my competitiion gun xd9-tac

[max it]

Hi Ya, now what to add to make it shoot tight groups?
it has Dawson target rear and f.o. front
a comp trigger at 3.5#
no match barrel for me as i shoot moly coated bullets.
now 15,000 thru the pipe but could be more accurate
especially at over 25 yds
any suggestions?
much obliged,

max it

[af22raptor]

To get better accuracy requires a tighter tolerences between barrel and slide and frame to slide. If you are not looking to swap to a match fitted barrel I do not believe that you can get better accuracy other than trying to get a custom ammo load that maximized the rifling pattern of your barrel. I am not sure if the rails on the frame can be modified to tighten the fit of the slide to the barrel but that might be something to check on.

[max it]

Hi AF, I think you hit the nail on the head.
I recently found that I can buy fmj bullets for just $10./m more than the moly's. Therefore allowing me to consider a match barrel. And I think I will ask my gunsmith but I expect that even with a match barrel for match's I could use he old factory one with moly bullets for non-match work.

much obliged,

Max

[agalindo]

You don't need jacketed bullet for a match barrel.

First off what kind of 5 round groups are you getting at 7 and 10 yards now.

[af22raptor]

Originally Posted by max it

Hi AF, I think you hit the nail on the head.
I recently found that I can buy fmj bullets for just $10./m more than the moly's. Therefore allowing me to consider a match barrel. And I think I will ask my gunsmith but I expect that even with a match barrel for match's I could use he old factory one with moly bullets for non-match work.

much obliged,

Max

Glad to be of assistance. You may want to contact Springfield Custom Shop for the accurization of your Tactical. They can give you a few options like:

Barrel Upgrades:
1. Install Springfield Custom™ match barrel . . .. . $190.00
2. Refit existing factory barrel for match grade accuracy . . . . $105.00

Check out the Springfield Website and go to the Custom Shop and look at the Xd work sheet
I just recently purchased a XDm9 5.25 for competitions this fall because I wanted a 5 inch Xd but when I read the upgrades and found one with a very Sweet Trigger I was sold!

Hope this additional info helps you out

[max it]

Originally Posted by agalindo

You don't need jacketed bullet for a match barrel.

First off what kind of 5 round groups are you getting at 7 and 10 yards now.

Hi A Galindo,
I am getting groups of 3-7" which is well within my needs of hitting 8" steel plates at 7-10 yards. What I want is to hit the 8" plates at 50 yards though.
I am a bit confused, as the founder of our shooting club has a match barrel in his XD9-Tac and my cast lead or the moly coated lead doest fire well and that is the conensus around here that you need skinnier bullets, I guess.
AF below your post recommends either a match barrel or accurizing the one I have. I am not sure what accurize means. But for that matter I am not sure what 'match' barrel means either.
much obliged,

Max

[agalindo]

Doesn't fire well? What exactly does it do?

Slow fire at 7 yards should give you 2" groups if you do your part. That's why I asked what groups were you getting.

If you're getting keyholes your bullets are undersized.

[af22raptor]

Originally Posted by max it

Hi A Galindo,
I am getting groups of 3-7" which is well within my needs of hitting 8" steel plates at 7-10 yards. What I want is to hit the 8" plates at 50 yards though.
I am a bit confused, as the founder of our shooting club has a match barrel in his XD9-Tac and my cast lead or the moly coated lead doest fire well and that is the conensus around here that you need skinnier bullets, I guess.
AF below your post recommends either a match barrel or accurizing the one I have. I am not sure what accurize means. But for that matter I am not sure what 'match' barrel means either.
much obliged,

Max

Max,
Match Barrels are barrels that have tighter tolerances in the chamber and in the barrel it self so you can get a more accurate shot by limiting the amount of gasses that get past the projectile. If you get a Match barrel that has traditional broach rifling you can use cast bullets where the octagonal rifling does not allow the use of cast lead bullets. Springfield Custom Shop can refit your barrel by adding material to your barrel so that it has less slop or looseness so that when you fire a round the barrel will stay true without going left/right up/down. This minimizes movement and increases accuracy.

For the mods that you have done to your pistol you would have been better served buying a XDm 5.25 which comes with the majority of your needs

[max it]

Originally Posted by af22raptor

Max,
Match Barrels are barrels that have tighter tolerances in the chamber and in the barrel it self so you can get a more accurate shot by limiting the amount of gasses that get past the projectile. If you get a Match barrel that has traditional broach rifling you can use cast bullets where the octagonal rifling does not allow the use of cast lead bullets. Springfield Custom Shop can refit your barrel by adding material to your barrel so that it has less slop or looseness so that when you fire a round the barrel will stay true without going left/right up/down. This minimizes movement and increases accuracy.

For the mods that you have done to your pistol you would have been better served buying a XDm 5.25 which comes with the majority of your needs

HI AF,
the XD9 has traditional rifling, unlik Glocks. Yes the XD-M would have been better; if it was out when I started & if it were California legal. But thanks much for the explaination of match barrels. I kinda dont understand why Ron's match barrel XD9 doesnt like my home cast bullets. I am going to try it again this weekend maybe; I have a couple of hundred I just loaded FMJ 147gn.
BTW I get 2" groups with my 1911 at 7 yds. And tighter with my buddy's Sig P226-X5.
Much obliged guys,
max

[agalindo]

What are you sizing you home cast bullet to? Have you slugged the "Ron's" barrel?