Minor with 180s and N320

[Lumpy McSoo]

Hello,

I have done the search and found a wide range of data. I was loading between 3.0 grs and 3.3 grs of "regular" Clays for my MINOR load out of my G22 or G35. My Gen 3s have Storm Lake or Bar-Sto barrels but my now used Gen4s have the factory barrel and I don't see a need to swap them out yet (unless BBI 180s at major is a bad idea...let me know).

For this post, let me get back on topic. I ran out of Clays. I have a state level match in a few weeks. I was able to get a 1 pounder of Vihtavuori N320 but found a powder drop range of 3.2 grs up to 4.5 grs for MINOR. The 3.2 was lead and the 4.5 must have been a really slow barrel or something. I was guessing from my over-ingestion of the search engine that 3.7-4.0 grs would work fine and be at 135-150 PF, which is just fine.

I do not have time to chrono and don't want to go buy another powder. Here is what I was going to load.

Mixed brass

Rainier FP 180 gr (also have some Black Bullet International 180s, but keep the Rainiers for minor, easy to tell buy looking at them. If it has lead black lead exposed, it is major.)

Winchester SP primer

3.8 grs VV N320

1.130ish (1.130-1.135) COL

0.420ish crimp (0.419-0.421, mixed brass causes a variance)

So the question is would 3.8 grs of VV N320 and a Rainier 180 gr FP at the COL and crimp above gurantee me at least 125 PF out of a G22 Gen4 or G35 Gen4 stock barrel? I think it would but would just like to post this out there for the "experts" to chime in on.

On a side note, anyone load VV N340 with BBI 180s for Major?

Later, Thanks, Lumpy.

[Skydiver]

Umm... if you don't have time to chrono, but you are investing in going to a state level match, and you are willing to gamble on somebody else's load data, why not just order match ammo if the match you are going to has an option to order official match ammo. You don't have to worry about making power factor. Whatever the declared power factor of the match ammo is what you get entered as. See Appendix C3 of the the USPSA rule book.

[CocoBolo]

Under the circumstances I recommend 4.5gr of N320 that makes major in my gun with 185gr Precision bullets which are similar to the BBI's you are using, this should make minor for you no problem.

[Graham Smith]

Running a low power load in a stock Glock may or may not work well depending on how low it is. I have tested a load in my G35 with N320 and MG 180's that makes minor with room to spare (around 140). Even then I was using a reduced power spring to get it to cycle well.

If you need this for a state match, I recommend that you contact Atlanta Arms and Ammo and order some .40 minor from them. It will make PF and that means all you have to worry about is tuning your gun to work with it.

However, I will check when I go home for lunch and see what that load is.

Edited April 19, 2011 by Graham Smith

[Graham Smith]

Checked my load data and I have 3.8 gr of N320 with MG 180's and Win SP giving me an average PF of 140 and using a 13# recoil spring on a Jager full length rod in my G35.

[SirLoin]

Hi Graham,

What's your OAL? What MG bullet do you use (e.g., round-shoulder flat point, straight shoulder flat point, etc.)? (I ask about bullet type because, between the 180 grain Berrys flat-point straight shoulder and the flat-point round shoulder, for example, at the same 1.125 OAL, the straight shoulder had .017 less space inside the brass, which for me led to 5-10 higher PF (depending on the load).)

Using 3.8 of N320, 1.125, Berrys flat-point straight shoulder, I was hitting 146 PF with a standard deviation of 4.4. I chronoed 50 rounds over two days. The rounds I chronoed at 30 F ran 5 PF slower than the ones I chronoed when it was around 60 degrees.

Cheers.

Checked my load data and I have 3.8 gr of N320 with MG 180's and Win SP giving me an average PF of 140 and using a 13# recoil spring on a Jager full length rod in my G35.

[perrysho]

Suggest!

You visit www.Handloads.com Left top of page click on Load Data.

Vihavuori is made in Finland, check www.lapua.com go to load data.

www,lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data/relodata/6/25

VV info is a lil hard to find sometimes, these two sites should help.

Have FUN be SAFE,

Perry

Edited January 28, 2012 by perrysho