Jonesjohnm Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 I've been shooting an STI Trubor 9mm for a few months and have been doing very well. As much as I love my Trubor I've been lusting after an STI Steelmaster 9mm for Steel Challenge. I finally found one and got it in yesterday. I brought 100 rounds of my standard 9mm minor loads to the range. I was SO DISSAPPOINTED. The gun feels super soft, but it's very very bouncy. The only solution I can think of is to go with a heavier charge to generate more gas for the comp. my Trubor shoots so flat it's not even funny, but this Steel Master dot is up and down like my pregnant wife's mood swings. HELP!!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesjohnm Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open1215 Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 The 9 minor may be the issue.Was it factory ammo? May Not have enough gas for the comp. Try your trubor loads and see if it flattens out?Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkrispies Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Really analyze the movement as well. Is it up and down, or is it down, up, and down. If it's down, then up, then down, that could be too strong a load that is first pushing the muzzle down from too much pressure through the comp, then up from a hard hit on the rearward travel of the slide, then down from a hard hit on the forward travel of the slide with too strong of a spring. Honestly I don't know if that's the issue but if you're using your "normal" minor load that shoots flat in a "normal" USPSA gun, it probably won't work as well in a specialized steel gun which is going to be tuned for a very light load-- likely even a sub 125pf load. Play with the loads and analyze the exact movements, which can tell you how it needs to be tuned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesjohnm Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 The gun is specifically made for minor loads, that's why I chose it. I'm pretty sure I would destroy that gun if I put major loads in it without replace the recoil system.My load is124 grn bayou bullets lrnW231 4.4 grnRoughly 1.110" I believe My local supply suggested using a 115 grn bullet to need more powder to create more gas.Ooooh good question Jkrispies.. I didn't pay attention to the exact pulse. I believe it was just up and down. I believe it's roughly the same movement as my Limited 9mm minor, I think I'm just spoiled with a stupid flat perfect matched load in my Trubor. In my mind that's my expectation of how an open gun should shoot, so I guess I think it's so "bad" because my Trubor load is so "good" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesjohnm Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 I will load 25 rnds of 124 grn @ 4.2 grn 4.4 grn4.6 grn4.8 grn Take notes on dot movement and accuracy and report back tomorrow with pics Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echotango Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Try a diff recoil spring if it has the recoil master still in it. Also a slower powder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesjohnm Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 What do you think echotang? 7lb? I keep plenty of autocomp laying around too. I can give that a shot Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkrispies Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 1 hour ago, Jonesjohnm said: The gun is specifically made for minor loads, that's why I chose it. I'm pretty sure I would destroy that gun if I put major loads in it without replace the recoil system. My load is 124 grn bayou bullets lrn W231 4.4 grn Roughly 1.110" I believe My local supply suggested using a 115 grn bullet to need more powder to create more gas. Ooooh good question Jkrispies.. I didn't pay attention to the exact pulse. I believe it was just up and down. I believe it's roughly the same movement as my Limited 9mm minor, I think I'm just spoiled with a stupid flat perfect matched load in my Trubor. In my mind that's my expectation of how an open gun should shoot, so I guess I think it's so "bad" because my Trubor load is so "good" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Remember that bounce isn't necessarily bad if the sights return to the same spot after the cycle. Your Trubor moves too-- it's just doing it too fast to notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echotango Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 I ran a 7# with a 130pf round. It didn't like much lower than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamboo Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 I got my dedicated single stack steel gun to run with a 5 1/2 pound recoil spring and 16 pound mainspring with a generous FP radius, but only if the mags were about 1/2 full. (yeah I know what good is that!!) It is a balance between low recoil spring weight and enough spring weight to reliably strip rounds off the mag and feed them into the chamber crisply. I ended up using a 6. 