mizer67

Seems like a large amount of CSB-1 made its way into the US from Spain. With the powder shortage, has anyone tried it out yet or does anyone in Europe have experience with this powder? It's been reported to use Universal load data. I'm more interested in accuracy, metering characteristics, feel, etc. than load data. I'm thinking of picking up a jug or two just in case things don't get back to normal in the next year or so.

Matches are not held to the same rules but are only held once a month. This is an outdoor range, with very high berms (~20+ ft.) and wooden eyebrows every few yards to destabilize any high rounds, and eyebrows on top of the berms as well. There's really not much chance a bullet could escape (in my opinion) but they've been fighting with the neighbors for several years and one of the neighbors has appeared to have pulled rounds from the berm to seed their house in an attempt to get the range shut down. It does depend on who's working as to what I can get away with. The ROs are all volunteers so it just depends on who's working and how seriously they want to enforce that rule that day. There's really no one that competes that's an RO though. Usually, if I go faster than ~.5 splits I'll get an immediate talking to, so I spend most of my time at 50 ft. on 3" targets or at 75 ft. on a 5" target.

My regular practice range has a "1 second rule", that no more than 1 shot per second can be fired. They're (overly) concerned about random shooters lobbing projectiles out of the range and getting it shut down. Other than changing ranges, are there drills that can be done dry or with this restriction to improve speed?

I've definately been running mine too dry based on the above. Never had an issue though. Guess I'm lucky.

N340 is one of the best 9mm powders made in my opinion. I haven't tried the Nosler's, but I've used the Precision Delta 124 gr JHP extensively along with the MG 124 JHP. With the PD bullet, I liked this load the best, which I believe I originally saw here on Benos from poster Daryl: 124 PD JHP 4.85 gr N340 1.085" OAL CCI SPP Matched HS brass (Speer) My best 10-round groups at 25 yards were in the 1.3" range with same headstamp brass, but averaged closer to 2" (CZ and re-barrled Glock) with mixed brass. Some of that is me though and less than perfect sight selection for shooting groups. I've also loaded them longer at 1.12" OAL with 5.0 gr N340 and that was a very good load too, but a tad too long for my CZ. That's not a very soft shooting load though, if that's what you're after. It's harsher than say, N320. If I recall correctly, it was in the 133-135 PF range and I believe N340 performs better at higher velocities closer to 1100 fps with a 124 gr bullet. I'm not sure 4.0 grains will make minor though.

Does anyone use the Zero 121 or 125 gr JHPs in their 9mm's? If so, did you change your load any from the .355 size jacketed bullets?

I have the Apex FRE in two guns that experienced erratic ejection. They worked for me. Others have reported that just the non-LCI spring bearing has made a difference. Some have reported that increasing the spring tension on the extractor alone with a higher lb. spring will sometimes be enough. Others have also changed the angle on the ejector with a stone or file to give a higher angle as the majority of the time the case is hitting the ejection port, although this is less common since the 30274 ejector was released. Apex will also mill the slide to lower the ejection port if the gun is very bad so that the brass clears properly.

My Shadow has been more reliable than my G17. I don't think I've had a FTF in 10,000 rounds. CZC replaced one trigger return spring for me at 10K, but otherwise it's been almost perfect. I would think if you regularly PM'ed the springs and possibly the slide stop, you'd be good to go.

124 gr PD, 1.10", 4.85 gr WSF = 2.2" 10 rd group @ 25 yds, CZ 75 Shadow 124 gr PD, 1.12", 5.00 gr WSF = 2.1" 10 rd group @ 25 yds, CZ 75 Shadow - your throat might not be long enough for this length though 124 gr PD, 1.12", 4.10 gr TG = 3.3" 10 rd group - not a very accurate load, but softer shooting Those loads run in the mid 130 pf range in my gun. I used to load PP, but it's very loud and has a lot of muzzle blast, it wouldn't be my first choice for much of anything but extreme accuracy and you can usually find similar loads with more enjoyable characteristics.

With an XL650, case and mr. bullet feeder, doing all the ancillary tasks except chamber checking I load about 800/hr. I used to have a LNL, but the case feeder is poorly designed in comparison to the 650 and I had more difficulty getting primers to fully seat for some reason so I never really achieved good production numbers since I was always fiddling with something. I ended up returning the case feeder and selling the LNL eventually. Very glad I did, the 650 is a joy to load with in comparison. Many fewer minor issues throughout a loading session.

I thought CZC bought oversized blanks for the "match" barrel version, then fit them to the gun vs. the regular accu Shadow which uses the stock barrel? I know CZC buys oversized blanks for the threaded extended barrels they sell, it would seem they're using the same blanks for this gun and not threading the barrels.

