Longshot83 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) Just curious what people consider acceptable accuracy from handgun reloads (group size and distance) for USPSA, multigun, and IDPA type matches? Do you try and ring everything you can get out of a load or do you call it good enough at a certain point? I am just starting to reload for use in competition and am trying to maximize my time. Thanks. Edited February 26, 2014 by Longshot83 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 PF is essential. Accuracy is a luxury, that can wait until you have more time. Once you get your bullets flying downrange at the optimum velocity, even 4" groups at 25 yards isn't bad for action shooting. But, more accurate is better - when you have time, you should try to make your loads more like 2.5" at 25 yards, if you can - depends on the gun - bullets make a big difference . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk4 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 I would be perfectly content with 2.5 at 25, but anything more than 3" at 25 and I would be changing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridenrunwv Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 So how much is this limited by the pistol with entry level Production pistols like M&P, Glock, CZ...? I'm about to get an M&P Pro and curious just what it's capable of for when I start reloading for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodemonkey Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) I am shooting minor loads with a 180gr with a fast burning powder (N320). It's easy to make minor for IDPA, but I am wondering is it better to push the bullets a little faster for better accuracy. I've been using plated bullets in a Glock 23 with pretty good success, but I am going to try out some Bayou bullets and see if there is an accuracy difference. What are your thoughts on this? Will pushing to 800-850FPS tighten up the groups are make them spread out (I'm running a comfortable 750FPS now - similar to Atlanta Arms minor loads)? Is plated or coated better for accuracy given the same velocity? Edited February 27, 2014 by kodemonkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 So how much is this limited by the pistol with entry level Production pistols like M&P, Glock, CZ...? I'm about to get an M&P Pro and curious just what it's capable of for when I start reloading for it. I'll be able to give you some insight after this weekend. I'm picking up my M&P Pro .40 on Saturday and will be doing load testing with it on Sunday. I'll be using 180g Bayou bullets and e3 for powder. I'll be working up a minor load for production division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttolliver Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I keep working the load until I feel like I'm bumping up against my own skill and the mechanical accuracy of the gun. That's partly due to the mild OCD loading brings out in me But the net group size we throw at our targets is very much a cumulative effect. Ideally you're shooting a very accurate gun and load so you can choose to give up a little accuracy by shooting on the move. If your gun/load is a bit of a weak link, then options like shooting on the move are less available to you. That being said, my accuracy expectations are the same as High Power Jack and tk4 mentioned. Although I tend to test accuracy at 25' rather than 25 yards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig N Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 My personal accuracy requirement is A zone/ -0 zone hits at 25 yards. After that the gun is more accurate that I am. Every now and then I can get a long distance head box shot. Since I mostly shoot IDPA so a soft impulse load meeting PF is what I go after. My load is pretty accurate too with Dawson Adjustable Sights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reshoot Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Accuracy is a relative term, no? What exactly are you checking the accuracy of: the gun? the shooter? the load? How do you differentiate between the three (or more) variables? Unless one uses a mechanical devise to control the gun, the trigger and so forth can you really determine the accuracy of a particular load? I have bad days, good days and on rare occasions great days. One day I might hold a 4", 25 yard group and the next time out am lucky to get 10 shots to land in the lower a zone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danman00 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 G35 with stock sights here. If I can keep a 4" group or smaller at 20yrds, I'm happy. The local IDPA matches where I live rarely have any targets further away than 50 feet. - That I've seen anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandbagger123 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 if i can keep them all in the head on a IDPA/Uspsa target at 20 yards, I consider it GTG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noylj Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Less than 2" at 25 yards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LikesToShoot Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 IMHO, accuracy is FIRST. I used to chase the "meet the low PF" game but if you can't hit the "A", "-0" at 25 yards who cares? "mikes" and "FTN's" WILL kill your score so low recoil means NOTHING. Working on your grip is a better way to control recoil than chasing the low PF load that many (me too) have gone after. Sure, you can load a "bunny fart" loads that groups really good and maybe have to change the springs to get the gun to run right, Add in that you "have" to use Federal primers to get that round to fire with the lighter striker / hammer springs. Yes, it's fun to beat your buddies at club match's but then you'll go ahead and sweat bullets if and when you have to chrono at a big match. All my ammo test are at 25 yards and fine tune later. I've run M&P's for a little while and in 40 Pro I like 165gr FMJ over 3.7 gr Clays for minor and 200gr over 4.6 Universal for major. These are my "pet loads" and work in "MY" gun. To maximize your time dry fire and look