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bkrumme

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Everything posted by bkrumme

  1. 4.6gr at 1.175 is my load. Makes major and shoots soft.
  2. I used Titegroup for a couple years, but recently switched to N320. I wouldn't be opposed to using Titegroup again. Titegroup has lower charge weights and isn't as expensive so ultimately costs less. N320 burns cleaner and cooler, and works much better with coated bullets.
  3. I still love the BBI bullets, but my team picked up Zero as a sponsor this year so I decided to try some. I haven't use them extensively yet, just worked up a load that makes major and is consistent. I will still be shooting through my stock of BBI at club matches and practice with the Zeros being my major match bullet. Our pricing is decent, so I'm not really losing much with the switch.
  4. I use the Dillon dies without much issue. Any rounds that don't case gauge go in my practice bin. It ends up being around 5% and the majority of those still shoot just fine...
  5. I shoot nothing but 200gr bullets. They are softer feeling than 180's. Since I previously shot mostly .45 in SS division, the heavier bullets felt "closer to home" for me. I've probably shot 10,000 BBI 200gr .40's in the last year. I have 2 loads that work well with BBI. I recently switched to Zero bullets but found a load rather quickly with those as well. All of these loads make major in all of my .40 cal pistols. 3.9gr Titegroup under BBI 200 at 1.18 OAL - This load is a little dirty/smoky due to Titegroup being a hot burning double base powder. It melts the Hi-Tek coating a bit. 4.3gr N320 under BBI 200 at 1.18 OAL - Feels nearly identical to the Titegroup load, but is more consistent. 4.6gr N320 under Zero 200 at 1.175 OAL - I haven't shot enough of this to know how it feels or compares to the BBI load. I just worked up the load to make major.
  6. I think you just made my life easier. I'm in process of switching to Zero bullets and have been searching for data for their 200gr bullets.
  7. Best way to start the new year...with an aggravated assault charge...
  8. The only PT grips I've ever seen with a finish on them came from Atlas. Pretty sure that's a DLC finish and tons of places to PVD/DLC.
  9. Start at 3.5gr for the 200's and 4.2gr for the 180's and work up from there.
  10. More data to go along with this since I finally had a chance to get out to the range and test more loads. None showed pressure signs. I also had the chance to try some 165gr BBI bullets which are what I would use if I went to a light bullet. As far as feel, these 155gr bullets are VERY fast. With the 200gr bullets I've been using I can see the sights lift and come back down. These are so fast they've snapped back nearly instantaneously. The 165gr bullets are nearly as fast. I'm going to load up a bunch using the bolded loads below and run them in practice and at some club matches to see how I do with them. 1. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.6gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 1064, Max Velocity: 1116, Avg Velocity: 1072, Extreme Spread: 52, Standard Deviation: 15, Avg Power Factor: 166 2. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.7gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 1059, Max Velocity: 1110, Avg Velocity: 1081, Extreme Spread: 51, Standard Deviation: 16, Avg Power Factor: 167 3. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.8gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 1062, Max Velocity: 1098, Avg Velocity: 1079, Extreme Spread: 36, Standard Deviation: 13, Avg Power Factor: 167 4. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.9gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 1076, Max Velocity: 1116, Avg Velocity: 1093, Extreme Spread: 40, Standard Deviation: 13, Avg Power Factor: 169 5. 155gr MG FMJ, 6.0gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 1098, Max Velocity: 1119, Avg Velocity: 1109, Extreme Spread: 21, Standard Deviation: 6, Avg Power Factor: 171 6. 165gr BBI RNFP, 4.6gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 933, Max Velocity: 981, Avg Velocity: 958, Extreme Spread: 48, Standard Deviation: 16, Avg Power Factor: 158 7. 165gr BBI RNFP, 4.7gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 957, Max Velocity: 994, Avg Velocity: 978, Extreme Spread: 37, Standard Deviation: 11, Avg Power Factor: 161 8. 165gr BBI RNFP, 4.8gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 976, Max Velocity: 1019, Avg Velocity: 993, Extreme Spread: 43, Standard Deviation: 15, Avg Power Factor: 163 9. 165gr BBI RNFP, 4.9gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 984, Max Velocity: 1014, Avg Velocity: 997, Extreme Spread: 30, Standard Deviation: 9, Avg Power Factor: 164 10. 165gr BBI RNFP, 5.0gr Titegroup, 1.185 OAL, Min Velocity: 1009, Max Velocity: 1058, Avg Velocity: 1026, Extreme Spread: 49, Standard Deviation: 14, Avg Power Factor: 169
  11. I'm looking for USPSA major. That's 165. I don't plan on using light bullets regularly. I just had them lying around and figured I could use them and do a little tinkering.
