Best powder/bullet for 3" XD barrel

[agalindo]

Totally agree.

[Cuda66]

Fred--

Since the heavier bullet will take more force to get moving than a light bullet, won't it have a bit more dwell time?

I know we're talking about angels dancing on my pinhead here, but that's the way I've always understood it.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by Cuda66

Fred--

Since the heavier bullet will take more force to get moving than a light bullet, won't it have a bit more dwell time?

I know we're talking about angels dancing on my pinhead here, but that's the way I've always understood it.

Nano seconds, not enough to change anything. It's often argued that is why heavier bullets shoot to a higher POI, bbl time. If they travel the same exit vel, the bbl time is going to be almost identical, nano seconds. I am sure there is some way to measure that, but I just don't think it matters in any practical sense when choosing components for reloading. If someone can show me some kind of data supporting that, I am all ears.

[57K]

If you want to keep muzzle-blast to a minimum I would use a 124 or 147 gr JHP over a max charge of Ramshot Silhouette which is treated to keep muzzle-flash to a minimum. Work up from a start charge of course. Data is available @ Ramshot

[JustSomeGuy]

Wow... this is tricky! Acceleration of a heavier bullet may indeed require, as Fred says, "nanoseconds" more than a lighter bullet, but in the end it is the speed of the bullet as it exits the barrel that seems to represent the only variable that would matter in this situation. Of course, there is always more.

Twist rates are optimized for what manufacturers consider to be the "optimal" load (that is bullet weight, and thus length, at a given speed safe in pressure for that caliber). Since powder types and indeed bullet construction and thus weight for length, have changed over the years giving different pressure curves and barrel contact with bullets than gun manufacturers may have first envisioned there are some differences in expectations as to what is the "perfect" bullet weight for the caliber.

Considering together bullet weight and twist rates, velocity is still what matters as the other two are fixed in a given situation. POI, as Fred alludes to, is a function of the speed of the bullet relative to the sights which are set for a certain velocity. POI is not accuracy. Accuracy is not the relationship between POA and POI, but the ability to put round after round in the same place, regardless of the point of impact's relationship to the sights. Placement is the relationship between point of aim and point of impact... or does it go where I want it to.

So when you chose a round for your gun you are looking for placement and accuracy together generally, though they are not interchangeable terms. Therefore, though I generally advocate for somewhat heavier bullets in a particular caliber especially in defensive loadings, these may not always produce the best absolute accuracy or the bullet placement the user requires or expects. The thing here is that most bullets will produce "good enough" accuracy for defensive purposes, but placement may be lacking. Only testing by the gun owner can determine what level of each, that is placement and accuracy, they find optimal.

What I am getting at here is that if you are only interested in being able to put a round through the ear hole of some critter at 25yrds or whatever distance, (no matter how many legs it has), your choices in ammunition will be very limited. It's as simple or as complex as you want to make it.

[panther308]

TG or Powerpistol is what I have used, the PP tends to soot unless you stay on the upper end also note that TG has a small range so watch the loads on the high end.