XD40SC IDPA

[Uncivil]

I was lead here through my local shooting forum. This is somewhat twofold. I am new to reloading (dont even have my press yet) But I have been collecting and tumbling brass and reading...reading and reading as much as I can. I believe I have settled on a Hornady LNL Single Stage to start. I have on order through a local caster some 180gr Truncated Cone lead bullets and once fired speer brass. I found locally some wolf small pistol primers and purchased 1k of them. Ok I am wanting to shoot IDPA but looking for some starting points with a load. I am hoping that someone with the XD40SC has a good starting point for a minor load. Being its the SC I am limited to the recoil spring that's in it. I have tried a search and perhaps I didnt phrase it right but didnt see anything for the SC. My worry I guess is making PF for IDPA which I hope to start shooting in soon. If I understand correctly I will get lower FPS with the shorter barrel? Anyhow any help/tips/load data would be more than appreciated.

[TCKev]

You need to look at Pistol Gear for XD's piece's and part's, if you can change it out he'll have it. First thing you will need to do is shoot it over a chrony(one item to add to your list) to know whether you are making the 165PF for a 180gr bullet. Your load will have to be going 917fps according to an IDPA site I googled. That will be the minimum velocity. Don't know if you considered a powder yet, a good start is Winchester WSF it's cheap or VV n320 it's expensive but it's top's for not smoking alot. Look at the Dillon reloaders there a section on here that they discuss reloader's, beside's Brian sells them on here just look at the top of the page and go to his store.

[Classic_jon]

I was lead here through my local shooting forum. This is somewhat twofold. I am new to reloading (dont even have my press yet) But I have been collecting and tumbling brass and reading...reading and reading as much as I can. I believe I have settled on a Hornady LNL Single Stage to start. I have on order through a local caster some 180gr Truncated Cone lead bullets and once fired speer brass. I found locally some wolf small pistol primers and purchased 1k of them. Ok I am wanting to shoot IDPA but looking for some starting points with a load. I am hoping that someone with the XD40SC has a good starting point for a minor load. Being its the SC I am limited to the recoil spring that's in it. I have tried a search and perhaps I didnt phrase it right but didnt see anything for the SC. My worry I guess is making PF for IDPA which I hope to start shooting in soon. If I understand correctly I will get lower FPS with the shorter barrel? Anyhow any help/tips/load data would be more than appreciated.

Welcome to the forum!

I shoot an XD .40 service (4") in IDPA and the XD is in the ESP class because it is considered "single action." The power factor is pretty low overall. With your 3" barrel you should only lose about 30 to 50fps compared to a 4" gun

Here is a webpage of a club near me that has a good explanation of the power factors per class. http://www.ccidpa.org/idpa-pf.html

A 180gr bullet will only need to be going a minimum of 695 FPS for the ESP class. You should be able to easily make that power factor with just about any powder.

Personally, I think you should shoot a SC XD40 as it is until you have learned the gun and how it reacts and learned a bit more about reloading before starting to swap out parts. The only mod my gun has is a Tru-glo fiber sight. I am considering a trigger mod to shorten the trigger reset but I feel that *I* need to get better before I start making a lot of changes to the gun. I must say, I learn something new every match!

If you search in the 10mm/40 section here you should be able to find several threads about 180 gr loads for a .40 I would say to look at Solo 1000, N320, or Titegroup as decent powders to start with that you can stick with as you get more experienced. There are a lot of threads on using them in this section of the forums. *make sure* that you pay attention to the powder charges and don't double charge...out of the three I listed especially with the Titegroup.

I would also say to get a good reloading manual like the Sierra, Lee, or other name brand reloading manual and take a look at what powders and loads they recommend and start from there as you will be able to get a feel for, and try different loads and see what works for you.

Here are a couple threads to help out!

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...54&hl=180gr

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...82&hl=180gr

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...76&hl=180gr

Good luck!

Edited December 11, 2009 by Classic_jon

[GrumpyOne]

Look into Alliant Power Pistol powder. Relatively cheap, clean, almost impossible to double charge a load. Essentially the same powder used in Winchester White Box ammo.

[Uncivil]

ok i have press dies federal primers brass J&K cast bullets a pound of Titegroup and a pound of WST. Resized and decapped 900 pieces of brass tonight. Messed with the expander die. I think I have that right. Now ready to prime , charge and seat the bullets. I have the Hornady, Nosler and Lyman manuals in looking for charge data for a cast lead bullet. No luck with what I have. I am still looking for charge data and seating depth. I also have to look at the crimp as well. Any additional help would be greatly appreciated.

[Joe4d]

Power factor for IDPA division where you will be shooting is only 125, Your gun will stop cycling long before you get down to a load that wont make it. Your gun isnt really going to be competitive. If your looking for trigger time with a carry gun just load ammo that is accurate and cycles and dont worry about the power factor.

[Uncivil]

ya just trying to find some load data for my lead. I appreciate the input but what do you mean my gun isnt going to be competitive?

Edited January 1, 2010 by Uncivil

[Joe4d]

one of those books should have instructions on how to adjust your seat/crimp die, most of us now do it in two steps on a progressive press. You can do it in one with a properly adjusted seat crimp die. I cant believe Lyman doesnt have cast bullet data, it's a cast bullet manual. Also dotn assume we all know what the letters model numbers mean. A good rule of thumb is to list barrel length and caliber. I took a guess and assumed SC means sub compact. There is no way you are going to be competitive shooting a subcompact gun against full size 5" guns. Starting out though you should only worry about being competitive against yourself.

[big_kahuna]

This may get you close. Based on my experience with a Glock 27 subcompact, not a XD-SC.

180 grain MasterBlaster moly-coated (now defunct, superseded by BBI)

3.6 grains WST for reliable cycling (3.3 would not cycle reliably)

1.135 OAL

.418 crimp

Winchester cases

mean velocity 779 FPS

140 PF

[Uncivil]

Thank you all for the responses. I am sorry. Yes its a 40 caliber sub compact with a 3" barrel. I find it humorous in a game where its about defense strategy and even having to have concealment the sub compact seem to be unused. I agree where at this point I will only be trying to improve my abilities and not concerned with keeping up. The key is fun right? Anyhow I will look into the manuals a bit more on the crimping. Again thanks for the help. A good starting point is all I am going for and will be learing and working up the best load for me and my gun.

[JohnH]

Thank you all for the responses. I am sorry. Yes its a 40 caliber sub compact with a 3" barrel. I find it humorous in a game where its about defense strategy and even having to have concealment the sub compact seem to be unused. I agree where at this point I will only be trying to improve my abilities and not concerned with keeping up. The key is fun right? Anyhow I will look into the manuals a bit more on the crimping. Again thanks for the help. A good starting point is all I am going for and will be learing and working up the best load for me and my gun.

I think that what the one poster meant is that you will have more difficulty sighting with a shorter sight. Most others will be shooting longer sites. BUT, you are on the right track with getting better with the gun you have. That is why I like to shoot IDPA. the other day we were shooting a PPC "match" at a max of only 25 yards. One shooter was using his little snub nosed revolver with a much shorter sight radius than yours. He shot better than anyone else for accuracy. It is in the operator more than the gun in IDPA. We have one shooter in our IDPA match that shoots a revolver, probably 4 inch sight radius. He cleans everyones clock in both accuracy and time and that includes all those auto's. Go shoot your gun and have fun.

john