How to duplicate the Atlanta Arms 9MM 115GR XTP Match PPC

I have some Hornady 9mm 115 grain XTP bullets on backorder.

Any thoughts for a powder and charge?

I have a 6'' 1911 in 9mm setup for PPC coming from the Springfield Armory Custom shop in about 10 weeks. Deb said the manufactured ammo they recommend for it is the aforementioned from Atlanta Arms. She didn't know the powder and weight, nor could provide if she did for liability reasons. I called to see if they have it stock. Didn't ask what powder and weight but I doubt they'd tell me.

Any thoughts?

If you have access to a chronograph, you can duplicate the PERFORMANCE of most any factory load.
1. Chrono the factory load to get the MV.
2. Read your loading manual, select an appropriate powder (that you can get) and work up a load until you get the same MV, using the same bullet as the factory load.

Without the MV of the factory load, you can still take a typical powder like HP38, use the same bullet, and work up a load that functions the gun reliably. Helps if you start in the center of the loading data to reduce search. (Boolean Search is the technical term)
Load 5 from center of data, and shoot. Load will be either too light or too hot. If too light (most likely), then load 5 halfway between first load and max load, and shoot that. Repeat by going either up or down, as indicated by test firing. DO NOT exceed max load.

XTP in a 4" G19, clocks around 1122 and might hit 1180 to 1200 in a 6"....... depending on the pistol.
The xtp is one of the slowest SD loads in the 115gr loadings but gets good penetration and lower recoil than the other brands.

Most Factory target 9mm ammo is around 1120 fps, like the Federal Eagles.

Good shooting.

I'd never heard of the ammo, so I went to their website and tool a look at it.

As for my thoughts...why did Deb recommend it? Because of its' velocity or its' accuracy?

It's loaded to around 1100 fps., which will vary when you shoot it out of your gun with it's 6" barrel, unless that's what they used to work the load up in, but that should be easy to reach with a variety of powders.

But they also claim it's loaded to shoot consistently at 1.25 inches at 50 yds. If it's accuracy you want then you might have to work a little harder to get where you want. Find the most accurate bullet you can, buy several powders that fall in the ideal tolerance range for the bullet weight and caliber, buy several brands of primers and remember that accuracy starts with how you prep your brass and ends with how you pull the trigger, and then start loading.

From Atlantic Arms Website:

I would start with the Hornady Manual and use the powders they do. I like Power Pistol. They also are using Starline Brass.

"9MM 115GR XTP Match PPC
Using a Hornady bullet and Starline brass, this is designed for extreme accuracy at 50 yards. This ammo is the PPC match ammo used by all of Homeland Security pistol teams including all of the Border Patrol Teams, as well as some of the best police teams. This is also a great Bianchi Cup and Steel Challenge round averaging 1100 FPS. Our accuracy test requirement is 5 ten-shot groups at 50 yards, with an average group size not to exceed 1.25 inches."

Wilson recommends 6.3 grains of Power Pistol with the 124 gr XTP in 9mm. I used to religiously follow their recommendations when I was shooting one of their 38 Super comp guns. They know their stuff!

Thanks: I never thought about the chrono. I'm still relatively new to reloading...another thing to buy! ughh

IIRC, Deb said it was a relatively recent discovery that the ammo I asked about was the most accurate out of their 1911's set up for PPC. Before that, she said it was a a 147 grain hollow point and their 1911's were getting the best accuracy from Federal 147 grain HP's.

To my knowledge, a 9mm 147 grain HP has been the gold standard for some time for PPC in semi-autos chambered in 9mm, whether it is a 1911, S&W Model PPC9 or its predecessors.

Is anyone surprised the deviation after all this time from a 147 grain bullet to a 115 grain bullet?

A lot of pistols, revolvers and rifles do better with heavy slow bullets.
It just took longer for the 9mm to get the new 147gr bullet into the mix.

If the case was 1/4" longer it might have given the 38 special a run on the 158gr lead bullet? Never know ?

