kmbr45 Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 OK, so I have been a SSP shooter since I started shooting IDPA and I am thinking of getting a new gun (S&W 686 SSR) to shoot some SSR from time to time for fun. What I am wondering is what are you SSR shooters using for ammo? Based on what I have found, plain jane .38 special ball ammo will not make power factor (125,000). So I am wondering if I am missing something. I assume that most of you are loading some hot .38 rounds or downloading .357 brass. Thanks, Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Koski Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 I believe most factory .38 Special ammo with 158 grain bullets will make PF. It's also pretty easy to reload 158 grain bullets to 125 PF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raincitywheel Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Factory ammo that makes PF is pretty scarce. The few that do are all 158 grain. Blazer makes one. So does S&B, Fiocchi, and Speer. Check this: http://raincityhome.com/factorypowerfactors.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmbr45 Posted October 14, 2009 Author Share Posted October 14, 2009 Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately, reloading is not in the plans, so factory ammo it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GmanCdp Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Factory ammo that makes PF is pretty scarce. The few that do are all 158 grain. Blazer makes one. So does S&B, Fiocchi, and Speer.Check this: http://raincityhome.com/factorypowerfactors.pdf that was an interesting PDF..what was up with the excessive power factor not allowed statement about..for an indoor range??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christian Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Just a thought.... the factory ammo loads listed above will generally make the 125 PF demanded by IDPA. If you use them, be careful how much you "tune" the trigger on your revolver. When you take a revolver to a lighter pull you reduce hammer blow force. The primers used in the above loads are not "soft". and in a revolver with a "action job" you can get a Bang, Bang, Click. The majority of the gunsmiths that tune DA revolvers (S&W or Ruger, which are the only realistic players in this game) recommend Federal primers, seated below flush with a crush fit. Winchester primers are a decent second choice... but neither Federal or Winchester makes a .38 Special load that will make a 125 PF consistently from a 4-inch barrel. If you are stuck using factory ammo to make a chrono of 125, be careful regarding how much you lighten the trigger on your revolver. It's worth noting that the top SSR IDPA shooters who attend sanctioned matches where the chronograph gets trotted out are all reloaders... and always looking for Federal primers if their guns have had trigger/action work. If you're just shooting club matches, no problem. The PF only comes into play at major matches... but if you've spent hundreds of dollars to be there, it sucks to get DQed on the PF. That's why we reload for SSR. Chris Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Actually the power factor comes into play at every match, whether you get chronoed or not it's always good to be legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben b. Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 I chrono'd some factory Remington UMC 158 LRN yesterday, from a 4" Ruger, 12 rounds at 12 feet, CED M2. Avg MV 732 fps (std dev = 18), Avg PF = 115. FAIL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christian Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 I just got a new lot of Speer Lawman 158 grain TMJ +P in. #53750. From a four inch Ruger GP-100 .357 Mag, on my Oehler 35P, it ran 835-870 fps at 76 degrees air temp. You only need 793 fps to make 125 with a 158 bullet. It was also very accurate ( two inch full cylinder groups at 25 yards from a bench rest). I've had some other lots of 158 Lawman that were really flirting with the required velocity... some chambers made it barely... some didn't... but this lot makes it easily from all six chambers. Chris Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Lot number? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christian Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 #53750, as previously noted. Chris Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdmoore Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 As these don't need to make PF out of your gun, just a legal gun, it would be nice if we could just test factory fodder and declare the "winners". I guess the conditions the day of the match (temp, etc) will have effect ... I looked at this some years back and the S&B lead 158's seemed to be the best choice during that time (i.e. was the most available at that time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFORCE Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Actually the power factor comes into play at every match, whether you get chronoed or not it's always good to be legal. Well said Duane. Lindsay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Koski Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 (edited) As these don't need to make PF out of your gun, just a legal gun, it would be nice if we could just test factory fodder and declare the "winners". I guess the conditions the day of the match (temp, etc) will have effect ... That would solve some problems, but introduce others. Pat Sweeny tells the story (paraphrasing here) of when USPSA had a list of factory ammo that was approved. Well one of the approved loads temporarily changed their specs or made some out of spec ammo (not sure) and a handfull of competotors bought cases of this stuff that was way way under the nominal PF (like 170 PF .45 ACP when USPSA major was 190). It will be interesting to see how/if IDPA adresses this issue in the next rule book. Edited November 14, 2009 by Steve Koski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kct45acp Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 i shot som UMC 125gr +p stuff last year that went 132pf or so. It was a sjhp bullet though, kinda tough to speedload Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 #53750, as previously noted. Got it. Missed that first time through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Actually the power factor comes into play at every match, whether you get chronoed or not it's always good to be legal. Well said Duane. Thanks, Lindsay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bones Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 (edited) Faith in a "factory" option and 100% competitor compliance is naive. Can someone tell me how to verify "factory" ammunition without a bullet puller and a chronograph? ICORE does indeed have the "factory" provision, but they chronograph everyone's gun/ammunition system at the IRC "for reference". Does anyone believe that ammunition in a "factory" brass and a "factory" box with a "factory" bullet profile that produced 95000 PF out a 5" barrel would not raise Nelson's interest? At local club matches, no one really cares nor checks - just like USPSA and IDPA. USPSA got it right - set the PF and require the competitor to do demonstrate compliance with their equipment. Anyone who travels to a major match without understanding their system's capabilities, regardless of component source, is assuming a huge risk. Craig Edited November 14, 2009 by Bones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Z Sr Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Craig is right, as is the case with most top shooters in our game,. Why be unsure, if you don't yet reload, good time to start, and if you don't own a chrono, ask around at your local club who does. I'm sure someone will bring it out and everyone at the club can verify their loads, we do that about every other month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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