energy. anyway, i impressed myself.
as you were.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 27th, 2006 02:22 PM |
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caz223
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That's also very hard on the gun.
Fast powders, heavy bullets and lots of pressure erodes and batters your guns unless they're build for the abuse.-
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