He probably means the Accu Shadow with the fitted match barrel. I'd like to see how much of a difference the match barrel makes vs. the standard barrel too.

Other powders can be more accurate in that combination, but generally have more felt recoil, in my experience. TG is a good compromise. Runs very hot though (I once melted a FO front sight for example) and kind of dirty.

4.9 gr N340 PD124 jhp 1.085" OAL or 5.05 gr N340 PD124 jhp 1.120 OAL

The recent MGs 55 gr FMJ are complete crap. However, I don't think they ever liked to be pushed much past 3,100 fps or they would open up, just not to 6+ MOA. I ran 25.7 gr of H335 behind recent 55 gr MGs and 6 of 10 rounds didn't hit an 18X18" target @ 100 yds. 4 of 10 didn't even hit the cardboard. Out of my 18", that load should run ~3100 fps. For some reason, they like 25 gr of AA2230 or 24.7 gr of TAC better (they're slower), I only get 1/10 or 2/10 that are flyers and usually "only" 2-3" off the main group.

I'm sure you meant 2.250" OAL, because 2.5" wouldn't fit in the mag.

I have that same barrel in BCM and have loaded 24.7 gr of TAC with that Montana Gold 55 gr FMJ bullet. I can tell you it's not the load you're using. Using 2011 purchased 55 gr MG FMJ, I could put 10 rounds into .9 MOA with that combo, velocity is only 2,925 or so on average @ 24.7 grains and 2.23 OAL. My recent batch of MG 55 gr FMJs is completely inconsistent. I have at least three different ogives I've found, that seat between 0.0" of my desired measurement with a Redding Comp. seater and as much as .02" off. Flyers pop up even when seated to my desired OAL and with sorting loaded rounds by their OALs. I'd weigh ~20 charges and load them by hand to rule out your powder measure though.

27.5 gr of H335 is over max by about a .8 grain or more depending on the data. Use with caution.

Darrell, This is excellent info! I have a couple of follow up questions: 1) What do you mean by 0.010" off the rifling? 2) What is your experience with plated bullet? What different technique would you apply. 3) What is the bullet length of say an MG 124gr JHP? I have a bunch of RN plated bullets, but I have a theory about case volume (can't prove it yet). Would it be true to say that if I take the length of my RN, minus the length of your JHP, and add the difference to your OAL to get my OAL, we should have similar loads? 1. I make a round long where the ogive touches the lands of the rifling. I take the barrel out, put the round in and try to twist it, I decrease the overall length until the round twist freely meaning that the bullet ogive isn't touching the lands, and the case is headspacing in the barrel. I then decrease the overall length another .010 inch then start my loading from there. 2. Plated bullets will never be as accurate as jacketed. Use minimum or no crimp, do not try to push the velocity past 1100 fps. I had some good loads with Berry's plated in the past using 231 and Tightgroup powders, but that was with 147 gr bullets. 3. An M.G. 124 JHP is .576" long. When I load this bullet now I load at 1.110" because that length works in all my 9mm's and gives great performance. Best accuracy with this bullet for me is with N340 and Power Pistol. One thing I've learned on Benos is, read Darrell's posts and follow the advice. Saves time and money.

N340 and PD124 JHPs for the win. Could never get the velocity I needed from N320 and accuracy was only fair. Love me some PD 124 JHPs.

Yup. My prior batches were excellent. Very uniform and shot true. This last batch, received around Oct '12, not so much.

I can run an M-die, but don't have enough room to crimp too. Can I leave the flare from the ~.226 step in the M-die?

What's his charge weight with AA2230? I just picked up 8 lbs. to try.

Has anyone that has a .223 conversion for their Mr. Bulletfeeder been able to successfully tap a Montana Gold 55 gr. FMJ (or similar bullet) into place in a camphered casing? I'm FL sizing, then trimming on a Giraud and I can't get the bullet to stay in place when the machine is indexed, no matter how far down I turn the dropper assembly, without damaging the casing.

Can't help you with the powder, but you shouldn't have any trouble with the length of that bullet for a Glock. I find the sweet spot to be either 1.12" OAL or 1.09" OAL with the PD 124 JHP (loading N340). The longer load won't run in some guns without impacting the lands (CZ75, Walther PPQ to name a few with shorter lands than a Glock). If you're not loading for multiple guns, pick 1.12" OAL and the starting book minimum powder charge, load 10, and see if they cycle the action / lock open on empty. If not, add a few tenths and work up. If you're loading for multiple guns, load a dummy round at 1.12" OAL and see if they pass a plunk and spin test with every barrel. If so, you're good. If not, shortent the OAL until they pass the test in the shortest chamber. You're not going to find your exact components in any book, you'll need to experiment.