RandyLahey

update: I don't have my chrono yet; so this is all off the cuff, seat of the pants information. 4.7gr GD with following bullets 165gr Xtreme plated at 1.25 COL: shot best with super light crimp(go figure lol). Seems snappy but still easy follow up. Guessing mid 900's to low 1000's FPS: will verify once Chrono hits here. Not super high load, but for target, plenty of pep, good practice and not a waste of supplies. Good accuracy at least in initial testing. 180gr BBI coated bullets. These are the first coated bullets I've used. Initial impressions were ok. Some coating scuffed off, showing some traces of lead. This was more towards the nose, so I wasn't super duper worried, but at the same time, I was concerned that abrasions to the bullet in other areas could expose me to leading. That said, I saw no lead exposed at the area of the bullet the shell would contact. Same powder load at 4.7 gr. This load produces better accuracy. Less snap, but more PUSH from the recoil, but overall slightly more pleasant to shoot vs the 165 gr xtreme. If I had either on hand I wouldn't sweat it, but when ordering again, I'll go the 180's. I'm waiting on some 180 Xtreme's to show up for testing, so I'll be able to compare to these. I have no affiliation with either company, so for me it's about what performs. Prices to me are similar enough to be a wash. So far, I'm not sure if my Xtreme 165's might need a bit more powder to push them a bit faster to give better accuracy. I'll admit though, my crimp has been a work in progress and my later shells really worked that down to the least amount needed, which did show good improvement in accuracy. So I think I'll work more on the 165's at the same powder charge and the lesser crimp to see if I can get away with the 4.7gr charge and be as accurate as the 180 gr BBI at 4.7gr. Logic would tell me 4.8-4.9gr would be needed to give me the fps push to get me near the 180 performance. Maybe more, but you see where I'm headed. Anyway, just a note for the journal here .

I'm lazy and have thought of adding a Lee pro 1000 or another Loadmaster for decapping duty. The included case feeder works very well for pistol with some initial setup debugging. If/when I start wet tumbling I probably will do what I mentioned as part of the appeal of wet tumbling is getting those primer pockets squeaky clean. And it's not just the Dillon's that get grimey. My Loadmaster gets bitchy when dirty and more priming issues. If I could keep that press clean, it would be a lot nicer to run.

Agreed, the Lee Classic turret is what I started on. I can make about 100-150 rnds/hr pretty easy if I'm practiced on that machine. I just started working up some 40SW on it, and I haven't used it for a good 6 mos or so. I'm a bit rusty in using it again so my rate is lower. When it was my only press I could probably do nearly 200/hr on it, but that was really cranking and not really relaxing/fun.

yeah I think with 124's which I run BTW you are too long. 1.145 will probably work, but I think I run 1.130-1.135 and my accuracy seems decent, except for an occasional flier, which I don't think is COL related but more just a bad bullet etc....

I and to adjust my stock, old version trigger bar when I put in an apex poly trigger and fss kit, as well as adjust the medial tension so I could get a reset in the trigger. At one point I had adjusted too far and got the break, no reset, and no over travel. As I dialed it back I got the break, and reset, with too zero over travel. Having just watched the apex video and the guy on the vid explained you want just a tiny bit of over travel. I forget the rationale, but there was a good reason to have just a wee bit in there. So I kept adjusting until I got everything dialed in.

Interesting. Topic. I have no knowledge but will tag along for info.

Talcum? Sorry. Few beers into the evening and I think I'm funny

My LnL AP is headed back to hornady. I just can't get the indexing 100% sorted out. I can get it almost good, but one statiiy on shell plate will act up and cause it it index off a bit causing priming issues. I was close to selling it and getting a Dillon 650, but I'll see how it is when I get it back and if its gtg I'll get a cse feeder setup and rock on. If not, I'll sell it and go blue. Hell, I had less problems getting my Lee load master running lol. Frustrating. That said, the hornady reps have been great to work with and I'm hopeful they will get the press sorted out

I don't shoot competition yet. I think I had 4.4-4.6gr or so of the american select over a 165gr xtreme rnfp bullet and it seemed to shoot well. Was just a plinking load, until my powder order came in. I'll now use green dot at about the same weight and work up a bit. I'm also going to try 180gr xtreme, BBI, and some cast lead 180 to see what the gun likes. I too like AS for 9mm, shoots softish and fairly clean.

