Am I cursed?

[bbbean]

I'm beginning to think I'm cursed. I ran out of my favorite bullet, and on testing, the ammo I have loaded just barely makes major. Last Spring, I ran Precision 230s with 3.7 gr Clays at 1.25 and got a PF of 166. So this weekend I load the same bullet with 3.9 gr Clays at 1.25 and get a PF of 163. I was expecting 174-176.

No worry - I have a couple of other bullets handy,so I knock out 200 rounds of MG 230s with 4.3 gr. Clays at 1.25, expecting a PF of 170-175 based on the last FMJ I ran. Instead, I run three batches of 32 rounds and get PFs of 164, 165, and 169.

Now I'm worried a little. The MG load is accurate and feeds like butter, but 4.3 is already past the recommended max load for Clays and 230 gr FMJ, and I'm reluctant to push it to the 4.5 it will likely take to confidently make major at a major match (I shoot for twice the standard deviation above 165).

So I pull out a batch of Bootheel 200 gr bullets I've been meaning to try, and leave the charge at 4.3, which should put me in the PF=175 area, and get a PF of 163.

FWIW: All loads were tested in the same gun and barrel, all charges are verified by two runs of 10 rounds, and all chrono runs are 20+ rounds selected at random from batches of 100+. My scale is the Dillon digital and

My questions:

1) Given that I have a level II match this weekend and I need ammo that will reliably make major, should I push the 230 FMJ load past published limits or push the 200 LRN into the 4.4-4.5 range? Both feed reliably in my gun.

2) Of the following possible sources of error, which is most likely?

a) My current batch of Clays is substantially slower than the batch I ran previously.

My scale (Dillon digital) is consistently off by .2 grains or more.

c) My chrono (CED M2) is consistently off by 20+ fps

d) I've been cursed by a voodoo priestess.

e) I'm suffering from a rare perceptual disorder that renders me incapable of correctly reading numeric displays.

Any suggestions?

[Sarge]

Refresh my memory. Are you running AC power or batteries in the M2? I just started a new thread about my Chrono being way off because of a weak battery. Granted it is a Pro Chrono Digital. But it was giving me an 80 PF until I changed the battery then it went right back to where it should be at 135.

Just FYI.

Good luck.

[bbbean]

Refresh my memory. Are you running AC power or batteries in the M2? I just started a new thread about my Chrono being way off because of a weak battery. Granted it is a Pro Chrono Digital. But it was giving me an 80 PF until I changed the battery then it went right back to where it should be at 135.

Just FYI.

Good luck.

Batteries. I'll try a new battery tomorrow. It's certainly worth 2.99 to be sure.

Thanks.

BB

[mrmetalweld57]

Barry if you want to come up and chrono over my pact before friday, I can meet you anytime. Ed

[Sarge]

Wow, I just noticed you mentioned you changed batches of powder. That will do it too!

[bbbean]

Barry if you want to come up and chrono over my pact before friday, I can meet you anytime. Ed

Thanks, Ed. If I don't come up with a workable load by tomorrow afternoon, I may run up Wednesday.

[RH45]

I used to use Clays for .45 ACP, but, I usually do my load development around this time of year and have found that Clays is temp. sensitive. A load at 168pf this time of year(low 30's)would go over 180pf in August, when the temps went up close to 90.

I bought a big jug of VV310 that I'm going to play with this year, if I get some time.

[GForceLizard]

Barry,

Any further information about your chrono and PF issues?

[bbbean]

In the end, I think I just had a slow batch of Clays, and I made the mistake of looking at published max loads for 1.225 OAL when I'm loading out to 1.25. My final load (200 gr, 4.65 gr Clays, OAL of 1.25) ran 173 at home and 174 at the match. Much ado over nothing, as it turns out.

[pjb45]

I know absolutely nothing about other powders!

I use VV exclusively. Over the past 8 plus years, my recipe has not changed. I pretty much get the same readings at Nationals and Area 2 year after year with different lots of powder.

That said, the former VV technical rep is a friend. He told me about VV quality control process which makes their powders consistent. I have never been dissatisfied with the results. I do not mind paying a little extra for a consistent clean powder.