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Some semi-autos have trouble feeding the 200gr round nose flat point. Some Euro guns can gag on 200gr semi-wadcutters. Other guns will feed them but the OAL has to be perfect. For consistent feeding in an autoloader, you should try the 200gr round nose semi-wadcutter. I've never had a FTF in my 1911 or my CZ-97 with these bullets. Here is a picture from the SNS Casting site: http://www.snscasting.com/45-acp-200-grain-round-nose-500ct/ Which is more accurate in your gun? Who knows? Remember, IPSC isn't Bullseye and either one will be accurate enough if you do your job. Go with the most reliable.

The Missouri Bullet 200gr rnfp leaded my SW625 worse than any other bullet I have ever used in that revolver. I used them for practice when 200gr round nose bullets were not available. I used 4.8gr American Select and Federal LP primers.. I attribute the problem to the narrow bearing surface and whatever lube they use. I will try the remaining ones in my CZ97. I hope they will feed OK in a semi-auto. Chris .

Vithavouri N-310 is excellent, if you can find any.

Your averages are consistent with mine using Universal in 9mm. I have used Montana Gold 124gr and Zero 124gr FMJ bullets. However, your extreme spreads are much higher than what I got with my FMJ bullets. I use a Lee "U-die" resizing die which sizes the case mouth a little smaller than usual and, I think, gives better neck tension and more consistent combustion of the powder charge. That's the theory anyway. IIRC, the Frontier bullets are plated hard-cast. These might work better with the Lee U-die than soft-lead plated bullets that would likely swage to a smaller diameter and possibly affect accuracy. 4.6 gr of Universal under either the Montana Gold or Zero 124gr FMJ is what I use if Titegroup is not available. Universal works quite well in 9mm 115 and 124gr bullets. It burns cooler than Titegroup, burns clean, and isn't too loud. The felt recoil between 4.1gr Titegoup and the 4.6 gr. Universal powder charges is minimal. Universal is much more suitable to 9mm than "straight Clays" which is much too fast for high pressure loads in small cases at 130+ power factor. Some folks here, including "Cocobolo" have used Clays in 9mm and said that the groups looked more like shotgun patterns. YMMV. Chris

Vithavouri's products are well respected, command a premium price, and fly off the shelves. It would make absolutely no business sense for another business to buy Vihtavouri and then stop production of its popular and money-making products. Your source may need to get better information.

While 115gr bullets are not the preferred option in 9mm minor, I used a few hundred 115gr Hornady XTPs over 4.4gr Titegroup in my CZ 85. The average velocity was around 1,130 fps with low SDs. The load seemed accurate enough, but the recoil was bit sharper than with slower powders. My favorite powder with 115gr 9mm is Winchester Super Field. XTPs run a little slower than other 9mm bullets due to the longer bearing surface and brass jackets. At least you have found some Titegroup. I haven't seen any around here or through online vendors for nearly a year. Next to Vithavouri N-320, it is my favorite powder with 9mm 124gr and 147gr FMJ bulets. Chris

Use your fingers to load your moonclips with .45 acp. Hold the pad of your thumb on the rim of the cartridge opposite the opening of the moonclip. Hold the lower part of the pad of your index finger on the other side of the carridge opposite the thumb. The side of your index finger should just touch the side of the moonclip. Rotate the cartrige between your thumb and index finger as you apply light inward pressure with the pad of your thumb. Rotating the cartridge counter-clockwise as you push is what makes it easy. I can load a moonclip this way in about 12 -15 seconds if I don't hurry. Chris

The 2004 Alliant Manual listed 4.0gr as the max for a "Target" load with a 230gr LRN. That load was at 13,900 psi (OAL no stated) so there is leeway for a bigger charge. I suspect that 4.5 gr Bullseye will work, but be sure to chrono your loads before a big match. Identical loads shot in different revolvers can result in widely-varied velocities.

