XD & 1911 don't like the same reloads...

[medicstimpy]

Ok, I went and fired a lot of reloads Sunday with mixed results. Seems the load my 1911 is really accurate with shoots WAY low on the XD.

Wouldn't be a problem if my XD shot dead on out past 15m but I now know it isn't just me since a buddy had the same results, low. I got in touch with Springfield about the XD but for the ammo....

It shot a bit better with Federal AE and CCI Blazer but a lead 230gr RN with 4.8gr of Titegroup was way off.

Any suggestions for different loads? Titegroup or 231. Thanks.

- Also, the LEE Tumble Lube type 200gr. SWC seem to feed ok. Had one FTF but I think it was the case as it looked like not much of a factory crimp when I put it back in the mag.

[dannyg0811]

The laser-Cast reloading manual says to use 3.9 grains (701 fps) - 4.3 grains (783 fps) of Titegroup. With OAL of 1.260. Havent tried Titegroup. When I use 231 with Rainiers 230 RN, I load between 4.6 - 4.7, the manual says between 4.5 grains - 5.1 grains of 231 OAL 1.260. These loads should work fine for any LRN or Rainier type bullet.

Also something to consider is your point of aim versus point of impact. I found this. I find this odd, because I use a 12 O'Clock Point of aim at 20 25 yards to hit center of my 5.5" shoot-N-C targets.

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/review/XD-9_Tactical.htm

A Shot in the Dark
All of the cool 21st Century features are useless if the gun doesn't shoot well. I found the accuracy of the XD-9 Tactical to be rewarding. Essentially, the gun is capable of whatever accuracy that I'm willing to settle down and shoot. If I put the sights where I want the bullet to go and use adequate trigger control, the bullet goes there. The single action trigger really helps in this regard. In range testing, I got some fliers that I couldn't explain, but after carefully bracing myself and shooting ragged holes, I tend to blame the fliers on myself rather than the gun. The gun points very naturally for me. The grip angle is substantially the same as the M1911A1, and it points intuitively for one accustomed to an M1911. I did notice that I have a tendency to shoot high with this pistol. The manual says that the XD-9 is designed to use the "6 o'clock" sighting position at 25 yards, meaning that one should put the sights at the 6 o'clock position of the point you wish the bullet to impact. The manual should be taken seriously on this. The gun isn't sighted for "point of aim." shooting. Once I adjusted to this characteristic of the gun, I quit shooting high. With the 5" barrel, the trajectory of the 9mm at 25 yards is pretty much flat. I found myself shooting very well at 25 yards, a range at which I generally do poorly. I would dare say that I shoot the XD-9 Tactical better at 25 yards than I do with the 1911. The one area where I thought the 1911 was clearly superior was in hammers, fast pairs of shots fired as quickly as you can pull the trigger. (I consider the "double tap" to be a different technique than the "hammer" The double tap is a pair of quick sighted shots. Hammers are pairs of fast shots fired from one initial sight picture.) The 1911, with its very short trigger reset, is quicker at hammers than the XD.

[fredj338]

My 45Tac has been a pleasent surprise. It feeds everything my 1911s do but isn't real happy running 200grLSWC. So I will feed it 200grLFP for practice. Mine shoots POA/POI out to 25yds, maybe that's lucky, but I'll take it. Accuracy rivals my semi custom 1911. I've shot several slow fire 5shot 1 1/2" groups @ 15yds. For lead bullets, I favor Unique over the fast burners. Accuracy is good & leading seems minimal. I also like WST & HP38 shot well too.

[MrBeta]

Hmm. Mine shoot the same loads the same way. 1911 is more accurate but the POI is the same.
What load are you using? I see the second load you listed but what's your original load?

[medicstimpy]

Did a batch of 230gr RN Cast with 4.8gr of 231. Worked really good to 20m. Tried that load in my 1911 a while back and it was good in that gun, too. I know the XD liked over 5gr of 231 but the 1911 was just wasting powder with no advantages over 4.7 grains.

So, I guess I found a recipie that both guns seem to like not too bad. A little more tweeking and I should be set.

Now I just have to get some more Titegroup and play with that to see which both guns like.