metalman63

185gr HBRN 6.5 grains W231 1.23 OAL Sample set 1: 10 rounds Average 922.7 30.65 Standard deviation PF 170.7 Sample Set 2: 10 rounds Average 924.54 29.51 SD PF 171.04 Based on the previous tests, this looks like the recipe for my XD .45 Tactical in our local USPSA club matches. 6.4 is just below. 6.5 grains is a little over with some margin for error. I will try moving the OAL out a little to see what effect it may have on accuracy. Since it will leave alittle more space in the cartridge, it may drop the pressure a little and slow down some. Always more testing to play with.

Update: I ran several different loads of W231 behind the 185 gr. HBRN Berries bullets today. CCI primers 5.6 gr 1.22 OAL 774.84 fps average, 47.6 standard deviation PF=143.3 6.0 gr 1.23 OAL 829.85 avg 22.08 sd PF = 153.5 6.2 gr 1.23 OAL 844.50 avg 26.41 sd PF = 156.2 6.4 gr 1.23 OAL 888.34 avg 21.68 sd PF = 164.3 6.6 gr 1.23 OAL 927.58 avg 23.54 sd PF = 171.6 Springfield XD .45 ACP Tactical 5" Barrel. It was again mixed brass between Winchester and Remington It looks like 6.5 grains of W231 will get me over the 165 power factor. 6.6 may be the load to go to when it gets cold. I'll check it again in the fall.

I just got a chrono and checked some loads yesterday. They were slower than I expected. I suspected that my cheap balance scale might be off. I bought a digital scale and it showed .4 grains less than what the old scale registered. I intended 6.0 grains and actually got 5.6. So here are the first results: 5.6 gr W231, CCI primer and 185 HBRN 766 fps average. 73.55 standard deviation. I loaded up 10 more rounds at 6.0 grains, and 10 at 6.2 grains. I'll test them this weekend. Trying to get just over 900fps. Springfield XD .45 Tactical 5" barrel. The brass is mixed Winchester and R-P.

I had this happen on my .45 Tactical when it was 9 degrees last January for a regular club match. Several light strikes in a row. Took a zero on the stage. I had put a drop of oil on the striker / sear surfaces the previous cleaning and on the slide. I must have gotten enough on it to wick it's way into the striker channel. Very light strikes. I took it apart and hosed it out with a can of cleaner and it worked fine the rest of the day. It never happened during warm weather. Now I only put a drop on the slide grooves and the barrel cam and around the barrel nose. No more problem. I added an extra power striker spring when I put in the Springer trigger kit. All is well.

.45 Tactical 185 gr. Berries HBRN over 5.9 to 6.0 gr W231 with CCI primers. With 14# spring works great. Stainless guide rod and Springer trigger kit. Reliable, lighter recoil for nice follow up shots. 200 gr. Berries RS over over 5.6 Universal works with 14 and 16# springs. 230gr. RN Hornady works too but with lighter loads the reliability with 18# spring wasn't 100%. I found that as I backed off the power the heavy stock spring wouldn't let the slide cycle reliably. I started going down in spring rate. Settled on the 14# and it has worked without problem for all my loads for the 185 and 200 gr rounds. Mostly trying for 170 to 175 power factor range. I have not shot full power loads with the lighter spring. I think it would start to really hammer the frame. If I have to use full power rounds, I'll switch back to the stock spring.