I use 4.6 to 4.7gr American Select under a 200gr Lead SWC in both my 1911 and CZ 97b. Both get around 850-to 875 fps. The 2004 Alliant Reloading Manual says that 5.4 gr American Slect would be the maximum load with that bullet. The same manual also lists 4.9gr as the maximum load with a 230gr Jacketed Hollow Point. I use 4.4gr American Select under a 230gr Zero FMJ in my 1911 to easily make major PF.

What is a Ruger 608 cylinder? Are you referring to a cylinder from the Taurus 608 8-shot revolver? The Taurus 608 is advertised as 'large frame" .357 revolver, probably similar in size to a SW627. It is highly unlikely that the 608 cylinder would fit the "medium frame" GP-100. In addition, the cylinder stop on the GP-100 is placed so the notches in the cylinder are between the chambers. If I remember correctly, the cylinder notches on the Taurus are right underneath the chambers, much like SW revolvers. If the cylinder and cylinder stop were somehow compatible, you would still have to modify the internal parts as well. Since Ruger doesn't sell an 8 shot double action revolver, I think your idea should be considered "mission impossible". If your GP-100 has 4.2 inch barrel or less, get some Safariland Comp II or Comp III speedloaders, reload some .38 spl round nose ammo, and fire away in IDPA. On the other hand, you can get your GP-100 cylinder cut for moonclips (TK Custom), load up some .357 magnum round nose bullets, stick them in moonclips, and shoot USPSA revolver major power factor. Friends, fellow shooters,and onlookers alike will marvel at your ability to shoot a complete match with .357 magnums without developing a flinch or bloody hands. Chris

I don't shoot much lead or moly-coated lead in my CZ85, but when I have, I found that the barrel got dirty fairly quickly. I cleaned it after every range session and never saw much leading, although there was a little lead left behind. On the other hand, I shoot lead and moly coated lead all the time in my CZ-97 (45 acp) and the bore never gets dirty and has never had leading. Same with my STI 1911 in 45 acp. Why is this? Here are some possibilities. 1. The CZ 75 / 85 barrel has a faster rate of twist (1-9") than the .45s (1-12").. This makes the bullet rotate faster and may put more stress on the bullet surface. 2. The 9mm operates at higher pressures than the 45 acp. This may put more stress on the base of the bullet. 3. The 9mm has higher muzzle velocity, even with 147gr bullets, than the 45s, possibly creating more friction on the bearing surface of the bullet. 4. The CZ 75 / 85 has deeper rifling than the CZ 97. I'm not sure how this affects leading. Anyway, just buy some copper Chore Boys and wrap some strands around an undersized brass brush. Wet the barrel with some lead solvent and pull the brush through a few times after each range session. Chris

I called Hodgdon and asked about W-231 and 147 bullets in 9mm. They said that they did not provide data for this combination because the load would be compressed with any useable powder charge of W-231. Since it is a "ball" powder, they don't recommend any compressed loads with it. Chris

After years of loading pistol rounds, I'm setting up my AT-500 for .223. I use a RCBS Uniflow and ordered a powder die from Dillon along with the three die set. When making the order, I explained that I needed a powder die and that I would be using the Uniflow measure instead of a Dillon measure. The "sleeve" or "insert" for the powder die is 1.97" long and is stamped "A". Unlike the sleeves on pistol powder dies which are secured to the die body with an Allen set screw, the .223 powder die insert is not secured to the die body and "floats" up until it hits the base of the Uniflow powder measure. I assume that you charge the case when the sleeve is fully up. Is this the way it is supposed to work? Thanks for any advice. Chris

All three powders work with 9mm. WSF may not have the lightest recoil impulse but it can be very accurate with 9mm FMJ 115 and 124gr bullets. It behaves very well at the velocities needed to make 130 -135 PF. Some even use 4.0gr WSF under 147gr 9mm bullets. It also meters very well. Chris

3.3gr Titegroup is a good place to start with any 147gr jacketed bullet. I load all my FMJ loads fairly long in my CZ 85c. The truncated cone bullets have usually have to be loaded short because of their shape. Chris