  12. I can always do something like that and I will to make sure the accuracy is acceptable for me, but there are still going to be variations due to grip/trigger control. Obviously I will be able to see major accuracy problems with the load even if I shoot offhand, but the results are still limited to what I am capable of. To objectively test for accuracy you need a ransom rest. That's the only way I feel the data could be of use to someone else.
  13. Yes. I'm going to load some more loaded shorter. My gun runs very well with rounds at 1.195-1.20, though so I like to keep them close to that. And I can't help it if I get picked in random draws and nobody picks up the 155gr bullets until I'm called
  14. Run what you have for now. Either one will work fine for a match. I use SportEAR M-4 Electronic muffs most of the time for shooting pistols. Much more comfortable that the Howard Leights, but they are larger and more $$ . I also have a set of their Ghost Stryke universal fit electronic plugs that work pretty well, but they are $$$
  15. Hey everyone. I've been experimenting with lighter bullets in .40 trying to make major. My latest test was with some Montana Gold 155 grain FMJs I picked up off the prize table at Battle In the Bluegrass this year. I'm experimenting to see whether I like lighter or heavier bullets better. I've shot plenty of 180s and 200s and I'm currently using 200's at matches, but noticing that the recoil feels slow. When I started using them I had been shooting Single Stack running 230gr bullets in .45 so it felt similar. I'm sharing so my tests can be of some use to others who might be searching for load data. I did notice that the 155's produced a significantly faster recoil impulse, especially when approaching major power factor. It wasn't harsh, which is good, but it did get the slide moving faster which is what I think I'm looking for. All of these were tested in my Brazos Custom Pro Series Limited gun. The barrel is a 5" Bar-Sto. All of these use the same bullet, same powder, mixed brass, CCI SP Primers, and same OAL. The only difference was the amount of powder in the cases. I'm trying to make major with these and I know I can go safely up to 5.9gr of Titegroup loaded to 1.125 per Hodgdon's data for Hornady XTP bullets, so I'm going to load up some more starting at 5.5gr going up to 6.0gr at 1.20 OAL to get more data and see how they feel. I was on the edge of a consistent major power factor load at 5.5gr so 5.6 or 5.7 should make it consistently at 1.20 OAL. I'm also going to load some to 1.80 OAL starting at 5.2gr and up to 6.0gr because the bullets are pretty short and could probably stand to be seated a little deeper. The good news is as the powder charge increased to the point where the load would reach major power factor, the extreme spread and standard deviation lowered. That's promising. I think as long as accuracy is good, this would be a pretty awesome, VERY fast recoiling load to make .40 major. I will post results of the rest of my tests using this bullet once I get out to test them and also some more data with 165gr BBI's which I should be receiving in a day or so. I did not test for accuracy. That will come later and will be based on my abilities. I don't have a realistic rest to truly test for accuracy anyway so testing for accuracy will be subjective... 1. 155gr MG FMJ, 4.9gr Titegroup, 1.20 OAL Min Velocity: 896 Max Velocity: 950 Avg Velocity: 932 Extreme Spread: 54 Standard Deviation: 17 Avg Power Factor: 144 2. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.0gr Titegroup, 1.20 OAL Min Velocity: 907 Max Velocity: 983 Avg Velocity: 958 Extreme Spread: 76 Standard Deviation: 20 Avg Power Factor: 148 3. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.1gr Titegroup, 1.20 OAL Min Velocity: 962 Max Velocity: 1014 Avg Velocity: 982 Extreme Spread: 52 Standard Deviation: 14 Avg Power Factor: 152 4. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.2gr Titegroup, 1.20 OAL Min Velocity: 986 Max Velocity: 1029 Avg Velocity: 1009 Extreme Spread: 43 Standard Deviation: 14 Avg Power Factor: 156 5. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.3gr Titegroup, 1.20 OAL Min Velocity: 996 Max Velocity: 1036 Avg Velocity: 1018 Extreme Spread: 40 Standard Deviation: 15 Avg Power Factor: 157 6. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.4gr Titegroup, 1.20 OAL Min Velocity: 1006 Max Velocity: 1044 Avg Velocity: 1030 Extreme Spread: 38 Standard Deviation: 12 Avg Power Factor: 159 7. 155gr MG FMJ, 5.5gr Titegroup, 1.20 OAL Min Velocity: 1051 Max Velocity: 1091 Avg Velocity: 1061 Extreme Spread: 40 Standard Deviation: 12 Avg Power Factor: 164
