10mm / 40 Caliber Reloading

[DNM]

Ok... the 3.1gr of CLAYS is very soft and 3.3-3.4gr of TiteGroup is very light also. If both make pf for IDPA it will be fun. Very awesome... now I just need to work on consistency in my loads.

Though, today I loaded some 3.2gr CLAYS loads (about 200) and I learned a very valuable - and common sense - lesson. Water/Moisture = undercharged rounds = squibs = "fun" dowel and barrel time. Oh, and I forgot bullet pulling time also (for about 170 rounds). Lesson learned.

But the few rounds that went down before lodging themselves in BOTH guns... felt a little more like a 9mm than a .22. I've got a lot to learn. I've already split one of the dowels and I don't think the damn thing had budged.

[Steel1212]

Gotta watch that powder charge sport. Try removing the barrel and placing a 2x4 or something on the floor then take the dowl, a size that just barely fits, and put in the barrel and start smaking it in the direction that has the least amount left before it comes out.

[KYDoc]

Originally Posted by DNM

Ok... the 3.1gr of CLAYS is very soft and 3.3-3.4gr of TiteGroup is very light also. If both make pf for IDPA it will be fun. Very awesome... now I just need to work on consistency in my loads.

Though, today I loaded some 3.2gr CLAYS loads (about 200) and I learned a very valuable - and common sense - lesson. Water/Moisture = undercharged rounds = squibs = "fun" dowel and barrel time. Oh, and I forgot bullet pulling time also (for about 170 rounds). Lesson learned.

But the few rounds that went down before lodging themselves in BOTH guns... felt a little more like a 9mm than a .22. I've got a lot to learn. I've already split one of the dowels and I don't think the damn thing had budged.

Use Don's Guide Rod.

A new use for Don's Guide Rod! (Feel free to skip my experience if you wish)

[DNM]

I know, I know. Stupid. I've already split one dowel... so I think I'm going to order some Kroil (or if I can't wait a few days, try pb buster). Is pb buster ok to use? I think I should soak it. Because I'm whacking awake and nothing it happening.

As for the charge... no more wet cases. I believe the CLAYS or 3.3-3.5gr of TG would be amazing for IDPA use but I need to get them reliable. It bothers me that I figure something out but get a bullet stuck in both guns. GAH!

BTW, how do the light loads like that cycle through your XDs? Maybe it's because I'm new to reloading but I have to watch every shot so this load is definately not ready for competition use.

* update * I finally got them out. You suggested a 2x4 and i was stuck on the oil idea but then I remembered I had a 2x4 on the closet... banged on it for a little bit and both came out... I can relax again.

[Steel1212]

What reloader are you useing with what powder measure. I can't go below 3.0 clays as my lee powder measure doesn't throw it consitently below that and not awefully great at 3.0. This is one of the reasons I may go with 3.3 titegroup instead as it meters better but clays is oh so nice!

With the tac .40 and minor its not about making power factor but making it reliable. I can't go below 3.3-3.2 titegroup with 180s and a 16# spring but then again I like to be around the 140 PF. Never have to worry about chrono stages and it takes down steel real nice. Also, the chrono numbers I listed on this page are at 40 degrees so they may go up during the summer time, so be careful. I may be able to go down a little on the titegroup in the summer.

I just noticed you had a service. Check Kydocs post those where tested with a service. He has some real poofers with titegroup and precisions.

[DNM]

Oh yeah, I had looked at both of your results so I could get a rough estimate about where it should be. With my Lee Pro 1000, and the low cc disk .30 it throws real low. So I had used .43cc for 3.1 and .46cc today to throw 3.2gr. As for the TG load, I had to use the lowest cc (.30) and it threw around 3.3-3.4. Now that I have the bullets out, I will make up another load of both and try again. Today's issue, I believe, was that the cases were wet inside. I had noticed it when I went to test how much powder it was throwing as it came out short and then I looked inside knowing there was more than I was reading. And there were some stuck to the case walls. So I was stupid and asked for squibs.

I will chrono the loads before classifiers... and I don't know if I'll use my low loads for IDPA the next weekend unless I can get out at least 2-3 more times with much better results. I also need to get that weekend off. Eh well, this is part of the "hobby" right? Nothing is broken/needing replacement so it's back to the drawing board.

P.S. I purposely raised the load thinking the FTEs I had before were due to too low of recoil (i.e. not enough to cycle the slide). I've looked for lower springs but I don't see anything. I know with the DGR you get a 1911 spring (which I have with my bitone) so I was wondering if I could order another 1911 spring but lighter, like 16# or 14#? Is that possible or am I just looking for more things to tinker with? You say yours cycles just fine though with a "stock pound" spring.

[Steel1212]

nope mine cycles fine with a 16# spring, from what I hear a 18# spring is stock but I think Kydoc service cycles with an 18# spring. Check out his posts on his loads for the service. My tactical has an extra inch of slide weight and with the 18# spring it just won't cycle. Scott and Rich say to not use anything below a 18# for reliablity issues. I haven't had one yet, knocks on wood, so I'll just keep an eye on my spring and change it more frequently.

Also I use the government sized spring and unless I'm wrong the 4" service would use the commander sized springs.

[DNM]

Originally Posted by Steel1212

Also I use the government sized spring and unless I'm wrong the 4" service would use the commander sized springs.

Is that info JUST IN CASE I wanted to drop down in spring rate? Well, with the snow and ice that is on the ground and no work... I'll make some more rounds and watch the cases this time. And hopefully get out shooting in the next few days. To see for sure if I even need a lighter spring.

[KYDoc]

Originally Posted by DNM

Is that info JUST IN CASE I wanted to drop down in spring rate? Well, with the snow and ice that is on the ground and no work... I'll make some more rounds and watch the cases this time. And hopefully get out shooting in the next few days. To see for sure if I even need a lighter spring.

Rich does recommend staying at 18#, but my loads were with a 16 in the service.

I think.

I'll have to look.

[DNM]

Who is Rich?

And I had the stock guide rod in both after I figured the 22# would be too much. And of course it would've been if I had two squibs. But before I do anything I want to try this load again with the stock assembly to see if a change is necessary.