here: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=191429 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Like some have said == Get your power factor THEN Go to the bench and get a real good rest and a very clear (for your eye) target and set it up at 25 yds. I use a know load to establish a standard then fire 2 to 5 groups of ten or 8 if 1911 45acp at look at the groups I want them to be in the end of a coke can. or at worst 4"'s relative accuracy starts with gun and load combo from a solid rest. Again if the gun doesn't run on your load or met power factor accuracy is a moot point Confidence comes when you know your gun load combo are accurate. Then you work on yourself to stop the misses / delta (-3) shots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latech15 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I can keep my open gun inside 4" at 50 offhand. Best I have ever done at 50 with irons is about 6" offhand. I'm sure both guns are way better than that off bags or a ransom rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 50 feet or 50 yards ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellow13 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 IMHO, accuracy is FIRST. I used to chase the "meet the low PF" game but if you can't hit the "A", "-0" at 25 yards who cares? "mikes" and "FTN's" WILL kill your score so low recoil means NOTHING. Working on your grip is a better way to control recoil than chasing the low PF load that many (me too) have gone after. Sure, you can load a "bunny fart" loads that groups really good and maybe have to change the springs to get the gun to run right, Add in that you "have" to use Federal primers to get that round to fire with the lighter striker / hammer springs. Yes, it's fun to beat your buddies at club match's but then you'll go ahead and sweat bullets if and when you have to chrono at a big match. All my ammo test are at 25 yards and fine tune later. I've run M&P's for a little while and in 40 Pro I like 165gr FMJ over 3.7 gr Clays for minor and 200gr over 4.6 Universal for major. These are my "pet loads" and work in "MY" gun. To maximize your time dry fire and look here: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=191429 Curious what kind of accuracy you were getting out of the M&P .40 with your loads at 25 yards. I'm also big on the importance of accuracy and I've been throwing around the idea of a M&P 40pro to shoot production with minor loads or limited with major. I've read a lot about the pro 9mm accuracy issues but not much about the .40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LikesToShoot Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) IMHO, accuracy is FIRST. I used to chase the "meet the low PF" game but if you can't hit the "A", "-0" at 25 yards who cares? "mikes" and "FTN's" WILL kill your score so low recoil means NOTHING. Working on your grip is a better way to control recoil than chasing the low PF load that many (me too) have gone after. Sure, you can load a "bunny fart" loads that groups really good and maybe have to change the springs to get the gun to run right, Add in that you "have" to use Federal primers to get that round to fire with the lighter striker / hammer springs. Yes, it's fun to beat your buddies at club match's but then you'll go ahead and sweat bullets if and when you have to chrono at a big match. All my ammo test are at 25 yards and fine tune later. I've run M&P's for a little while and in 40 Pro I like 165gr FMJ over 3.7 gr Clays for minor and 200gr over 4.6 Universal for major. These are my "pet loads" and work in "MY" gun. To maximize your time dry fire and look here: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=191429 Curious what kind of accuracy you were getting out of the M&P .40 with your loads at 25 yards. I'm also big on the importance of accuracy and I've been throwing around the idea of a M&P 40pro to shoot production with minor loads or limited with major. I've read a lot about the pro 9mm accuracy issues but not much about the .40. This is off hand at 25 yards over a chrono. The gun had been set up with my 40 to 9 conversion barrel and has loosely zeroed in using other 40 cal ammo. I'm sure I could have better groups if I adjusted it in and was warmed up a bit. Out a better shooters hands I'm sure things would have greatly improved also. Edited March 12, 2014 by LikesToShoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosa Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Under 2 inches a 25 yards... Shoot from a bench if you can... Anything bigger than that is junk... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellow13 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Under 2 inches a 25 yards... Shoot from a bench if you can... Anything bigger than that is junk... Doesn't that throw out most pistols approved for production? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMB Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I'm with Sandbagger123 on this one. Heads shots at 20yds on standard IDPA/USPSA target is good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaGunner Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I test gun and load accuracy from a pistol rest. My limited pistol can shoot 5 shot 1" groups at 25yards on demand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosa Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I test gun and load accuracy from a pistol rest. My limited pistol can shoot 5 shot 1" groups at 25yards on demand.I think this is the minimum people should accept of their loads...It's not that hard to achive. And is achievable with most factory ammunition... I'm ammesed at what litle interest shooters have In any kind of measurable accuracy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3djedi Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 How do you fine tune accuracy with reloading? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latech15 Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 50 feet or 50 yards ?? Sorry, I have t checked back in a while. That is yards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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