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Has anyone tried Ramshot ZIP to work up a load that makes USPSA Major with a 230gr bullet ? Any pluses or minuses with ZIP compared to the usual suspects (Clays, N310, N320, Titegroup etc) ?

What is your preferred powder for 230gr FMJ or JHP at about 168-170PF ? List your favorite load if you have one.

What kind of immediate improvement ? I'm a bit concerned about frame battering. As it is, with the 18.5lb spring, my shok-buff is getting cut all the way through in less than 200 rounds. I'm looking into that because I never had this problem with 230gr FMJ loads of roughly the same PF. I don't know if I got a bad spring, bad buffs, or what. But if everything checks out, I was even considering going up to a 20lb spring for that 195 PF load.

I am a small guy, but I haven't had any trouble with my elbows in over 20 years of shooting...........yet. If I do go down to the 168-170PF range, I would probably use N310 or Clays instead of the N340.

I have always used "full strength" ammo in my 45's. My current load is: Zero 230gr JHP 6.2gr N340 WLP Primer OAL=1.215" Avg. 847fps This load has a PF of about 195. I use a 18.5lb recoil spring and a Wilson Shok-buff. I am just getting started in USPSA. Would it be worth it for me to work up a lighter load, say with a PF of 170, or just stick with what I've got ? Would it be a night and day difference in felt recoil ? For 170PF, would a lighter spring be recommended (14lb ?) ?

I always use Wilson springs. I didn't stop to think that there might be something wrong with the spring. Maybe it's weaker than labelled. The cut in the buff is the horseshoe shaped cut of the spring tunnel smacking into it. It is not a circle cut which I would expect from a binding spring. On the powder selection, I was looking for something that would get me to 850 without pushing the upper limits of pressure. For example, W231 would get me there, but would probably be pushing it pressure-wise. Looking at the Viht powders, it seemed that N340 was the choice for safe 850fps loads. Is there a better choice from Vihtavuori for this ?

I have always used a 18.5 lb recoil spring and a Wilson shok buff in my CQB. With factory 230gr ball ammo, the buffs would last 900-1000 rounds. When I reload, I use a Zero 230gr JHP with 6.2gr of Vihtavuori N340 (1.21" COL). The last time I chronographed this load it averaged 847fps. So this seems to me to be a "normal" 45acp load, definitely not +P. With this reload, the shok buffs do not even last 200 rounds. The easy answer would be to go to a 20lb recoil spring, but I thought the 18.5lb springs should be more than enough for what I'm shooting. Plus, I don't know if I'd notice any undesirable shooting characteristics from the 20lb spring. Any thoughts ? Are there occasional bad batches of shok buffs ?

I don't know any better shooters than myself, not because I'm so great, but because we don't have a burgeoning shooting community here. Most of the guys I see at the range on either side of me seem to be there trying shooting for the first time just to do something different that day. If I ever notice someone shooting decent groups, I will surely ask. I've had the gun for three years and have had plenty of different brands of ammo through it, all 230gr, which is what I shoot. The gun has fixed, tritium sights on it. I tried loosening the set screw and drifting the sight with a wood dowel and hammer, but it wouldn't budge. I didn't want to go wailing on it for fear of damaging the tritium tubes in the sight. So, before I go packing it off to have this done, I was just doing a sanity check....i.e.- is it already close enough and I'm making a big deal out of nothing, or should I go ahead and get the sights adjusted ?

At 10 yards, my POI is about 1 inch high and 1 inch left of my POA. Of course there is a little variation here and there, but if I am concentrating I can usually shoot tight groups, but they are always a little high and left. I have heard that high/left can be caused by anticipating recoil. I'm not ruling it out, but if I'm doing it, I'm doing it very consistently. My real question is whether I should have the sights (fixed sights) adjusted by the manufacturer or a gunsmith, or if they are "close enough", and I am being too picky. Any thoughts or suggestions ? What is considered acceptable with respect to POI vs POA ?

My means are based on samples of 20 shots. I use Winchester primers as well. I'll have to work on my reloading technique to see if I can bring the SD's down some.

I made it out to the range today (35 deg F). I loaded a spread of loads using Zero 45acp 230gr JHP, COL=1.215", Winchester LP primers, N340 powder: 5.9gr Mean=792fps, ES=92.2, SD=29.0 6.0gr Mean=812fps, ES=75.8, SD=24.5 6.1gr Mean=807fps, ES=56.5, SD=19.4 6.2gr Mean=847fps, ES=64.3, SD=16.8 I think the 6.1 grain result is an anomaly. I sorted by headstamp this time and the 6.1gr load was almost all Remington brass. I noticed that I got lower velocities across the board with the Remington brass for some reason. If I look at just the Federal brass for the 6.1gr load, the mean is about 823, which makes more sense. These were fired from a 5" Wilson CQB with the chrono 10ft from the muzzle. Medic: FYI in the past, using 230gr Berry's Plated RN at 1.26" I got 823fps with a charge of 6.3gr of N340.

I've loaded some Zero 230gr JHP's with 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, and 6.2 grains of N340. It's going to be a while before I can get out to chronograph them.

Do any of you have chrono data for N340 loads you've tried with 230gr JHP bullets ?

I ordered a couple thousand of the Zero brand 230gr JHP's from Angus. Thanks to all for your input.

I have been loading 230gr FMJ for years. I never had a problem and accuracy has always been great. I am thinking about switching to 230gr JHP, mostly to avoid the exposed lead base without going to plated bullets. I have no experience loading 230gr JHP's . For those of you who reload both, are there any reasons to stick with one vs the other ? Do the JHP's perform about the same as FMJ ? Any concerns ? Thanks.

Thank you all for the input !

It works okay in Minor loads, but it's not the best. I don't shoot Open, so I have no idea how it works in Major loads. What are the drawbacks that make it "not the best" in 9mm minor loads ?

Anyone have any experience loading Hodgdon Longshot with 230gr bullets in 45ACP ?

Anyone have any experience loading Hodgdon Longshot in 9mm ?

5.7gr W231 over a Berry's 230gr plated RN, COL=1.26" gives me 840fps. I am working upa load with N340 as well.....6.0-6.3 gr should do it.

I just purchased a case of Remington 124gr JHP. Can anyone suggest some loads with 3N37 or N340 ? I am looking for velocities in the 1130-1180fps area, with an OAL of 1.122" in 9x19. Experience with other loads in my CZ75BSA has me thinking that 6.0gr of 3N37 will be in the ballpark. But maybe some of you have some actual data with these bullet/powder combos. Thanks.

Have any of you tried Winchester WSF powder with your 230gr FMJ or plated loads ? It seems like it would be a reasonable choice for velocities in the 850fps ballpark. Anything positive or negative to relate ? Thanks.

20 rounds on the first outing at 50 degrees. 40 rounds on the second outing at 80 degrees. SD's on both days were about 20.

Is N340 too slow a powder to use for pushing a 200gr plated SWC between 800 and 850fps ? I typically see people using much faster powders like N310, WST, or Clays for this. At that low velocity am I likely end up with unburnt powder with N340 ?

Yes, it is the same batch of powder. The rounds were even loaded the same day, just fired months apart. I do not compete. I was just trying to come up with a load that was the rough equivalent of factory 124gr ammo. I was happy with the 1130fps. The only thing I can think of that was different between the two days was the temperature and humidity. I'd be surprised if those things account for the difference in velocity, but I don't know for sure. For all I know, that's typical.