3/4 - 7 pound recoil spring (measured poundage on gauge) and 115 - 124 gr bullets loaded to about the 950 fps range using faster powders. Seems to yield a consistent dot and it shoots soft. I tried 95 grain bullets and they work great but to simplify inventory I use 124/115 jacketed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 I'd lose the 231 and go to something like Silhouette, WAC or HS-6 to get more gas. There is nothing wrong with 124. However, the lighter you go in bullets, the more powder you need and the more gas generated. Many people find they have to go to 145-155PF to get the gun to shoot flat. I can get my gun to shoot almost flat with HS-6, but I don't like the dot movement. With Silhouette or WAC i get more dot movement, but it tracks straight up and down and returns to the same spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Try a large charge (8gr+) of a slow powder like 3n38 under a 95gr bullet for maximum fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesjohnm Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 Good powder charge for WAC with 124 gr lrn.... go!!!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Hello: You are shooting steel so one shot on each and then you move to the next piece of steel. You don't need it to double tap in the same spot. A steel gun is a different animal than a open USPSA pistol. Try some HS-6 and 115's at about 140-150PF. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdawgbeav Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 It must be broken. Send it to me and I'll make sure its destroyedSent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BallisticianX Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 As mentioned the load should be tweaked as well as the recoil spring. When using a fast powder the comp is almost not even part of the equation. Fast powders have less volume and muzzle pressure to work the comp to any great degree as compared to slower powders a comp thrives on. So with fast powders it's all recoil spring doing the work and to therefore tune to change the feel. Slower powders will work the comp and then change how the gun tracks. But even with a slower powder the recoil spring should be experimented with to fine tune. Either way the recoil spring weight matters; Too light of a spring will unlock too soon giving you more perceived muzzle jump, to heavy of a spring will give you a muzzle dip. So you got some experimenting to do. Personally I've found a stiff minor load 145-150 pf of slower powders and a 8 lb spring is a good starting point. The theory of ultra light bullets and fast powder in an open style pistol for steel is useless...needs to light of a spring and gets to damn sluggish and clunky. I think you said it was a 9mm? If so HS-6 at 6 grains will make a good load to start with and work it from there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesjohnm Posted June 22, 2017 Author Share Posted June 22, 2017 Update: I loaded and shot 50124 grn 5.8 grn AutocompSweet giblets that's a stout load. I'm glad I put the 8 lb recoil spring back in. More "felt" recoil in that load than my 9 major load.I'm going to load 50 more at:115 grn 5.8 grn autocompAnd124 grn 5.4 grn autocompSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 If it was 'harder' than your Major load, you have too much gas jetting out the front of the comp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwal88007 Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 nice load for the steelmaster 124gr xtreme rn 5.2gr power pistol oal 1.145 pf 130 shoots very flat and fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truborshooter Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 (edited) 95MG JHP, 6.8 Silhouette, 1.045", Federal cases, WSP tons of gas, but very loud report about 1330 fps 125pf, under 2.5" / 25 yds dot doesn't leave Cmore Edited June 24, 2017 by truborshooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sclagg Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 A few years ago my kids were in high competition gear and we shot a lot of steel. We tested several concept rounds but the real secret sauce was just a 147 with 3.2ish n320. It is super soft. My son won Pro Am with it a couple years ago and several steel competitions. We have a small Bedell open gun that is identical to the Steel Master. We run a 17lb main and a 6lb recoil spring. It is very flat and fun to shoot. We tried several light bullet loads with nothing that came close our bunny fart steel open load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teros135 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 On 6/24/2017 at 10:16 PM, sclagg said: A few years ago my kids were in high competition gear and we shot a lot of steel. We tested several concept rounds but the real secret sauce was just a 147 with 3.2ish n320. It is super soft. My son won Pro Am with it a couple years ago and several steel competitions. We have a small Bedell open gun that is identical to the Steel Master. We run a 17lb main and a 6lb recoil spring. It is very flat and fun to shoot. We tried several light bullet loads with nothing that came close our bunny fart steel open load. Great runs! Is this 147 gr lead? What's the OAL? Any barrel holes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sclagg Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) Sorry I've been traveling... no holes (gun is a Bedell shorty) / Zero Bullets (jacketed) / N320... 3ish. 1.12 oal Edited July 23, 2017 by sclagg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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