Reloading: Choosing a load

[Nathan]

So today I shot my 135gr PHP reloads. mixed cases, Longshot powder and WSP primers. . . .1.125 OAL I have 4 powder charges and all else the same.

For the XD, I shoot 15 yards from a rest and over a chronograph.

So I shoot 5 of each powder charge over the chronograph, lightest to heaviest. The first group is like 6", then 5", then 2" and the max load gave 2.6". The chrony spit like 50, 20, 100, 30 for standard deviation.

I think I put the same level of effort and aim into each group. I'm thinking just load the 2" group for my next 500 rounds, but what if it was a fluke!

Which would you choose:

[fredj338]

Well, depends on finicky you are. It's one test group. So I would load 20 of my best & shoot some 5 shot groups from a rest. Velocity SD is a nice number, but how the load shoots is always more important.

[M1A4ME]

I always wanted group size over anything else.

If I want to shoot something in the eye then I want the bullet in the eye.

The target/shot you miss with the 1400 fps hollow point won't know how fast the bullet was going. The target/shot you make with the 1150 fps hollow point won't bother you anymore.

[JustSomeGuy]

I always shoot 20 shot strings at 15 yards of any reloads I am contemplating using for a "standard pistol load". 5 shots will not tell you that much. Like you, I shoot those over a chrono at a target to get the speed, power factor, high, low, average (for power factor), extreme spread, and standard deviation. The group size for the 20 shots is then examined to determine just what I can expect in the best of conditions. Sure, you're going to have a few fliers generally (all the shooters fault in most cases!), but if you blow the X out of the target you can be pretty sure you have a load worth pursuing. If they are all over the place, you might want to make some adjustments not only to the load but your technique. Even some less than stellar loads will rarely shoot outside of 4 inches at 15 yards in most modern handguns unless the bullets are completely wrong for the caliber or are going sideways... and even that can tell you something about how you loaded them.

If you get a 20 shot string that shoots well, make up a couple hundred and try that. If they run the gun and are accurate you have a winner!

PS... In general I have found that Longshot seems to favor bullets that are more on the end of heavy for the caliber, but that it will produce very good velocities. I have had very good luck with it with 180 grn bullets in .40cal for instance, with a mere 7grns producing velocities in the 1050fps range in a 4.5in XDm. Since the charge range for 180grn bullets is from 6.2 to 8grns in the Hodgdon manual the 7grn load is very comfortable for both the gun and the shooter, not to mention the cases which can be reloaded many more times with less stressful loads. It was also very accurate in several of my guns with a variety of 180grn bullets. Straining for the highest velocities with the lightest bullet for the caliber may not always produce the best results for either accuracy, power, or lethality (should that be your goal). Running Longshot with light bullets is usually reserved for compensated guns in Open Division where all that gas can be vented through the compensator and put to some use. If that is what you are doing then you are on the right track, otherwise you might want to consider a bullet weight more suitable to the caliber and its twist rate for the greatest accuracy.

[SonOfOdin]

Smallest, most accurate group.

[Nathan]

Thanks for all the help. I made another 5 groups of 10. They were all in the accuracy range. I'm going to confirm those today.

Next, I usually load like 50 - 100 to see how they are in general. Maybe shoot 20 over the chrono and then set it as a developed load in my files.

Lots of good info and insight here. . .THANKS.

[cz75luver]

I tend to believe a rounds ability to function properly comes down to POI/POA and penetration. If the rounds penetrate reasonably similar, I'd go with the smallest shot group or a balance therein.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by cz75luver

I tend to believe a rounds ability to function properly comes down to POI/POA and penetration. If the rounds penetrate reasonably similar, I'd go with the smallest shot group or a balance therein.

To a point yes. Buying a 357mag to shoot 38wc ammo out of is kind of pointelss. So yes I want the accuracy, but I want the caliber to perform as designed. Same for rifles. Why buy a 300 winmag & shoot it at 308 vel, just get a 308 & call it good.

[prof_fate]

I've been aiming for tightest groups because that's been my only measurable way to do it. It's limited by my ability to shoot well though.
I got a chrony yesterday and plan to do a LOT of ammo testing to see what I can learn. I have about 400 rounds of 9 loaded and have never sorted my cases. But i've got a few days camping coming up and will sort them before chrono testing to see if cases make a difference in Sd if nothing else. I figure if it matters I only really have to sort my cases the first time and then just collect them properly thereafter. Of course working up loads for each brand of case that is the same as the other brands of cases is another thing.
But if I find one brand better than another i can use that for competitions and the rest for practice.

As for shooting a 357 as a 357 or whatnot - why? More power is only needed when you need to kill the target, be that man or beast. For practice why beat up you and your gun and spend more on powder? Each type of competition has it's own 'rules' - PPC here most go for very low velocity loads - some as low as 450fps from revolvers! That's less kick from a 38 than 22! IDPA of course has it's PF and some steel shooters go for max loads to cut time - every thousands of a second can count and they do add up.

My son and i shoot sporter rimfire and been reading up on 22LR accuracy and plan to do some measuring of the rim thicknesses, loaded round weights as well as chrony work to see if I can sort out some match grade ammo from those $15 bricks. Supposedly if you can get ammo with all the same tolerances you'll get tight groups from the consistency of the ammo (head space, powder load, etc). Curious to see what difference it makes.

[Nathan]

Well, I got to the point that I know what this group of loads will do.

Basically, over a range of powder charge, Longshot and 135gr Raineer's will give me decent velocity. . .just under 1300 fps, decent accuracy . . .2 - 2.5" at 15 yards and no pressure signs.

SD never got under 33 or much worse. 33 was actually over max charge, but accuracy was no better. Actually my only jam occured with the over max load. All's safe. I still have fingers too.

If I were to try to improve, the next thing would be to ditch the TFO sights!