dave33

If you can find Clay Dot it can be used as a direct replacement for Clays. 4.1gr under a 200 SWC averages 875 FPS/175 PF out of my 5" barrel 45's and is very soft and accurate. 5.0gr of Titegroup averages 890 FPS/178 PF, is a touch snappier but not bad and very accurate.

The range I shoot steel challenge at also holds USPSA and IDPA matches and has lots of tarps already in PVC frames, about 10' by 10'. They stake one on the ground and one vertically, sort of a brass deflector, so the area to collect brass is very small. That way two folks paint targets and 2-3 collect brass between shooters. Range policy is you are welcome to keep your brass but any unwanted brass goes to the range to help pay for supplied drinks during the match. Very fast to collect brass and you keep your own personal brass.

Rest my arms on a bench at the range at 25yds and shoot a minimum of 15 rounds in 5 shot strings. Just try to take as much of the human element out of it as possible.

I shoot a lot of lucky13 bullets, been to their store and have seen their coating process. It's simply powder coating baked on. Very uniform, excellant projectiles.

3.6 gr of 7625 makes 137 PF under a 147gr Blue Bullet out of my XDM 5.25 at 1.135 OAL. If I were you I would start at 3.4 or 3.5 gr and work up a tenth at a time. 7625 for me works more consistently on the higher end of load data but even then I don't get super low SD's. It does shoot clean, soft, and accurate though.

I noticed she has a big squint when closing her nondominant eye, shooting like that for a while may give her a headache. Try putting a small strip of frosted tape on her shooting glasses on the nondominant eye where it lines up with the sights. Still gives you most of your vision when shooting but has the same effect on the front sight as when closing one eye. All in all I think she is doing great.

denw, I use to run 3.4gr titegroup under 147gr coated lead @ 1.145 OAL, ave 969 FPS~142 PF out of my XDM 5.25 with absolutely no pressure signs at all, so I think you have some room there. Regular lubed lead runs a little faster than coated so you will probably need 3.1-3.2 to get to 130 PF out of your Sig. Just work upward carefully, in no more than .2 increments and watch for pressure signs.

I prefer 147gr for two reasons. I seem to get the best accuracy out of 147gr lead (coated or not) over the other two, and loaded to minor power factor my sights barely move off target. I tried two different manufacturers sample packs of 135gr coated lead but just couldnt get a load I was happy with accuracy wise, they shot plenty soft though.

Though I dont load 40 major, Clay Dot and e3 give me a very similar recoil feel in 9mm and 45acp loads with maybe a slight edge to Clay Dot. If it makes any difference Clay Dot seems to meter much better for me using a lee Pro auto disk in smaller charges. I like e3 but now that I have tried Clay Dot I would gladly trade my e3 for it pound for pound and when its time to buy more I will be going with Clay Dot.

Both Midway and Grafs have the Hornady Ammo plant for $999, with free shipping I think, and Midway is throwing in a few extra goodies to sweeten up the deal.

I have shot thousands of them. They have about the most uniform coating of all the coated bullets I have used. Mainly run their 100gr SWC 9mm in steel challenge but have tried their 147 and 135 gr 9mm as well and I like them too. Plan to try a sample pack of their 160gr next time I order.

I just got some bullseye to try out and 147gr lead was what I tried it in. It was very soft shooting and seems as accurate as any other powder I have used. My usual powder is titegroup or sr7625 and I would have no trouble switching to bullseye if needed. First load was 2.7gr, Lucky13 147gr LRN, 1.135OAL. Min FPS-823, Max FPS-854, Ave FPS-841, Standard Dev-9.3, Ave PF-123.6 2nd load was 3.0gr, Lucky13 147gr LRN, 1.135 OAL. Min FPS-870, Max FPS-903, Ave FPS-891, Standard Dev-9.6, Ave PF-130.9 3rd load was 3.0gr, Lucky13 powder coated 147gr LRN, 1.135 OAL. Min FPS-866, Max FPS-898, Ave FPS-878, Standard Dev-10.8, Ave PF-129.0 This was shot out of my XDM 5.25

I believe the main reason casters are offering the no lube ring option for the coated lead is because it is easier for them to apply the coating. The added bearing surface may aid in accuracy a little but I imagine it would be hard to tell much difference. I have shot some non-lube ring rounds in 45 but cant see any difference in accuracy.

