Tree Rat

Whats the chances Competition is WST re-packaged.....sorta? TR

For major I assume. TR

I wouldn't impune the load before doing some troubleshooting......... Powder measure static and ambient humdity disparities are but a couple variables that have wrecked some loads in the past. Even still, there are weird combinations out there.....I shoot 20 shot strings and had the same curious frustration with WST and 9mm 115's for minor, one day I would get 123 PF, the next few days would get 133 PF. Same load batch, same gun, with temp and humidity variation not more than 5% between each test day. This stuff was maniacal and I have since switched to N310/N320. TR

Actually that's an overload by .2 grains depending on what data your using. TR

I agree this data set shows little disparity and I'm sure others have seen the same results, but I'm telling you.........Your going to get Chrono'ed at a match later this year and that 4.0 load is going to break your heart. Good Luck. TR

Reloading........ For some it is the prelude to the event.........For others IT IS the event. TR

I load 3.3 - 3.4 underneath a Star 180 FMJ-FP @ 1.170 for minor (130 -134 PF). Long OAL of 1.170 is most reliable for my Kimber 5". TR

I tested N310 with 115 Star FMJ's and got presure signs at 3.8 and 123,500 PF. I'm going to carefully try 4.0 but not very comfortable with N310 at this point even with 115's and would really assume big problems with 147's. Had the same experience with Clays and 115's awhile back. I still think WST is the softest 9mm minor powder but I get irritated with it's high case fill when loading beyond 4.4 grains which spills when the 650 indexes. Also been getting real high SD's partly due to the case fill/spill and suseptability to static. Titegroup is a great powder....just not the best for competition IMHO. Loud, snappy and EXTRA smokey with lead. N320 has always been smooth shooting with no issues at the bench and of course always super clean as it is renowned. TR

Fire a round over the chrono turning the barrel to the sky and again turning the barrel to the gorund before firng each shot. You might be amazed at the velocity disparity EVERYTIME. While temp sensitivity is an issue all it's own. This sounds more like case position sensitivity for the propellant. When I chrono, I always fire the first round outside the chrono to normalize the string. If chrono'ed at a match, you might offer up four rounds and ask that they fire that first in the same manner. BTW, the temp test appears to indicate that WST is inverse temp sensitive (decreasing velocity with increasing tempurature).....something I have experienced as well. Try the position test and decide. TR

Titeloop........ I think you found the powder your looking for in WST. WST shoots softer than anything in major for both 40 and 180's and 45 and 200's, although Clays and 230's is still the sweet major load....all IMHO of course. Cheaper and widlely more available than N320, meters great, acceptably clean, low flash. TR

You might want to read what I said again. (And for what it's worth, it's one of the dumbest rules in the history of shooting sports.) No.....that would be not being able to load 11 rounds in your magazine to make 10 + 1 at the start to avoid the top off dick dance.......... TR

TNTreloading.com PA based. They have an extensive gunshow circuit in the Mid-Atlantic region, Richmond Va, Charlotte NC, and others...........they bring literally a semi-truck load set-up. I pick-up quantity pricing on primers and powder with no HAZMAT.... and Star FMJ bullets in bulk at the Richmond, Va. show every three months or so.......... TR

WST rocks in 40.......Hey Bill TR

That's safety on, de-cock if equiped with such capability, or finger off the trigger.............not drop the hammer. Dropping the hammer is performed only after you have shown clear. TR

Airgunning........ I will never forget my first USPSA match. Field course stage started by opening the door and commence the hosing....... Imigine this IDPA'ers shock and dismay when three on deck shooters followed the RO and shooter through the door in a close formation airgun operation. Happend on this stage all day long for the duration of the match. I don't think there is a problem at IDPA whatever the interpretation. TR

This is encouraging......... I want the gun for IDPA/SSP or USPSA production, a blaster using lots of warm reloads, and defense gun using only quality factory ammunition (not that my reloads are not quality). Thanks for the responses. TR

Barsto barrel users....... 1. What model gun did you retrofit? 3. Did you have your barrel fitted, and if so by who? 3. How was fit and function for those that bought "drop-in" barrels? 4. Did you see a +/- velocity change for a given load as compared to the factory barrel of the same length? 5. Do the barrels incorporate a significant increase in case support over the factory barrels? 6. Is the the set-up reliable, i.e. would you use it for defense/tactical application with as much confidence as the factory barrel? I have a G-22 and reload ALOT of aggressive loads and am looking for options other than what is offered with the factory set-up. TR

BTW.......who does good fits for say the Briley or Barsto? TR

I trashed the new tactile style extractor AND redesigned spring and ball bearing set-up in my NEW G-19. Everything now ejects in a neat little pile as it should. Sevigney, while at a GSSF match went straight to this fix when I decribed the problem. Before, cases were going everywhere including into the ole fohead......and even 180 out of the port to left. TR

Concur with your observatations on TG............ Very energetic (34% nitroglycerin content) which is why it has that robust report some find distracting. Extremely consistant as your findings suggest. Snappy, as the event gets done in a hurry, which allows for nice and positive sight tracking. THE smokiest with lead (as if you needed that). N320.......good stuff as with most V V powders. Emits some sparks which is also distracting. Super clean powder both in the measure and post firing. In my analysis, it is a premium powder with a premium price, but nothing Titegroup or WST cannot achieve. Clays......too fast for 40 major, but THE BEST in minor (IDPA/ESP) with 180's! Let me add some observation's about WST. Meters as well as TG. Not nearly as cheap as TG (but what is)? Shoots slower (.1 or .2 grains) than TG. Feels softer......maybe.....or is it because it doesn't roar like TG?. Sights track like a much slower powder in a lazy arch. Low flash. Not nearly as much smoke as TG with lead. Super low SD's with 180 lead FP's. Side Note: Both TG and WST require about .4 or more grains with Star FMJ-FP's for the same power factor as lead! I load 4.5 TG/lead, 4.9/FMJ and 4.6 WST/lead, 4.9/FMJ, all at 1.180 for my Kimber. As always work YOUR loads in YOUR gun up slowly as your mileage may vary. TR

They can scan and email in 38 Special, 9mm, and 40 S&W? TR

Whether you have a powder check system in station three, remove the shell plate button and use that station to pull cases for powder measurement during set-up and while loading. Cases stay in place nicely without the button unlike the 550B. No need for tabs or other gimmicks. TR

Ditto on the Federal Tactical.....BUT.....gun becomes very tempermental with any reduced recoil loads when side saddle, Surefire light, and/or MIL-SPEC rail are added......... TR

Yeah....understood. I load to 1.126 for the HK's and 1.160 - 1.180 for the Kimber. I would suspect 80% of my initial relaibility problems were due to short OAL's, and the other 20% was due to an extreamley tight extractor that I was never really able to adjust properly. I eventually swapped that out with an AFTEC. Also using Wilson 47D 8 round magazines with zero tuning, and Wilson 10 round magazines with the slightest feed lip tightening. Using Star FMJ-FP bullets 155, 165, 180, 200. I cannot remeber the last time I had any failures in 5000 rounds after incorporating all the above. TR

I would still load no shorter than 1.160........... TR