Cheesewhiz

I like Power Pistol, it is accurate, meters very well and has a wide load range. It is flashy and at higher loads it has a fairly stout recoil impulse compared to WSF (another powder that I like a lot). ...but a light load of PP behind a Bayou Bullet 147gr is a very nice load, less stringy than an equal powered WSF load.

Did you ream your barrel? or just stock? I haven't tried that long but I know jacketed (rounded nose) runs thinner than moly coat. I load my MG FMJ at 1.160" in my CZ's, clearance is fine. Push measures 1.178 in stock barrels. I use WSF but I do agree that 4.4 to 4.6 grs of 231/HP-38 would probably help with that powder.

Most published load lengths are not a suggested load length but a minimum length. It is more important to load at a length that works in your gun. You can search "push test" to get several methods for finding the max load length for your pistol.

I use WSF for Bayou Bullets 147gr, 3.7gn of it. With standard hard cast it is a bit smokey. With SNS cast, I use their recommended 5.6 of AA#7 but it doesn't burn as fully as I would like but not too much smoke. I like the Bayou's and WSF more as I shoot indoors a lot. Both loads are at a 1.150 OAL and they work fine in a CZ.

I mostly load and shoot a hot round with both XTP and HAP Hornady 124/125gr bullets. They are accurate, both push 1200fps, 5.2 WSF at a 1.075" OAL.

Can you guys shut up about WSF, I don't want the price to jump up and bite me.

http://www.midwestguns.com/once-fired-brass/

I just recieved a new batch of 135 and 147 Bayou's, I shot only 50 testers of each last week. I had no issues with the 147's at all but I think I need to work on the 135's a bit more. I did notice that the finish is mottled a bit on both weights ( not sure if that's what you mean about lighter colored) but they shot well enough, the 135's were a bit stringy.

...and to answer the question about resetting a bullet. It should be fine as long as you didn't crimp too hard the first time. I would factor the load for the shorter length before doing so.

1.075" isn't short for a FEG or a Witness. That might actually be a bit long for those two guns with that bullet.

You'll need to get them to about 1.070", 1.065" for a CZ. I'll be honest, Berry's HP's at the moment are not very accurate but I hear they are changing the design (late summer/early fall). I really like their 124gr HBRN, very accurate with a mid level load of HP-38/231.

At what length are you loading these to?

I've had very good results with Berry's 124gr HBRN over 4.5 to 4.6 of HP-38/231, I load them at 1.165" OAL. Mine are shot out of mostly stock barreled CZ's. My taper crimp is just a kiss.

The listed "short" load is the minimum safe length at those powder weights and with that bullet(particular or generic). It isn't normally a recommended length, that would be almost impossible with the variety of pistols and configurations, it is just a "don't go shorter than this" length.

Hornady's 124gr XTP/125gr HAP factory loads are at 1.070", that's so they can be used in a variety of different guns. I load XTP/HAP bullets at 1.075" for my CZ's, that leaves close to a .015" clearance from the rifling in those guns. I imagine that the length can be stretched some with pistols that don't have short chambers. I would recommend buying some factory Hornady and just to see how well your gun(s) like that as it is loaded from them.