neckbone

Does this apply to IDPA? What is gained with major PF?

Being new to the sport and not knowing better, I chose to shot a 9mm; which is fine for me. Why do others shoot .40 & .45 calipers? Wouldn't 9mm be easier to control in rapid fire (target acquisition)?

If you use anything else but the Inline Skylight, you are just dancing around the problem. It works !!

I loaded 47 rounds of 115 gr plated over 5.2 grs Unique as a test. I wanted to verify mid 1,100's fps before loading a bucket full. The 47 rounds were fired in 5 shot groups over the chrony in about 20 minutes. The first groups were right in there at 1,150 to 1,165 fps. At the end velocities dropped off to 1,115 avg's with some rounds breaking under 1,100. The total spread range of the 5 shot groups was 43 to 78 fps. This is with a Glock 34. This is due to the barrel heating up, but caught me by surprise. Is this a normal pistol thing?

Well stated and understood. It would seem that the culprit is brass build up which I overcome with wax-lube. Removing the brass with Scotchbrite would be better. Thanks.

Sounds like a good approach, Sarge. The piece is most likely hardened SS which means sand paper will have a tough time. Stone is usually the go-to for taking down hardened metal. I'm not sure I would want to remove that much material. I might try silicone grit paper and then a bore lapping compound to bring up a shine. Something like osso (sp?). It's a shame there are no carbide replacements.

I have a lot of trouble with the expander sticking in case mouths (9mm). Die wax applied lightly to the tool helps, but grains of powder like to stick to it afterwards. Is there an after market carbite expander that could be fitted to the die? I would think that would fix the problem.

I'm new to loading 9mm and think I have a decent load for IDPA.. 5.05 grs Unique (about 3/16 below case mouth). Plated RMR 115 gr round nose bullet. AOL = 1.140" Cronograph reads on 5 shot groups; 1,163 fps avg w/ 58 fps spread 1,153 fos avg w/ 30 fps spread 1,140 fps avg w/ 90 fps spread. Power factor above 130,000 Accuracy was very good at 10 yds. Primers looked ok. No over pressure signs, but the edges had the roundness filled in some. The spread looks less than desired, which could be the Dillon 550 powder measure variations. Is it true that plated bullets need to be kept below 1,200 fps? Or, are they ok to load to jacketed bullet data?

This was something I didn't realize in rifle reloading. Why is it true with pistol?