Great! thx for that info. I'll pick some up next time I come across it . For the $ I think it'll be hard to beat for plinking unless I really fall in love with green dot, which is about 20% more cost per 8lb jug. American select works well too FYI, but is more towards the green dot pricing.

thx for the data. I have 9lbs of BE-86 I got along with some power pistol and green dot(for practice). Guessing off of the burn charts I would have imagined the load would be a bit higher than you have, but the velocities you're getting for 147's isn't shabby at your load. I have some older Alliant manuals and they show max charge at 5.1gr using a 147gr bullet and 1020fps so I think you're doing well

WST as I'm cheap. If that store sold me a winning lottery ticket then the VV N320 just b/c everyone says it's the bee's knees. I'll be using power pistol just b/c it's the only higher "power" powder I could find to order. I also got some BE-86 but the PP should get a few more fps. Hell you could probably do it with many powders, just depends on how much you want to hunt for powder, and how much your willing to experiment with loads. I hear you can make major with Green dot, although I wouldn't be brave enough to push it that far, given my experience or lack thereof. Sorry if I'm too noobie to give a legit comment, but wanted to add my 2cents anyway

I'm a whore I guess. I like playing with different toys since my wife doesn't let me play with other women

was wondering this myself. I've heard also that the factory 9mm barrel fits a bit "loose" in the 40 slide(at least on the Full size model) but whether that really dramatically effects accuracy I didn't know. My personal 2 cents is that it's probably a wash between a factory 9mm barrel in a 40 slide and a true factory 9mm pro. I think the benefit of the conversion barrels is that you are getting a better grade barrel, or at least are PAYING to get a better grade barrel, and hence should see somewhat better accuracy.

JMorris, WOW, I'm so jealous of your presses AND your benches. Nice work. I bow down sir

AusPPC thx for that reply. I've got a new LnL AP and have had a TON of problems with indexing and priming with it; due to the index issues. Otherwise, I would like the press :/. With the inline fab handle it's ridiculous how easy it is to operate compared to my Lee loadmaster which tbh I prefer over the LnL again due to the issues listed. I've adjusted the pawls, the detents etc... Called Hornady on a couple occasions which they were great and patient btw, so it looks like I'll need to send my press back, as they were worried about a tolerance issue in the carrier, but probably are just being nice and thinking I'm screwing things up; which could very well be true. Then again, in my defense, if I can tune a Loadmaster to run 99% reliable, I should be able to get any other press to work with the same or less effort I'm here smurfing the blue forum as I was considering just chucking the AP for sale after I get it back, and getting a 650 or maybe even a 1050. I think I'll send the LnL back, and hopefully it gets sorted out. I don't want to buy a case feeder for it in it's present state as I'm not sure I'm going to keep it. I guess what I'm really trying to say is I wish the 650 and LnL could have a baby and sort the small issues each has out. I feel the Dillion is overall superior, but there were features the LnL had that I wanted more at the time and between the slight savings in price and the bullet rebate they got me. Maybe I'll end up liking the LnL, dedicate that to 40SW, use my Loadmaster for 9mm, and then maybe I SHOULD buy a 1050T for rifle which I HATE TO RELOAD due to all the extra work; I mean I need to bee fair to Dillon ; that's logical reasoning right lol. I think I need to stay off the forums lol, I get press envy too easily.