  16. Hey D. Having shot that match on a different squad, I'll give you my insight. Stage 1: Your plan was solid. The real key to that plan was taking long shots on the final 3 targets and steel. The more experienced shooters didn't run down to engage the last array. There is a certain level of both confidence and skill required for this, but it was the crux of the plan you used. You made the smart decision by moving closer to the targets where you felt you could achieve acceptable hits at your speed, but fastluck13's idea may have worked better given your current capabilities. As you build skills and gain confidence in them, your choices with stages like this one will change. Stage 3 (classifier): No plan to consider here since it's the same for everyone. Your speed looks right for a C class shooter. For exercises like this, it's all about practice, practice, practice to gain speed. Then practice more to gain accuracy. One tip I can give is work on speed and accuracy separately. More reps will result in better results here. Stage 2: Your start looked pretty good. The first reload could have happened much sooner. You were 2 steps in before you got to your mag. Hitting that reload as soon as you left the first position would have allowed you to keep moving around the corner toward the second array. You were still getting your gun back up and ready so you paused at the corner. You *DID* get moving again which is awesome. For the third array, you basically stopped moving after your reload. I know you were trying not to get anywhere near 180, but this wasn't really a 180 trap at all. You could have kept moving and even turned the corner and stayed safe of the 180 (trust me...I did it). The 3 low targets at the end can be hosed pretty much as fast as you can pull the trigger since you were right on top of them. Your last transition was excellent! You snapped to that last target with authority. Stage 4: This one was tricky because of the barrel start and all mags on the barrels. It was not a good stage for Single Stack. I think your plan made sense given your skill level. Here are the things I see from these videos that I would have you work on: Work on transitions between targets whether in the same array or separate arrays. Many, many newer shooters work on their splits but ignore transitions. You can shoot .40 splits with .40 transitions and be the SAME SPEED as .30 splits and .60 transitions. Work on "changing gears" in practice. Go faster when the targets are close/open and go slower when the shots are tight/far. Be sure you see your sights. Learn to call your shots instead of looking for hits. Learning to call your shots is a process that takes time and practice and focus. I have a couple drills you can use to start the learning process...we can chat next match. I see one more thing for you to work on, and I see this because it's one of my weaknesses as well. Movement/Footwork. Everyone needs to work on it. New shooters need to work on it earlier in their practice. Movement through a field course while taking the most efficient path will save time. I noticed that you were searching for the right position a few times. As you're moving through a stage during your walkthrough, make mental note of what I call a "landmark" in the stage. It could be the edge of a window, a target stand, a blank spot in the gravel, the shadows from stage barriers, or pretty much anything that can be used as a visual cue to tell you that you hit your position. It helps to have these landmarks that tell you where your FEET should be in order for you to see all the targets you need to see in a particular position.
  17. 3.9gr Titegroup under BBI 200gr at 1.19 OAL makes 170-ish
  18. I put nothing but Titegroup through my limited gun. Been running the same fiber for 7 matches...no melting and no signs that it will happen any time soon. Load it up and run it.
  19. BBI 200gr over 3.8gr of Titegroup at 1.19 OAL shoots soft and made 170.5PF at Area 6. Barrel is a Bar-Sto 5"
  20. I can't say I notice any sluggishness with 200gr bullets. Unless your splits are under something like .05 or .06 seconds you're not going to outrun the gun anyway.
  21. I'll add my load data here for anyone interested. 200gr BBI over 3.8gr Titegroup at 1.20 OAL. 170PF in my 5" Brazos w/Bar-Sto Bull barrel
  22. Seems like N320 in .45 might be a bit less economical than the N310 I'm already using, even if it does work well. At 5.2gr under a 230, that's around 1350 rounds per lb. With N310, I'm getting 1840/lb. An extra 2000 rounds out of a 4lb jug is nothing to sneeze at. I also seem to have found a .40 load using Titegroup that is EXTREMELY accurate, makes power factor, and feels pretty good. Loaded 3.8gr under a BBI 200gr at 1.20 OAL and the velocities across a 10rd test group were all within 5FPS...I'd say that's pretty darn good. I'm still grateful for the replies and look forward to more input. Nothing saying I won't change things up in the future and maybe someone else can learn from this also.
  23. I haven't had those issues with N310. Loading 3.8gr under a 230 has been pretty awesome and I haven't noticed temperature sensitivity. My real goal with this question was to see if N320 was feasible as an "all in one" powder for 9mm, 40S&W, and .45 ACP. .40S&W is the new caliber to me and I could load it with Titegroup but given my experience with TG in .45 I'm not sure it's going to be for me...then again given my experience with TG and 9mm maybe I'll like it. I have a batch of test loads loaded and ready to chrono so we'll see how the Titegroup does. I can run to a local shop that sells VV and likely find some N320. The $30 or so for a pound won't break the bank and at least then I'll know whether it will work across the board. If all else fails, I'll have a powder that is a known good powder for 9mm and .40 S&W and I'll just keep TG, N310 and N320 around unless TG in .40 works well.
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