BAWunder

I've tried both .356 and .357. In MY gun the .357 works better in terms of accuracy. SA 1911 Loaded in 9mm. You may have to try both to see which your gun prefers.

Personally, I use the Metalform mags. About 10K rounds through the gun with them and never had a feeding issue, ever.

I have your exact gun. My go to load (for IDPA) is 3.2 of TG under 147gr extremes at OAL of 1.135.

Really? OK, well, google "waiting on the slide 147 9mm". If your splits are in .20s+ you likey won't notice. Below that, well, give it a try and see.

Generally 115s feel "snappy" while 147s feel more like a push. For newer shooters that push is preferred because the perceived recoil is less. As Jack pointed out, higher level shooters generally don't run 147s because then they run into the situation where they are "waiting for the gun" meaning they are waiting on the slide to cycle before they can get off their next shot. I know that may sound crazy, but it is true once you get to a certain point. With a lot more powder in a 115 (vs a 147) you generally aren't waiting for the slide. 124s, and more often than not 135s, are the preferred choice because they aren't as snappy and you aren't waiting on the gun as you may be with a 147.

Why not give it a tumble? It isn't like it is any work. Your dies will thank you for not running all that power reside, dirt, grit, and who knows what from the range through them.

Excellent job explaining things ID! One thing I'd like to throw out there is in regards to SD. When I started working up loads one if my focus points was getting the lowest, most consistent SDs possible. One day I was checking out 3.2gr of TG under 147gr Xtreme RN. The SD was absolutely horrible. Thought to myself I likely won't be using THOSE loads. However, after I chrono a load then I test for accuracy. MUCH to my surprise my accuracy tests showed it was one of, if not the most accurate load (in my 1911 Loaded) I'd ever put together. Needless to say, I've been using that load ever since in my IDPA matches. Moral of the story, SD may help shed light on the promise of a load, but it isn't the whole story. Always test for accuracy. You might be surprised. Certainly don't use it as the holy grail.

Yup, just ordered 16# of TG...WooooooHOOOOO!

I use .357 147s in my SA 1911-work great and have the best accuracy between .355s, .356s and .357s.

Oh, and on the retyping issue I'm not sure if the chrono you are using is your own if it you are looking at buying one. If you are buying one I'd suggest getting something like the Caldwell. I've been really happy with mine and the smart phone app is awesome. Nice to be able to email myself the results that I can then copy/paste into my reloading log.

Personally, I'd run all those loads again but shoot at targets to get a sense of accuracy. The holy grail for many reloaders is to get the lowest possible variance in SD, ES etc. Was mine too till I realized one of my crappiest loads from a consistency point of view was also the most accurate. At that point I decided I'm not going obsess about consistency. After all the whole point of shooting at something is to hit it, right?

I just find it funny they continue to send out alert emails hours after they no longer have product. Just got one for Unique as well.

Went to Midway about an hour after you posted and they were already out. THEN about 10 minutes ago I got an email from Midway that BE was available! Of course it isn't. LOL

Thanks, good to know. Why is it then people are so focused on SD?

I think the prevailing wisdom is that you want to strive for a low SD. The idea being that the more consistent the round, the more accurate. I was testing out a new load (for me anyway) of 3.2 TG/147 Xtreme. The SD was one of the highest I recall getting, somewhere in the order of 55ish. And yet from an accuracy perspective, it was one of the best I've ever loaded. So now I'm questioning whether I should even give a rats butt about SDs. What are your experiences and observations? BW

.030 variance seems like a lot to me. As long as it still chambers I'd think it would be fine. My concern would be, what it if it goes the other way? A round at .085 would not be a good thing. On my Lee I see a variance of .001 to .003 and it reminds me to try and exert the same pressure on the seating station.

What kind of load data are you using? All I have is VV320 but the VV site doesn't show any data for 320/147.

Hey HPJ. I just started doing some IDPA events. PF comes into play but our local events are pretty low key (100-130 shooters) and I've never even seen them check PFs. I suspect at bigger events, like the regional coming up this fall they will, but I'm sooooo far away from competing in something like that. So what I'm understanding is that if I stick to the book listings for loads I don't really need to be overly concerned about chronoing my loads. But if I want to either 1) make sure I'm making a specific PF or 2) loading for major PFs I really should be using a chrono. Fair statement? Thanks again everyone... Oh, and what am I shooting? For the first two matches I used my old Ruger P85. I just picked up a SA 1911 Loaded in 9MM and that's what I'll be using going forward.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Another question, when you work up a load, how many rounds of each load do you chrono? 10? 50? more??

Just got back to reloading after a 20+ years absence. Back in the day I just bought a few manuals, read them cover to cover (multiple times) and gave it a whirl. Back then there wasn't such a thing as the Internet, well, not like it is now...anyone remember Compuserve? LOL Never had any "incidents" so I thought I knew what I was doing. Now that I'm getting back into it I've picked up several manuals and have been pouring over the various forums (this one is excellent BTW!). One thing that comes up over and over again is how many folks say you REALLY need to have a chrono. I get that a chrono will give you velocities of your rounds and will help you identify loads with the lowest SD, which theoretically translate into more accurate loads (or so I understand). Here is the part I don't understand. Folks have said that a chrono will help you from a safety perspective as well. How is that exactly? I didn't think there is a direct relationship between velocity and pressure. Since it is the pressure that will blow up your gun, and perhaps yourself, how does having a chrono make you safer? Thanks for any and all replies... Brad

That would be Doug Fetterly from Fetterly Powder and Optics. Best way to find him is to go to CalGuns.net and search by his last name. This is his current VV inventory..... Oh, and he ships. $ Quan Viht n310............1lb..........$34.89.........33 Viht n310............4lb..........$123.00........4 Viht n320............1lb..........$34.89..........12 Viht n320............4lb.........$123.00.........4 Viht.n340............1lb..........$34.89.......... 29 Viht n340............4lb..........$123.00........2 Viht 3n37............1lb..........$34.89..........39 Viht 3n37............4lb..........$123.00........2 Viht n135............1lb..........$34.89..........2 Viht n140............1lb...........$34.89.........0

Thanks Cowboy. Managed to pick up one 8 pounder (tried to leave some for the next guy) before they sold out. Now if I could just get my hands on some 231/Bullseye/Unique!