TonyT

I have not used Titegroup in 45 ACP but my two favorite lead bullet loads are: 185 gr. Styar LSWCHP - 3.8 gr. HS-700x - RLP = ca. 710 fps 200 gr, Speer LSWC - 3.6 gr. Clays - RLP = ca 720 fps

I have two older Piontmans - one in 45 ACP and the other with two slides & barrels 9mm & 40 S&W. Great fit and finish, wonderful triggers. reliable and accurate - what more can I say. An excellent value for the dollars spent.

My S&W M&P9Pro has been totally reliable without any malfunctions. It has the best factory trigger of any plastic framed gun I have ever shot with the possible exception of the S&W 99. I have also shot a Glock 17 and the ergonomics of the S&W line are far better for my hands.

The most popular choices are the Glock, SA XD and S&W M&P. Personally I use a S&W 99 in 9mm and you should consider using a 9mm. However, if you already load for 10mm you can easilly adjust the seating and crimping dies and use the same setup for loading 40 S&W. The only cost difference will be in the greater cost of 40 cal. bullets.

belus, I am in the Kalamazoo area. Did I meet you skeet shooting at Ben Avery either February or March? I met an individual who said that he grew up in Holland. Tony

belus, I spent the winter, Dec through March, in Fountain Hills and enjoyed the shooting scene in "The Valley". At Rio Salado I shot the Tuesday night steel every week and then all the practical pistol matches (including the 22 PPC match) on the weekends except for the Bianchi style matches (I hate diving to the ground in order to shoot). At Rio that includes several in USPSA format plus ICORE and the 22 PPC match. I also shot the Steel Challenge at Ben Avery and the ICORE, IDPA and weekly steel matches at Phoenix Rod & Gun (at south mountain). I saw the triggger job Angus did on a CZ-75 and intend to bring my CZ-75 and CZ-40 to Angus this coming December. You willhave a realcompetitive gun when Angus finsihes wirking his magic. I'm currently enjoying the shooting season here in SW MI and have to reload enough ammo for the current venues as well as for this coming winter.

They are both reliable guns.The chice will depend on the ergonomicsi n the hands of the shooter. The Glock grip is more slab-like whilethe Springfield XDM has a more contoured grip.

Iuse the 185 gr.Star LSWCHP with 3.8 gr.HS-700X and Rem 2.5 for ca 715 fps. A very soft shooting and accurate load in allmy 45's.

Try both guns out. The Glock 17 grip is a bit more slab-like then the XDM's which have replaceable grippanels. IK have sholt he Glock 17 but prefer the grip of either the S&W M&P or S&W 99. As I remembeer the Springfield XDM has a grip configuration similar to the S&W line. You can also look at the CZ line - they also have better ergonomics that the Glock in my opinion.

W-231, like all the ball powders, meters very consistently. I still use W-231 for several calibers but for jacketed bullets in 9mm I prefer a slower burning powder like WSF. I do use WST and American Select for light loads in 40 S&W and 45 ACP - both are clean burning.

I make sure that the rouimnd will chamber properly in the barrel when the barrel is removed from the gun. Otherwise no special preparation.

I believe that Clays is a bit too hot for loading 40 S&W. I have successfuklly used WST or American Selct with lead bullets at below 800 fps. Buyllets tumble for several,reasons: 1. Undersize and do not fill bore 2. Lead bullets being pushed over theeir reasonable maximums with fast burning powders like Titegroup or Clays 3. Too low a velocity to stabiulize the bullet You can decide which fits your situation.

I have never modified my Star in any way. A few turns of the srew onm top does well by me.

I have expereinced difficulty with easy seating of primers with a lot of S&B brass. Inmstead of rweaming it I use it onvce and leave it lay on the ground for someone else to pick up.

Please read the Advantage Arms instructions - they specifically advise the use of remington Golden Bullets. As much as you would like to use the federal bulk pack ammo it will not reliably cycle the AA kit. Stop moaning and use either Remington Golden Bullets or CCI MiniMags and you will not have any problems.

I have one fron the 1950's when it was really the only game in town for serious bullseye pistol shooters. I have used it also for my single shot rifle calibers. It's a great tool - ENJOY!

Thge problem with the 550 design is the use of a cotter pin for the primer chute. Replace the cotter pin with a straight part of a paer clip and your problems should be solved. Thjis advise was provided to me by a Dillon employee when I expereinced the same problem.

Titegfroup provides excellent ballistics but younhave to put up with the carbon residue on the case. It occurred with both mild and full power 9mm and 40 S&W loads. I finally stopped using Titegroup. For 45 ACP I prefer a cleaner burning fast powder such as WST, American Select, or Clays.

In my testing I have never found a plated bullet which provides bullseye level accuracy with the possible exception of the Rainier 200 gr SWC. I purchased a small quantity and tested a few loads for accuracy before giving up on the project. Here is my data: 45 ACP - 200 gr. Rainier SWC 4.1 to 4.6 gr. WST - WLP = 747 to 832 fps - 1+" groups @50ft 4.0 to 4.5 gr. American Selct - WLP = 742 to 795 fps - 1+" groups as above 4.1 to 4.5 gr. HS-700X - WLP = 705 to 762 fps - 1 inch groups at 50 ft. I used either a Pardini GT-45 ot S&W 945PC with Docter optics for testing. The lower power HS-700X proved slightly more accurate in my limited testing.

I use the inexpensive (ca $75 per 100) Ranch Products 8 shot moonclips. They work well for me with every brand case except Starline which are too loose for comfort. I find Winchester brass to be the tightest, then Remington and Federal much looser. I'll switch to Hearthco clips when the limiting factor in my performance is the nature of the moonclips. I also don't get that gut wrenching feel when one of the other competitors or an RO accidentally steps on one of my ejected moonclips - heck, it's inly 75 cents not $4!

If you were interested in the ultimate in bullseye pistol load performance at 50 yards then a Ransom rest would be the way to go. I find a pair of sandbags provides me with adequate stability out to 25 yards.

The 2/2002 VihtaVouri reloading manual lists the following in 40 S&W with a 155 gr rainier bullet: 5.3 gr. VV N-320 = 1086 fps 5.9 gr. VV N-320 = 1171 fps Hope that helps.

Direst from Metalform if you purchase a group of 40 mags.

I have used both the Remington Golden Bullet and CCI MiniMags. The CCI MiniMags have functioned flawlessly. The remington GB's have occasional FTF's. A felow shooetr was using CCI Standard Velocity packaged in paer 50 round boxes with excellent functioning but I have not tried that ammo.

The 14th Edition W-W reloading manual list the following data for 147 gr. LFP in the 9mm Luger using I assume Winchester primers: 3.3 gr. W-231 = 765 fps = 29000 psi 3.5 gr. W-231 = 905 fps = 32100 psi 3.7 gr. WSF = 905 fps = 28500 psi 4.1 gr. WSF = 965 fps = 32800 psi A number of shooters I know use the 3.5 gr. W-231 and WSP primer load with excellent results although it is listed as a maximum load. Keeping the velocity of the lead 147 gr bullet at ca 900 fps provides good accuracy.