I almost bought some promo but I was overweight on my powder order my buddy and I put in, and that was the one powder I was most unsure of; so I had to drop it from my order I agree it seems very interesting, especially for the price. What I couldn't find data on was how it meters and how bulky it is, specifically how much case fill you get with the drop. I know it's a denser weight vs red dot, but having never used red dot before I have no point of reference. I like powders that give me at least 1/2 case fill give or take as I don't want a KABOOM from a double charge. PS on the squib, could you tell when fired that it was a squib or no? I've never had a squib and worry about them . I did pick up some green dot which is a bit slower than promo and I thought more appropriate for 9mm/40SW that I'd primarily use it for. I've been very happy with American select which is a faster powder, so maybe I'm overthinking it too much

My first M&P was a new FS 9mm bought from PSA last November or so. I really enjoyed the gun and it seemed reasonably accurate. After putiing an apex fss and polymer trigger kit in, the gun was unleased into a beast. Really fell in love with it at that point, as I could be reasonably accurate given my skill level. While browsing slick guns one night, I happened upon the buds police trade 40's. On a whim I ordered one not really expecting to enjoy shooting it that much, as I had always been "told" that 40's are hard to control. But, being hard headed, and needing to "know for myself" how good or bad the 40 was, after all there IS quite a following for the 40cal SW; I ordered it. The 40 I received was an older model with the super crappy trigger but the night sights work and even with the craptastic trigger, I really enjoyed shooting it. Frankly it seemed more accurate than my 9mm but yes it did have more recoil but follow up shots weren't horrible and I'm no speed shooter. I must admit, the extra power was kind of a rush, adolescent thrill seeking maybe??? After putting on an Apex kit and various bits to get that to work, modding the trigger bar etc, I think the 40 is now my favorite pistol. Am I nuts? 9mm is easier for me to reload at this point just due to how my presses are setup at this point. Maybe its just the newness factor as well. Maybe in part I need to bump up my mousefart loads in the 9mm as during drills at our local club I was having issues turning the steel on one of the trees, whereas the 40 just laughs at the challenge. So to as not neglect the 9 I have new sights to put on once my sight tool comes in and I got some new powders to play with ! Now I'm considering a pro 5" model, but honestly I don't need one, but need and want battle often and want seems to bully need into submission in most cases. If I get a pro, I'm leaning towards the 40 and ,maybe picking up a conversion barrel for 9mm to get to shoot both. Just wondering if anyone has had similar findings or maybe you had the opposite reaction? Just curious I guess.

Wtf is up with manufacturer's anymore. Seems to be a policy like insurance companies to put up so many roadblocks to getting what a person deserves that most will just give up and either sell/stop using the product or just live with the defect. S&W is supposed to have great service? This speaks volumes about management of the service department and how they are cutting budgets. Odd since this is a premium gun from a premium brand that you should need three attempts to fix a simple issue.

Nice score.

Just ordered some BBI 147gr 9mm and 180gr 40SW. Will compare to Xtremes and see what I think.

May I ask how the "improper adjustment" will go away? I'm newer at reloading, but to my knowledge. the resizing die gets bottomed out to the shell plate/holder and that's as far as it will go. I have a similar ring, although not quite as apparent. Just wanting to make sure I'm not overlooking something. I'm not lubing brass fyi, at least not yet.

Got a chance to test a few rounds today in the backyard. Just shooting into a dirt bank so no accuracy testing. 165gr xtreme rnfp bullets at 1.125 oal. 4.6-4.7 gr of green dot. Cycled fine, slide held open on last round, and spent shells eject in nice form. No presuure signed noted. No unburnt powder, seemed clean enough. I made up about 75 tonight and I'll take to the range to test accuracy etc....

For plinking I've been using 124 gr xtreme rn bullets at 1.125-1.130 and 4.2 gr of american select. Just scored some green dot, be-86, and power pistol to load some hotter rounds.

OK thx all. Someone gave me a link to older alliant data. I tried to post link but I'm too new. I'm sure a Google search would turn it up. Looks like once this cold I got gets done kicking my butt, I'll be able to load some rounds up. I got my powder and the dies and which i threw in a spare Lee classic turret head, which I'll use to work up or down my loads before production runs start. I got set of Lee carbide and hornady dies. I like to mix and match sets and when I run on the progressive I prefer the hornady seating dies with the Lee factory crimp seperate. Have a test range in back yard now so load development will be much easier. Just waiting on a chrony now. Will update when I learn more.