I voted WSP, mostly because they seat in my press much easier than CCI for me, but Ive never had any problems with either of them going bang, even with the reduced power spriker spring in my XDM. For what its worth I believe Federal has the reputation of going bang when nothing else will.

I have been wanting to have a squib rod in my range bag for a while now but have never gotten around to getting one. Recently I decided to slug the bore of a couple of my guns and decided I needed one for that. Went to Lowes, got a 5/16 wooden dowel, either maple or oak, cant remember, but it came 36" long. Cut it into 8" sections, worked great for slugging, now I have extras. Cost was $1.04 plus tax, spent more in gas to go get it.

4.9 gr Titegroup under a cast lead 155gr SWC averages 869 FPS~134 PF out of my HK USP Expert and easily shoots 2" groups at 25 yds. You can't imagine how soft this is. Even functions the gun, however the HK comes with a variable weight recoil spring and I'm sure that's why.

You may want to try a sample pack of Ibejiheads coated lead bullets. Out of all the coated lead bullets I have tried, and I have probably tried just about all of them by now, they have the thickest most uniform coating I have seen.

My steel challenge load is 3.4gr titegroup under a 100gr Ibejiheads SWC at 1.04OAL. It functions fine in my 5.25 XDM with a reduced power 14lb spring and reduced power striker spring(PRP trigger). Even locks the slide back on last round. It has almost no felt recoil.

I run a 14 lb recoil spring in my 5.25 along with a PRP trigger kit that includes a reduced power striker spring. That setup definately cuts the recoil dip effect I had prior and when shooting heavy bullets over a light charge of fast powder it shoots incredibly flat. If you don't like the 16lb spring and want to go lighter you may need to change striker springs to keep the gun functioning properly.

I go to a 25yd indoor range and rest my arms on the lane shelf. Not optimal but works pretty good.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. Got a little feedback from my first load tests. The best accuracy was 4.9gr Titegroup out of my H&K with the Lucky13 cast bullet. The next best loads were 4.7gr Solo 1000 under the SNS coated also out of the H&K, and then 4.1gr Clay Dot under the Missouri coated out of the 1911. 4.9gr Titegroup, 8 shot group at 25yds, arms supported on a bench. 4.7gr solo 1000, 8 shot group 25 yds, arms supported on a bench. 4.1 Clay dot, 8 shot group 25yds arms supported on a bench.

Im looking for the most accurate load data for a 200gr SWC, shooting out of a 5" 1911 and a USP Expert. I spend most of my load development spare time messing with 9mm since that is the caliber I shoot in competitions, my .45 loads have been pretty accurate but since I dont spend a lot of time tweeking them I was hoping to tap some of the knowledge here. Im looking for the most accuracy possible without regard to power factor, or anything else for that matter. I have lead 200 SWC, coated SNS 200 SWC and coated Missouri bullseye 200 SWC for projectiles. For powder I have on hand to experiment with, Titegroup, e3, 231, SR7625, PB, clay dot(suppose to be clays equal), and solo 1000. Looking for 25yd accuracy up to 50yds. Any help is appreciated.

Definately get yourself some faster powder and heavier bullets. Look for some titegroup, solo1000, e3, PB, or some medium fast burners like 231 or SR7625 would be better than what you have been using. The softest feeling load I shoot is 2.85gr of titegroup under a 150gr Bayou SWC, it is rediculously soft and makes a 134 PF, pretty accurate as well. Also 3.3gr Solo1000 under the same bullet is almost as soft at the same PF. Other very soft loads I like are 3.4gr titegroup or 3.3gr e3 under a 135 Bayou or Ibejihead RN, make about 135PF, 3.4gr SR7625 under a Lucky13 147gr LRN shoots a very soft 130PF and is very accurate. 3.77gr SR7625 under a 125gr MBC SWC makes a soft 125PF. A super soft steel challenge load I shoot is 3.4gr titegroup under a 100gr Ibejihead SWC at 1.04OAL, very accurate, only makes a 109PF and you will need reduced powder recoil springs for function, but it is like shooting a .22.

My steel challenge load is a coated 100 gr SWC ibejihead over 3.4 gr titegroup, makes a 109 PF. Hard to get much more minor than that, it runs clean with no smoke and is very accurate.

I shoot coated lead 100% of the time, mostly over titegroup. If there is any smoke I don't notice it, and I shoot indoors a fair amount also.