Nothing wrong with the 115gr bullets, just that you have more OAL adjustment room with the longer bullets and deeper seating for maximum bullet support.

For light recoil and high velocity the 115gr is a great 9mm bullet .

Knowing nothing about Atlanta Arms ammo I would just guess that they just got a very good deal on using their ammo Not saying that it is good or bad,

Did they say they use new ammo or the re-manufactured brand?

Has anyone ever seen or used this ammo???

Out of all the ammo manufacturers what makes their ammo special?? Just using Hornady bullets is a good choice.

First of all, if you are looking for accuracy at a given range, you don't need a chronograph.

PPC loads are usually loaded fairly light because they don't care about silly things like major power factors, it's all in the accuracy. In an auto, you still need a minimum amount of recoil to operate the slide. This is why the 147 gr. bullets would be a good choice, the garbage the tactical experts spew about twice the velocity equals four times the energy works in the opposite direction too.

So can the Atlanta A&A ammo be more accurate than the Federal 147s? Absolutely! But they are still talking about factory ammo made to work in every 9mm ever made, not just yours, you might be able to do much better by handloading. It is possible they have done their homework and as a new reloader you might have trouble beating their performance, but it would be very educational for you to try. And it is also possible that the 115 gr. XTP was chosen because it is more accurate than any 147 gr. bullet they picked for their testing. At least out of their test firearm(s).

The reason I went to their site in the first place was their use of the label "match PPC". The term "match" is usually used for ammunition and/or chambers that are made to SAAMI match specifications for a given caliber, if there is one. If there isn't, or the manufacturer isn't SAAMI compliant, they can stick it anywhere, and I wanted to see what they were calling "match". I don't believe the "PPC" term is used by SAAMI and it's just used to tell what kind of shooting the ammunition is intended for.

It isn't just the bullet and powder combination. The case prep and the loading routine have a lot to do with the accuracy. Flash hole deburred, primer pocket uniformed, case trimmed to consistent length, separate crimp die set ti uniformly crimp exactly what they have determined is just the right amount depending on the brand of brass used (wall thickness), and all lot matching brass. If you really want "match" ammo that's what you need to be looking at.

Bullseye crowd found that for best 50yd accuracy that stock 9mm barrels with a 1 in 10 twist shot best with the 147gr bullets . The military wanted to have better from the M9 with issue ball ammo for their teams . The results were for consistent 50yd results with the lighter bullet it needed a slower twist ( 1 in 32 ) . Majority of M9 service match pistols & those built for Bullseye use the KKM 1 in 32 barrel . Both the Sierra 115 FMJ & Hornady 115 XTP produced the best groups . Usable loads have been found with Power Pistol , WSF , VVN 330 & VVN 340 . Jerry Keefer is a member here & is a renowned pistolsmith . He's had years of experience building both PPC & Bullseye pistols & probably tests more loads in a year than most do in 10 years . He also is / was the Richmond , VA PD armorer & built the guns the department team shot . PM him I'm sure he'd give you some tips .

I have two boxes of this stuff.

I am afraid to shoot it as my 50 yd skills are still be developed.

I will not shoot it until I have fixed my issues which are me and trigger time.

I do load 115 Zero Conical to around 1100 fps using either N320/N330 and may be veering to WSF this year. I have a lot of WSF.

I was always told that brass consistency will aid those on the top and it was suggested to me to buy all new brass. I don't have those kind of funds but I have access to once fired Nina brass.

I do have a Springer PPC 5" and a STI PPC 6" and I seem to do better with the Springer at 50.

I actually load two different rounds for matches as I shoot Penn 115 SWC at 25 yds and closer and the more expensive jacketed stuff at 50.

I know what my problem is at 50, is the barricade and until I fix that, I will not try the AAs.

AA USES A BULK POWDER NOT AVAILABLE TO US. THE CLOSEST CANISTER POWDER IS THE WSF

BEST 50YD ACCURACY 5.0 GR VV330
TIED FOR 2ND 4.8 VV320 OR 5.4 WSF.

