JRM83 Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Not sure what happened but I got bit by the mad scientist bug a couple weeks ago. Figured I would share some data I collected. All of these were fired through my CZ SP-01 Shadow. All rounds were loaded to an OAL of 1.12. The bullet is a 147gr Black and Blue round nose without lube groove. They are red. I think this makes them go faster. 880 FPS = 130 PF with this bullet. If the load was significantly under power factor I didn't bother testing more than a couple rounds. Ramshot Competition 2.8gr - 806, 832 2.9gr - 807, 829 3.0gr - 839, 834 3.1gr - 854, 861 3.2gr - 838, 874, 831, 876, 875 3.3gr should get me in the comfort zone with Comp, so I loaded 10 rounds and did some accuracy testing at 15 yards. Accuracy was mediocre. Could be shooter error. I was hoping this was the poor man's N320. It's not. Vectan A1 2.0gr - 593, 627 2.1gr - 681, 683 2.2gr - 691, 701 2.3gr - 704, 731 2.4gr - 758, 750 2.5gr - 768, 749 2.6gr - 800, 804 2.7gr - 808, 801 2.8gr - 838, 844 2.9gr - 801, 856, 848, 855, 845 3.1gr - 899, 915, 891, 897, 885, 873, 890, 874, 895, 887 There is no load data for this powder and bullet weight (there's almost no data for this powder in 9mm period). I saw no pressure signs along the way. After the initial load workup I figured 3.1gr would be the right charge weight. I shot it back to back in the same mag as N320 and the recoil was actually similar. I couldn't tell them apart, but 5 rounds each isn't much to go by. Accuracy was phenomenal with this load. Chrono data backs up my guess of 3.1 being on the money. VihtaVuori N320 3.0gr - 867, 876, 870, 864, 882 My go to load. Reasonably accurate, soft shooting, consistent. Might need to bump to 3.1gr for a little extra cushion. Alliant E3 2.6gr - 829, 858 2.8gr - 884, 884, 882, 889 3.0gr - 906, 905, 925 3.2gr - 953, 932, 938 ***primers were on the ragged edge of pressure here. Still just a smidge of rounding on the primers, but this is the line. 3.4gr - DANGER WILL ROBINSON! DANGER! Haven't tested this for accuracy yet, but based on the chrono data 2.8gr is as perfect as it gets. Extremely consistent, right at 130 PF where I want it. Hope this helps anyone looking for info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haiedras Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Have you tried the Vectan BA9 or BA9.5? What little data I could find indicated that those were roughly comparable to N320. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstagn Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Of all the loads you tested, what is the softest shooting that makes PF??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM83 Posted July 6, 2015 Author Share Posted July 6, 2015 Have you tried the Vectan BA9 or BA9.5? What little data I could find indicated that those were roughly comparable to N320. BA9 was out of stock when I ordered. BA9 is also ~40% more expensive than A1. Of all the loads you tested, what is the softest shooting that makes PF??? Honestly competition, N320, and Vectan A1 all felt pretty similar. I can feel the difference between a 135gr and a 147gr at 130 PF. I couldn't tell the difference between those three at similar PF. With more time behind all of them I might be able to tell, but at some point you're splitting hairs looking for "softer". From the initial tests I did the accuracy with Vectan was much better than N320. I have high hopes for Alliant E3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcazes Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 (edited) 2.8 of n310 behind a 147 bayou makes 130 pf out of my g34 and gov sized ria tac II 1911 it's softer than n320.. Edited July 6, 2015 by tcazes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 My e3 results are pretty close to yours: Bayou Bullets 147g with 2.8g with M&P Pro = 128 PF (too close for comfort for a major match) Blue Bullets 147g with 3.0g with M&P Pro = 130 PF Blue Bullets 147g with 3.0g with Glock 19 = 129 PF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 How did A1 meter for you? I've been playing with GM3 in 9mm and have been pleasantly surprised with what I have tested so far . Have some 160 grainers loaded up ready for some ladder tests, and am looking forward to the results. No pistol data in English for GM3 powder, but there is some in Spanish and Italian. Might be the same situation for A1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM83 Posted July 7, 2015 Author Share Posted July 7, 2015 (edited) How did A1 meter for you? I've been playing with GM3 in 9mm and have been pleasantly surprised with what I have tested so far . Have some 160 grainers loaded up ready for some ladder tests, and am looking forward to the results. No pistol data in English for GM3 powder, but there is some in Spanish and Italian. Might be the same situation for A1. It meters well enough. I didn't measure each charge individually, I threw 10 and looked at the total. 