LtDave

I must have tried 40 or more different loads in my G34. The best It wanted to do was around 2.5" off the bench at 20 yards. Then I found THE load this gun likes. A 147 Zero FMJ and 3.9 grains of AutoComp got me 1.25" groups.

Did you try any light loads? I've got some of these bullets, and want to load some bunny farts for practice use in an alloy Commander. I'm getting old and can't handle an extended session of recoil any more: I'll pay for it for days afterward. I normally use WST, but if I go below 4.0 grains the burn becomes erratic and case obturation is spotty (lots of black soot along the case). This is with 230 FMJ in an HK45C, which is my EDC/shoot-a-lot piece. 4.2 of WST under the 230 ball bullet is perfect in it, but I doubt this Commander will attenuate recoil as well as the HK does. I'm willing to change powders, but don't have the time right now for an exhaustive "test"; just looking to see if anyone has stumbled upon a good, light-recoiling load. I realize I'll probably have to go to a lighter spring, but that's okay too. Bottom line here, I haven't fooled with a 1911-style pistol, shooting or reloading, in a very long time. I've also got some 200gr Bayou Bullets SWCs. Any suggestions appreciated... . No, nothing really light with the Berry's. I've had good luck with 4.5 WST and 200 gr Bayou or Bear Creek SWC in my HK45.

Can't help with N320, but In my Glocks, the most accurate minor load so far has been 5.4 gr of Silhouette behind a 180 gr bullet, oal 1.125. It gave me 148 pf out of a G23

Loaded up some of these and shot groups off the bench at 20 yds. Best for me out my G35 was my standard 180 major load of 4.4 gr Titegroup. Ran about 1.5 inches. Next best was 5.0 Universal at about 2". Also tried 4.8 gr 231 and 4.8 gr Titegroup, got 3.5" and 2.75" groups respectively. The first load was good for elevation, but was about 1" right of poa, the second load was about 1" low, but good for windage. All loads were 1.126 oal with Winchester SP primers. Very little recoil. I didn't chrono any yet.

I"ve had good results with 3.7 WSF or 3.3 N320 with the Bayou 147

Haven't tried N320, but tested a bunch of powders with the Berry's HBRN. The best accuracy in my M&P was with 6.9 gr of Power Pistol. Average velocity was 851 fps with a 157 PF.

My SIG TacOps likes Solo 1000. 4.8 gr with a 230 Armscor FMj and 5.1 gr with a Magtech FMJ-SWC both shot 1.5" groups at 20 yards. Average velocity was 772 fps and 832 fps respectively. The best factory load out of my gun was Magtech 230 FMJ (45A). It went into 1.25" with a velocity of 786 fps. SD for those loads was 6, 5 & 9 respectively.

About 4.0 grains of WSF gets me about 135 pf out of my G34 and shoots well in several guns.

My M&P 9L shoots WWB into 1.25" at 20 yds. So far, it's the most accurate factory stuff i've tried in that gun.

What is your 357 sig recipe? I've had excellent results with 10.6 gr AA#7. 1.5" groups at 20 yds with either Zero or Montana Gold 125 gr FMJFP in my P229.

4.0 of WSF shoots very well out of my G34 with several different 147 gr bullets. In my gun, Titegroup didn't do nearly as well as WSF.

Here are a few .357 SIG loads that I've been testing. Fired over a CED chronograph, in 10 round strings. 1) 125 gr Zero or Montana Gold .355 FMJ FP, 8.7 gr Power Pistol, Rem 1.5 primer, Speer .357 brass, OAL 1.135 SIG P229 (Zero) - 1339 fps average velocity, ES 14, SD 5 Glock 32 (Zero) - 1362 fps average velocity, ES 33, SD 12 Glock 32 (MG) - 1369 fps average velocity, ES 31, SD 9 Comments: Shoots POA/POI at 25 yards, very accurate, best overall load, makes major power factor 167-171. 2) 125 gr Montana Gold .355 FMJ FP, 8.2 gr Longshot, Win SP Mag primer, Speer nickel .357 brass, OAL 1.130 SIG P229 - 1299 fps average velocity, ES 57, SD 18 Glock 32 - 1281 fps average velocity, ES 69, SD 27 Comments: Shoots POA/POI at 25 yards, good accuracy, power factor 160-162. 3) 135 gr Berry's .356 Plated TC, 7.6 gr Power Pistol, Rem 1.5 primer, mixed .40 brass reformed to .357, OAL 1.130 SIG P229 - 1228 fps average velocity, ES 31, SD 8 SIG P239 - 1197 fps average velocity, ES 50, SD 14 Comments: Shoots POA/POI at 25 yards, good accuracy, power factor 162-166. I wanted a load for matches where I couldn't recover brass. 4) 147 gr Remington .355 JHP, 10.8 gr AA#9, Rem 1.5 primer, mixed .357 brass, OAL 1.135 SIG P229 - 1097 fps average velocity, ES 17, SD 6 SIG P239 - 1106 fps average velocity, ES 25, SD 8 Comments: Shoots POA/POI at 15 yards, very accurate, power factor 161-163. Some factory loads I have chrono'd thru my SIG P229: Federal HST 125 gr JHP, 1334 fps average velocity, ES 21, no SD due to chrono malfunction Winchester Ranger 125 gr JHP, 1370 fps average velocity, ES 13, SD 4 Speer Gold Dot 125 gr JHP, 1314 fps average velocity, ES 11, SD 4 (250 round bulk pack, marked not for LE use) Loading info: I size all my cases using an RCBS .40 S&W carbide sizer, then run them thru a Redding .357 SIG sizing die to size the case neck. No lubrication is required, even when forming cases from .40 brass. Loads in .357 brass are belled and seated in Redding dies, then taper crimped in a separate step using a Redding taper crimp die. I use a separate Lee die set for belling and seating/crimping bullets in reformed .40 cases which are .020 shorter than .357 SIG cases. I've fired several hundred rounds using reformed .40 cases without any issues. I decided to try this after reading about the experience of Australian IPSC competitors using reformed .40 brass. I initially had some headspace issues with my SIG P229. Loads that worked fine in my Glock 32, were giving me misfires and screwy looking fired primers. After reading the info about .357 SIG headspacing at RealGuns.com, I was able to properly adjust my sizing die and all loads now work smoothly thru all my guns. All powder charges were thrown with an RCBS Little Dandy powder measure.

I chrono'd some of this thru my G34 a couple of days ago: High 967 Low 953 Extreme Spread 41 Avg Vel 961 SD 4 Power Factor 141. Accuracy was so-so, lot number 24CN91.

I'll second Bugs, I have a Yost rear with a Novak gold bead front on my G35. Very low profile.

Out of a S&W 4566 (Commander length) High=809, Low=797,ES=12,AV=805, SD=4 PF=185