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE. JIM P

PS SOMEONE HAD SAID PPC USES LIGHT LOADS. THAT MAYBE TRUE IN 38 SPL BUT NOT IN 9MM

fwiw/imho:

Sorry for bringing up a thread a couple months old, came across this thread searching another topic.

Thought I'd add to it a bit re: Atlanta Arms PPC 115 XTP load or any of their Match Ammo offerings.

Again, imho:
- When it comes to Commercial Production Match Ammo Atlanta Arms has it down. Most of the top teams & solo/privateer shooters that compete in [x] games use Atlanta Arms.

Springfield Armory Custom Shop recommends and uses AA 115 XTP PPC load in their 9mm offerings because its that good in the KKM 1:32 barrels. Pretty much a "Perfect Match: Barrel/Chamber/Twist/Length". It is not about pushing a product because of a "deal", or "the new ammo on the market". This ammo is the 9mm [x] ring King, again for Commercially available Match Ammo that is tailored for the 50 yard comp.

Some PPC shooters I know shoot this exclusively at 50 yards, many only shoot reloads for <25 yards. Fine tuning a 9mm load to get pin point accuracy at 25 yards is hard enough, but 50 yards is another story. The recipe/specs is what makes this better than most. Its worked up like a benchrest rifle load, but for a 9mm pistol.

PPC Teams/Shooters pay the premium for this because the margin for error is next to nothing. What most consider accurate won't cut it in the neck to neck competition of PPC. These shooters are on point, & they must have some pretty strong wrists. These setups weight a ton

Yes, you can duplicate a comparable velocity as a reloader. But, that is only the beginning to obtain the same accuracy: Powder selection-burn characteristics, case tension dimensions, primer selection, case selection, bullet selection, OAL, & of course the mechanical capabilities of the firearm itself. All these need to be taken into consideration to duplicate accuracy performance.

^ I'm bald for a reason, "frustrated reloader". You think you have a winner, then it goes south after _??_ distance . . . .back to the press

fwiw/imho:
- 9mm TC JHP style profile, exp.: XTP HAP, prefer a shorter OAL than FMJ, no/minimum neck crimp, & optimum accuracy/performance comes from velocities in the 1150-1180 range, barrel; barrel chamber; & length dependent.

* Powder: Agree with, & to add to "PPCSHOOTER's" post
- Anything on the slower side of the burn chart: Power Pistol, HS-6, N330.
- Even Slower: N340, SR4756, Longshot, WAP, Silhouette

SPDGG said:

fwiw/imho:
- 9mm TC JHP style profile, exp.: XTP HAP, prefer a shorter OAL than FMJ, no/minimum neck crimp, & optimum accuracy/performance comes from velocities in the 1150-1180 range, barrel; barrel chamber; & length dependent.

* Powder: Agree with, & to add to "PPCSHOOTER's" post
- Anything on the slower side of the burn chart: Power Pistol, HS-6, N330.
- Even Slower: N340, SR4756, Longshot, WAP, Silhouette

Click to expand...

SPDGG,

I have a pound of HS-6 and a brand new Springfield Custom Carry 9mil. I have XTP 115/124/ Zero 115 JHP and 147 slugs both TMJ and I think XTP.

any recipes you have tried and like, I am all EARS!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot justify any powder purchases at this time as I have over 4 lbs of WST and WSF and 3 lbs of old WSL.

in an older Hornady Manual, it shows 4.4 of WSL (max) @ 1150 FPS and 6.9 of HS-6 (max) also @ 1150 FPS COL 1.050" using 115XTP.

in an older print Winchester book I have it shows 4.5 of WSL using a 115JHP pushing 1105FPS at 33,600PSI.

I think 4.4 gives me a good start for testing and I already talked to my Chrony buddy.

I want to use the WSL first and might try that load and supplement the HS-6 load to see which one works better at 50 yds.

Thanks all; Deb called and shipped the Springfield. I'll post photos of it soon. It has the 6'' barrel.

I need to call her and ask if the barrel needs to be broken in or not like a rifle. If so, I'll buy the Atlanta Arms reloads to start.