MGMorden Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Ok - here's my dilemma - I shoot mostly 180gr Blue Bullets (I'm sure most here are familiar with them, but they're a coated cast lead) out of a STI DVC at 1.18" OAL. Previously I had been using Bullseye with no issues, but I'm coming to my last bit of that and nowhere seems to have it in stock. I would have liked to have tried Ramshot Zip, Solo 1000, or AA #2, but all those are out of stock too. What does seem to be in stock that I'm looking at is Titegroup, AA #5, and Alliant 20/28. Titegroup - seems like a good choice but I have some concerns shooting it with a coated bullet. I know it's reputed to smoke bad with lead but is it any better with coated? AA #5 - would probably work fine but seems to be on the slow end of the scale. Of a somewhat less concern this does cost a bit more and would use larger charges for the same velocity so from a cost perspective this would be the most expensive. Alliant 20/28 - seems good. Is reputed to be comparable to Unique in burn rate (slightly faster) and meters better, but Alliant doesn't really market it as a pistol powder so I'd be working up loads from scratch (which I'm relatively comfortable doing, but still). So which would you guys go for? I'm kinda leaning towards Titegroup if the smoking/temperature thing isn't really an issue. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyOverUnder Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Titegroup loses that smoke with a coated bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6Liter240Z Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 (edited) Wow! I just got an order of 2550 180gr "the blue bullets" and loaded up a test batch yesterday. I loaded them at 1.2" with 6.0gr aliant power pistol and averaged 13 shots at 949.5fps out of my RIA Ultra match 40. Edited May 2, 2016 by 6Liter240Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodsk Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 5.6 grains of WSF with the same bullet makes major out of my son's DVC limited. loaded to 1.155 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eern Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Titegroup is what I use for 9, 40, and 45. No issues with the smoke. I run Bayou 180s so pretty equivalent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGMorden Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 Thanks guys - went ahead and ordered 8 pounds of Titegroup from PV. Saw that they had Shooter's World "Clean Shot" in stock which sounded like it'd be a workable choice as well so I tossed in 1 lb of that to try out too . If for whatever reason I don't like the Titegroup with the Blue Bullets between the Clean Shot powder and the little bit of Bullseye that I have left I can probably finish out my stock of Blue Bullets and then switch to Xtreme's or something similar to use up the Titegroup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noylj Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 If you think AA5 is too slow, than so 20/28 would also be too slow. I hate TG, but for your use, that may be all you have to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZ85Combat Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 4.6gn of N320 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotrodder Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 Another powder you may want to consider is Ramshot Competition. It is usually available and affordable. I load 180 blue bullet with 4.2 gr. @1.200 oal. They make 170 pf in my 5" infinity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpulled Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 I've been testing out wst and like it so far. Seems a good bit softer than 320. Out of the powders you listed tight group is the one I'd pick. I shoot TG in 9 mil but think I'll try wst in 9 too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtown Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 I use claydot, close to 10lbs worth. Really like it. 4.0 gr, 180 gr coated lead at 1.185 length and get an avg of 176pf and smooth recoil pulse. I have used some cleanshot to work a new load. Meters wonderfully with my lnl drop. Im at 4.5 gr under a 190 coated lead , 1.185 length and got a tight s.d.of an avg of 11 over a 10 shot group. A 173 pf easly with a soft recoil pulse. (sti edge ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbopower18 Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 4.6gn of N320 I use to load Blue 180's with Bullseye until I tried Vihtavuori N320 and im never looking back unless i cant find N320!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrguar Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 6.0 G AA#2 for 180's Hard Cast 1.185 Makes Major shoots nice.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpulled Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Wst is as good as 320 to me. Seems a little softer and is a lot cheaper. I've got 12lbs of 320 but will switch to wst soon. Hopefully I'll be able to trade or sale the 320 and buy twice as much wst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustychev Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 180 blues with 4.3 of ramshot comp at 1.125 gets me 171.5 out of a 5" sig 1911 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisW Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 4.7 gr Win 231 with 180 gr Blue Bullets out of a 5" 1911 gets 170 to 172 PF depending on the heat of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge40 Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I run 4.3 titegroup under a 180 ibeji FP at 1.16 with no issues. In the warm weather it made 172 PF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDM Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 If you ever get a chance to recover a blue bullet once fired, you'll see the coating on the base is the same as before you loaded it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbo76 Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 5.4g wsf 180g tc bayou 1.160 oal makes a 170.xx out of both of my 5" ltd/ss guns. It feels a little more snappy than n320 but is accurate and much cheaper. It was ~60* when chrono'd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husker95 Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I use WST with 180s in my 40s and love it. Low recoil, smoke and it meters well. Usually available too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCTaylor Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Husker - What load data? I'm getting ready to work up AutoComp, WSF, and WST for 180's in a RIA 2011. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36873687 Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 4.5 TG. N320 4.6. Universal 5.2 all 1.180 make 170 pf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmKerle Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 180Gr Blue over 4.2Gr of E3 at 1.180 gives me 170PF out of my RIA Pro Match .40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCH Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 4.3grn titegroup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarksideCZ Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Hp38. I use 4.3gn at 1.135" with a 180 lead bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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