I shoot two events for which full power loads (170 power factor) are not required. One is a Cowboy Action event based on the Wild Bunch movie using a .45 caliber 1911 pistol, a rifle of 44 caliber or above and a Winchester ‘97 shotgun or similar. The PF for the 1911 is 150, I use my Chinese made “basic” 1911 in this match.
The other is a “Service Match” in which I use my Springfield Armoury 1911 (unrestricted), my S&W 686-4 (service revolver) in .38 special, and my S&W Victory .38 S&W in Classic division) PF for these matches is 120. I recently found myself running low on ammunition for all these guns and matches.
I had been running 230 gn LRN projectiles in the 1911’s with a 155 PF, but was just about out of those bullets. I have a couple of thousand 200 gn LRNFP ones on hand so decided they would just have to do.
The Hodgdon website lists 4.8 - 5.4 gns Tightgroup for between 877 - 957 fps (175 - 191 PF). As I wanted something less than this I dropped my starting load to 4.5 gns and ran 100 round through my Dillon Square Deal press, which is dedicated to .45 ACP loads.
About a month ago I chronographed these rounds in the SA pistol for an average 735 FPS with a PF of 146. Good enough for club matches but will have to refine it slightly if I ever enter another Island or National match. I then spent 45 of the remaining 95 rounds getting sighted in out to 25 yards as it was shooting low.
Some time ago I stated my intention to reload ammo for my .38 S&W Victory model with Tightgroup. No loading data was availble for that caliber/powder, but the wise heads here gave me some good advise for a starting load.
The results were startling. The sound and recoil were much more than expected, the projectiles (148 gn LHBWC’s) seperated and the cases stuck in the cylinder.
I had decided on TG, as other powders were scarce Down Under after Covid, and the ADI AP 50 powder I had been using was no longer available.
I went back to the drawing board and settled upon ADI AP70N. Their online chart gave a max load of 3.4 gn with a lead 148 gn projectiles and no minimum for 750 fps. I reduced this to 3 gn as a starting load and……. same result. Loud discharge, separated projectiles and sticky cases.
I then dropped the powder charge to 2.5 gn and loaded up 6 rounds, one as a test fire to check if the cartridges stuck and 5 for the Chrony.
At the same time I was changing my .38 special loads for used in my 686-4. I was going away from the 148 gn plated HBWC back to the 168 gn SWC plated bullet as they were much easier to reload during timed strings (two X 6 shot strings at 7 yards in 15 seconds in the match I shoot this gun in).
Now load data for is available in 45 ACP, starting at 3.5 gn for 704 fps for a jacketed bullet and 3.2 gn for a lead one at 815 fps. I decided to load the first 6 at the 3.2 gn to see what the result would be.
I finally got to the range today with both revolvers.
The .38 S&W round was stout, but at 776 fps the cases fell out after firing with no problems.
The .38 special loads were a different story however, with 5 rounds averaging just 630 fps! Ideally I need to be getting 760 fps in this load to make the match’s 120 power factor, So back to the loading bench on Saturday to try again.
It just goes to show that the loading tables and results are guides only.
The other is a “Service Match” in which I use my Springfield Armoury 1911 (unrestricted), my S&W 686-4 (service revolver) in .38 special, and my S&W Victory .38 S&W in Classic division) PF for these matches is 120. I recently found myself running low on ammunition for all these guns and matches.
I had been running 230 gn LRN projectiles in the 1911’s with a 155 PF, but was just about out of those bullets. I have a couple of thousand 200 gn LRNFP ones on hand so decided they would just have to do.
The Hodgdon website lists 4.8 - 5.4 gns Tightgroup for between 877 - 957 fps (175 - 191 PF). As I wanted something less than this I dropped my starting load to 4.5 gns and ran 100 round through my Dillon Square Deal press, which is dedicated to .45 ACP loads.
About a month ago I chronographed these rounds in the SA pistol for an average 735 FPS with a PF of 146. Good enough for club matches but will have to refine it slightly if I ever enter another Island or National match. I then spent 45 of the remaining 95 rounds getting sighted in out to 25 yards as it was shooting low.
Some time ago I stated my intention to reload ammo for my .38 S&W Victory model with Tightgroup. No loading data was availble for that caliber/powder, but the wise heads here gave me some good advise for a starting load.
The results were startling. The sound and recoil were much more than expected, the projectiles (148 gn LHBWC’s) seperated and the cases stuck in the cylinder.
I had decided on TG, as other powders were scarce Down Under after Covid, and the ADI AP 50 powder I had been using was no longer available.
I went back to the drawing board and settled upon ADI AP70N. Their online chart gave a max load of 3.4 gn with a lead 148 gn projectiles and no minimum for 750 fps. I reduced this to 3 gn as a starting load and……. same result. Loud discharge, separated projectiles and sticky cases.
I then dropped the powder charge to 2.5 gn and loaded up 6 rounds, one as a test fire to check if the cartridges stuck and 5 for the Chrony.
At the same time I was changing my .38 special loads for used in my 686-4. I was going away from the 148 gn plated HBWC back to the 168 gn SWC plated bullet as they were much easier to reload during timed strings (two X 6 shot strings at 7 yards in 15 seconds in the match I shoot this gun in).
Now load data for is available in 45 ACP, starting at 3.5 gn for 704 fps for a jacketed bullet and 3.2 gn for a lead one at 815 fps. I decided to load the first 6 at the 3.2 gn to see what the result would be.
I finally got to the range today with both revolvers.
The .38 S&W round was stout, but at 776 fps the cases fell out after firing with no problems.
The .38 special loads were a different story however, with 5 rounds averaging just 630 fps! Ideally I need to be getting 760 fps in this load to make the match’s 120 power factor, So back to the loading bench on Saturday to try again.
It just goes to show that the loading tables and results are guides only.
