reduced loads for Service XD

[ggruber]

I am a licensed gunsmith and an avid competitor. unfortunately, i also have arthritis in both my hands, so when i compete with my 1911, i shoot reduced loads (around 840 FPS with a 200 grain bullet).

I fell in love with my XD as soon as i started shooting it, but realized that with its lighter weight, i would need to find a way to reduce the loads to make competition viable.

reduced loads mean lighter weight recoil springs (I use a non captured tungsten guide rod), and since none are available i have begun to manufacture my own from stock 1911 springs. the results so far have been exciting, to say the least.

my primary load with the stock 17lb spring has been 7.0 grains of VV 3N37 over a 150g Nosler HP. this gave me 1080FPS from the 4 inch barrel. it's a great load but way to stout for a 250 round 'steel challenge' match.

i cut down a 15lb spring (took a while to find the correct number of loops that would permit full slide lock) and reformed the cut edge. i then started reducing my load to find a weight that would work properly. the magic number right now is 6.2 grains of the same powder/bullet combo. I haven't chronyed the load yet, but i usually get about 20FPS drop for each 0.1g reduction in charge. that should put the load around 950-960 FPS.

the pistol recoils properly, with no slap or lag at full slide back position. my next test is to run a few hundred rounds and see how the spring holds up, chronying the loads at the beginning and end of the test.

i will keep you posted regarding my findings.

[TG13]

which XD Service?? if it's a .45, what tungsten guide rod are you using?? AFAIK, Don hasn't come up with a rod for the Service models due to the spring issues..

keep posting with what you find out..

[Mr. Wolf]

ggruber,

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the great write up on the loads.
I'm looking into getting into reloading and trying to learn from experienced loaders.

I'm looking to load up 45 ACP for major power factor in IPSC out of a 5" 1911, any recommendations whether to go 180gr vs. 200gr vs 230 gr? What have you found that works for a PF of ~165?

Thanks in advance, and as always, cheers,

[ggruber]

Originally Posted by TG13

which XD Service?? if it's a .45, what tungsten guide rod are you using?? AFAIK, Don hasn't come up with a rod for the Service models due to the spring issues..

keep posting with what you find out..

40 S&W. sorry...

[ggruber]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wolf

ggruber,

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the great write up on the loads.
I'm looking into getting into reloading and trying to learn from experienced loaders.

I'm looking to load up 45 ACP for major power factor in IPSC out of a 5" 1911, any recommendations whether to go 180gr vs. 200gr vs 230 gr? What have you found that works for a PF of ~165?

Thanks in advance, and as always, cheers,

i have shot all 3 weights and personally prefer the 200g Hornady FP. I shoot it behind 4.3g of CLAYS. While there may be a lot of people shooting W-231, I find that Clays leaves so little residue behind in the slide, that aside from normal barrel cleaning, the rest of the gun needs very little to make it presentable for shooting. i have yet to find another powder that leaves my gun cleaner -- other than VV 3N37, which i use exclusively for .40 S&W.

that 4.3 is a reduced load and won't make major. My experience is that any powder with less than 4.5g in a 45 ACP is risky from the standpoint of shot to shot consistency. if you measure the amount of 'air' in the case, you will find that below 4.5g, you risk having powder distribution adversely effect ignition. the 200g FP seats deeply enough to permit minimal dead space. i compete with that combination and usually fire at least 1000 rounds per month.

while Clays does not meter as well as finer grained powders, i achieve excellent accuracy with 185 and 200g bullets. for the heavier 230g, i prefer VV 340 or 350.

[Mr. Wolf]

Much appreciated.

It seems that reloading has infinite variables to tweak and adjust.

How about a recommendation for a fine granular, clean burning, reduced load that fills up >50% of the case (safety while reloading and less dead space) ?

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheers,

[ggruber]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wolf

Much appreciated.

It seems that reloading has infinite variables to tweak and adjust.

How about a recommendation for a fine granular, clean burning, reduced load that fills up >50% of the case (safety while reloading and less dead space) ?

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheers,

here is the general rule of thumb you can use:

as bullet weight increases, powder weight decreases. faster powders use less powder by volume than slower powders. you should strive for using the fastest burning powder that gives you the FPS you need while insuring that the case is filled close to capacity (80% is a great number to strive for).

given that, it will be easier to find a load with lighter bullets that meet these requirements. i choose the 200g (for 45 ACP) as a happy medium, but also shoot 185g bullets as well.

each barrel is different. some barrels will shoot one combo of bullet / powder accurately, and others quite poorly.

case in point: I shoot Nosler 185g HP in my .45. With W-231 i can barely hold 2 inch groups at 18 yards. switching to Clays, my groups are under 3/4 inch at the same distance.

it would be fruitless for me to give you the combos that work in my barrels, for your guns may not like them at all. the way to test is to choose one type of bullet and 3 powders of the same burn rate by 3 different manufacturers. Load 30 rounds of each and shoot some groups.

your gun will let you know right away what it likes. Pay strict attention to OAL specs, as some weapons are finicky about feeding issues, although i have not had that problem with Springfield XDs and their ramped barrels.

Vihta Vouri powders are excellent, but in very short supply right now. TiteGroup is a great powder but extremely dirty, as is W-231.

Some people love AA-5. I won't use it because it is the dirtiest powder i have tested. Let me emphazie that it is not normal barrel dirt that puts me off, but the residue found in the slide and frame area after shooting several hundred rounds.

[Mr. Wolf]

Much appreciated advice.
Thank you.

[fredj338]

The 45tac will accept std. 1911 recoil springs. So gettting setup for target loads is as simple as swapping springs.

[ggruber]

Originally Posted by fredj338

The 45tac will accept std. 1911 recoil springs. So gettting setup for target loads is as simple as swapping springs.

it's not a tac, it's a service model. you may have missed that from the original post.