10 charges should weigh 31gr and it was at most .1 from 31gr each time. I found Vectan's load data and a few other sources. The problem isn't not being able to find the data for A1 and 147gr 9mm, it's that it just doesn't exist. A1 is primarily a shotgun powder. Edited July 7, 2015 by JRM83 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 A 1/10th grain variation for ten throws is great. I was curious about A1 since it is a flake powder and from the pictures the flakes look square. Next time I order some powder might get some to try. The lack of pistol data is the case for GM3, also. There is no published pistol load data for it whatsoever that I can find - English, Spanish, or Italian. However, there are anecdotal posts on European shooting sites stating that GM3 and other Vectan shotgun powders are commonly used for pistol and there is some (anecdotal) pistol load data that can be used as a reference. Good work and thanks for posting your findings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter190 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 The E3 at 3.1 is my go to load and by far my favorite with a 147gr pill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TANFARM Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 I must admit...I was very surprised at the results from 3.0 grns........I though they would be considerably lower......I was struggling with 3.0 in my STI Edge.....I'm settling on 3.4 now for dependable results. It interesting how different loads react in different pistols....yes I'm a master of the obvious!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewood Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 (edited) Interesting thread. I finally decided to give Vectan powders a try so I have a veriety of them on order. For some reason I have resisted trying it in the past but now i figure what the hay. If I may add, I bought a pound of VV320 to do a comparison with Titegroup in 38 SPL (147g .357 plated RN). Comparing both powders at 3.2g I can't say that I find any big difference. The pourpose of the comparison was to see if VV is cleaner than TG, my test so far is that they are about the same. Edited July 13, 2015 by firewood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinceislander Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Ramshot Competition 2.8gr - 806, 832 2.9gr - 807, 829 3.0gr - 839, 834 3.1gr - 854, 861 3.2gr - 838, 874, 831, 876, 875 3.3gr should get me in the comfort zone with Comp, so I loaded 10 rounds and did some accuracy testing at 15 yards. Accuracy was mediocre. Could be shooter error. I was hoping this was the poor man's N320. It's not. Here's what I was averaging out of my P-09 RS Competition 3.2gr 147gr FP Bayou Bullet 1.147in 883fps - Out of a CZ P-09 4.5" barrel I too observed the lackluster accuracy in RS Comp. BBl has the lube grove and may be the reason why I'm seeing a few more fps than you are with Black and Blue bullets. SNS no lube grooves were slightly slower with an avg of 860fps. RS Competition will be relegated to plinking/training loads for my purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM83 Posted July 15, 2015 Author Share Posted July 15, 2015 Ramshot Competition 2.8gr - 806, 832 2.9gr - 807, 829 3.0gr - 839, 834 3.1gr - 854, 861 3.2gr - 838, 874, 831, 876, 875 3.3gr should get me in the comfort zone with Comp, so I loaded 10 rounds and did some accuracy testing at 15 yards. Accuracy was mediocre. Could be shooter error. I was hoping this was the poor man's N320. It's not. Here's what I was averaging out of my P-09 RS Competition 3.2gr 147gr FP Bayou Bullet 1.147in 883fps - Out of a CZ P-09 4.5" barrel I too observed the lackluster accuracy in RS Comp. BBl has the lube grove and may be the reason why I'm seeing a few more fps than you are with Black and Blue bullets. SNS no lube grooves were slightly slower with an avg of 860fps. RS Competition will be relegated to plinking/training loads for my purposes. Interesting. Thanks for confirming my findings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM83 Posted July 18, 2015 Author Share Posted July 18, 2015 Had a chance to do more comparisons with N320 and Vectan A1. N320 shot noticeably softer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimitz Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 never found a powder that shoots softer than N320 out of my Shadow .... 3" groups offhand at 25 yds all day ... no more accuracy then that is required for our game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superpipe9 Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 never found a powder that shoots softer than N320 out of my Shadow .... 3" groups offhand at 25 yds all day ... no more accuracy then that is required for our game What is your load data ? Bullet, OAL, etc.. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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