Rich406 Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 (edited) As the wait for bullets has become longer and longer, I’ve been trying out some different bullets and loads. Currently I have some 147gr Montana gold that I’ve been working with. when I was testing them out I noticed that the bullet holes aren’t nice and round like they should be. Instead I’m getting some tumbling. The holes are oblong with a slight tail at 9-12 o’clock. the load is 147gr mt gold bullet 3.6 gr of sport pistol 1.140 oal and .378 crimp im shooting it out of a p320 x5 with a barsto barrel. im not over crimping, and I have plenty of velocity at 137ish PF. Any ideas on what I can do to get theses to work? Edited October 23, 2020 by Rich406 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJB Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 First, try the same load in a different gun just to see if the results are repeated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HesedTech Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 (edited) I don’t shoot the X5, but I would recommend swapping back to the factory barrel to see if the same pattern happens. Keyholes are normally a function of bullet to barrel issues. One other thing, were you shooting directly at the target or from an angle? Edited October 23, 2020 by HesedTech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belus Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 16 minutes ago, HesedTech said: One other thing, were you shooting directly at the target or from an angle? This is an important question because all the holes are off center in the same direction. If the bullets were precessing or tumbling I'd expect that feature to be random. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich406 Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 I thought about the angle thing, I was shooting straight at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RudyVey Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 Is your target square to the gun?? Slightly angled cardboard may show similar pattern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RePete Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 What was the range of the target to gun? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich406 Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 44 minutes ago, RudyVey said: Is your target square to the gun?? Slightly angled cardboard may show similar pattern. I was squared up to the target. The odd holes being caused by an angle was the first thing I ruled out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich406 Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 23 minutes ago, RePete said: What was the range of the target to gun? 20 yards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HesedTech Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 Next question, are you using the Lee FCD to “fix” bulging loads? While MTG Bullets have a pretty thick metal jacket I have seen jacketed Bullets swage by the FCD. Let us know how the bullets run in another gun and barrel. I have Glock Gen5 where the stock barrel will not shoot great groups at 25 yards, but an after market one really tightens them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 Are you shooting from a rest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich406 Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 36 minutes ago, HesedTech said: Next question, are you using the Lee FCD to “fix” bulging loads? While MTG Bullets have a pretty thick metal jacket I have seen jacketed Bullets swage by the FCD. Let us know how the bullets run in another gun and barrel. I have Glock Gen5 where the stock barrel will not shoot great groups at 25 yards, but an after market one really tightens them up. i do use a FCD. I was under the impression that it couldn’t swage jacketed bullets. That said, it’s at the top of the list of things I’m suspicious of..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich406 Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 5 minutes ago, AHI said: Are you shooting from a rest? Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 (edited) Try shooting unsuported . You could be bouncing the Gun off the rest. Thearfor interducing the tumble. Edited October 24, 2020 by AHI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich406 Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 3 minutes ago, AHI said: Try shooting unsuported . You could be bouncing the Gun of the rest. Thearfor interducing the tumble. That seems pretty unlikely. I’ve used the same rest for years with no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RePete Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 (edited) 57 minutes ago, Rich406 said: 20 yards The bullets aren't stabilised. Have you slugged the barrel? Are you using a Lee Factory Crimp Die? Edited October 23, 2020 by RePete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 The Bullets are not stabilised. Push them faster. Are you using a Lee Factory Crimp Die? Does the gun shoot other bullets / ammo with out doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 I am thinking twist rates... do you know how a 124 grain MG bullet acts? If 124 is ok, you may want more twist for the 148 Gn bullets. and yeah size of bullet and barrel may be involved. skinny bullet or an open barrel may cause 'skidding' luck! miranda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HesedTech Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 2 hours ago, Rich406 said: i do use a FCD. I was under the impression that it couldn’t swage jacketed bullets. That said, it’s at the top of the list of things I’m suspicious of..... It’s been my, and I believe others, experience with the Lee FCD it does nothing for accuracy and only “fixes” or covers less than ideal reloading processes. I’ve tested it with FMJ and it will swage the bullets, but not as bad as coated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 2 hours ago, Rich406 said: i do use a FCD. I was under the impression that it couldn’t swage jacketed bullets. That said, it’s at the top of the list of things I’m suspicious of..... Id be suspicious of heavy bullets first. Seems many guns tend to dislike 147’s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich406 Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 9 minutes ago, HesedTech said: It’s been my, and I believe others, experience with the Lee FCD it does nothing for accuracy and only “fixes” or covers less than ideal reloading processes. I’ve tested it with FMJ and it will swage the bullets, but not as bad as coated. I ran out 100 using a Redding crimp die instead of the Lee. I’ll see if I can tell any difference when I next make it to the range. It’s currently supposed to snow 4” tonight, so it may be a bit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich406 Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 3 minutes ago, Sarge said: Id be suspicious of heavy bullets first. Seems many guns tend to dislike 147’s I agree with that, however it’s what I can easily get right now for bullets, so I’m trying to make it work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4n2t0 Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, AHI said: You could be bouncing the Gun of the rest. Thearfor interducing the tumble. How? Like in the movie Wanted? Edited October 24, 2020 by 4n2t0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Limp wristed but of gun bounces off the table. Have seen it a few times. Stand up shoot free hand tumbling goes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4n2t0 Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 (edited) 12 hours ago, AHI said: Limp wristed but of gun bounces off the table. Have seen it a few times. Stand up shoot free hand tumbling goes away. LMAO. Edited October 24, 2020 by 4n2t0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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