Best handgun powder for light loads

slimjim

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!!

Vince

Yep...you are right Bushy...there is also one other ADI powder that isn't on the market out here, but is sold to Hogdon - 8208XBR. Not familiar with it, so I don't know anything about it or what calibre/s it is intended to drive.

Good luck with young Zeus mate, but I reckon he has had enough contact with you to not create too much of a problem. Get the missus to video your first ride mate...be a hot topic n here that's for sure. I'll be looking forward to hearing how it all goes.

Cheers, Vince

slimjim

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.

Ominivision1

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. Shocked

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. Smile

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. wtf

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. Smile

I imagine the bullets that went down the barrel were probably bouncing around before exiting the barrel. Sad

slimjim

Thanks for the tip OV1. I will do some checking on the quality of the bullets I have.

Bushmaster

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... Confused

slimjim

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.

slimjim · Last edited by slimjim on Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:54 pm; edited 3 times in total

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!

Bushmaster

Looks like 3.1 is your good load.

Fails to cycle off the bags? Bit unusual don't ya think?

slimjim

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.

slimjim

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!