With the SRT, the trigger seemed a little close to me, although I have pretty big hands; does anyone know if the CZ 85 Combat Original has less or more reach than the 97B trigger?. CZ 85 Combat - Trigger reach double action = 3 1/8", single action = 2 7/8". Grip circumference just below trigger guard w/Hogue "finger-groove" rubber grips = approx 6 1/4" CZ 97b Trigger reach double action = 3 1/4", single action 2 15/16". Grip circumference just below trigger guard with factory wood grips = 6 3/8". I have fairly large, thin hands with long fingers. Although the dimensions of the two guns are fairly close, the 97b "seems" like a much bigger gun to me. Enjoy your new CZ! Chris

I'm thinking about converting one of my 625s to a 4" barrel for IDPA purposes. But first a few questions: Does an IDPA revolver shooter have to retain a moonclip that has unused rounds? (It seems silly to retain a moonclip that has rounds that have been shot because it would be very difficult to put it back into the cylinder.) If so, doesn't that make weak hand reloads with moonclips virtually impossible to do? Do SOs holler at revolver shooters if the muzzle points above the top of the berm while the cylinder is open during a reload? Thanks, Chris

Where did you find the Bear Creek Bullets? Their website is down and they never answer the phone. I need to replenish my supply. IMHO, WSF is too slow for most .45acp applications. The only time I used it I got very high extreme spreads (over 100 fps) and nothing special as far as accuracy. Since you are using moly coated lead bullets, I suggest you try something other than Titegroup as it burns very hot and causes a lot of smoke with any lead bullet. Some complain of more leading with Titegroup and lead bullets but that hasn't been my experience. If you are shooting a 230gr bullet, the standard load would be between 3.7 and 4.0gr Clays or Vithavouri N-310. If you are shooting a 200gr, you might be able to make major with a maximum book load of Clay, but you might fall short. Other good powders with the 200gr are WST, American Select (my favorite), or Solo 1000. All three are medium-fast powders that work well with lead bullets. Good luck with your Bear Creek bullets. Chris

Is Bear Creek still in existence? Their website is gone and phone calls are never answered. I need to replenish my supply of .45acp bullets. Chris

5.2 to 5.3gr WSF with a 115gr Montana Gold FML and 4.8 to 4.9gr WSF with 124gr FMJ were both fine loads. These may have had a bit more recoil that "gamer" loads with Titegroup, N-320, or the like, but they accurate, clean and about in the middle of the recommended load range for those bullets.

Where did you find Frontier plated bullets? Their 9mm bullets worked well in my CZ when FMJ bullets were in short supply. Their .45acp 230gr round nose were also a very good revolver bullet. The standard load with Titegroup and 147gr bullets is 3.0 to 3.4gr. I used 3.3 gr of N-320 with 147gr Frontiers that were load quite short and had good (but not very good) accuracy. Chris

230gr Billy Bullet with 3.8gr N-310 easily made 170 PF in both my 5" Model of 1983 and my 5" Model of 1988. Chris

This man's skills are remarkable, making him a giant among us wheelgun mortals. However, he didn't have to extract any empty rounds, That little chore might have brought him up to 2.00 seconds. Still impressive, though.

I think Jammer 1911 meant to say 3.6gr Clays under the 230gr lead RN bullet. The maximum book load for Clay's with a 230gr lead bullet is 4.0 gr. Chris

I've shot my CZ 85 Combat in Production over the years and it is my favorite pistol of any caliber. It's extremely reliable and fairly accurate after almost 10,000 rounds. It has the fiber-optic front site that the LGS installed and a competition hammer and action job by CZ custom whose work is superb. The reset on the single action trigger is a bit long, but the break is crisp and light. The plastic grips were too small for me (I have quite large hands) so I use the Hogue rubber finger groove grips which a factory option when I ordered the pistol and are Production lega. The barrel gets a bit messy after shooting 50 or so hard cast lead bullets. I attribute this to the relatively fast rate of twist. I don't think you can go wrong by buying this pistol. Chris