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chrt396

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Bear with me guys!! I made a trade with a friend over the weekend. I traded him a Kimber CDP PRO II 45 acp for a Sis Sauer P226 Combat 9mm. I did NOT like the Kimber..so to me..it was an acceptable trade! His was in A+ condition..and mine was in 75% condition. He also had a set of Hogue Aluminum grips he threw in on the deal..which made it sweeter deal..even though they were a god awful alien green color.

The point of this story is such.

I took the Sig down to the range to try it on. I brought about 200 rounds of assorted reloads that I had concocted over the past year and had not shot. All of these rounds were sporting a 124g Xtreme plated bullet. I had Tite Group in some, Power pistol in another and AA#7 in the remainder. Full of anticipation...I pull the trigger. LOW...left...right...center...low...right..! WHAT??? &%$#@ NOTHING was grouping!! I went through almost 200 rounds and I was so P.O'd by the end of those rounds that an R.O. at the range..whom I know..and like...joked with me and stated that my shooting sucked that day..and the look I gave him could have killed. I was so frustrated! Just made this trade on a gun..and the one I got SUCKED!

I then pull my Les Baer 45 out and put 5 shots in a 1 1/2 circle within 4 seconds. That was against range rules..(too fast)...but at that point...I did NOT care. What confused me..is how can I suck so bad shooting 9mm and place 5 shots downrange in rapid succession with great accuracy on a 45!!!. (200g LSWC with 5.0g of Tite Grp. OAL 1.250 CCILP) All this to say...I was being a butthead that day!

Some member strolls in to the range after a while that I shoot with at times. I tell him my woes..and he offers to let me borrow some cheapy CCI Blazer 9mm rounds that he picked up. 50 rounds for $10. He gives me 10 to try! I load up my new gun...aim..fire. Dead center. 8 more rounds...all within an inch at 33 feet. I was so happy that it was NOT the gun...I had NOT lost my ability to shoot...It was the ammo! My crappy reloads!!

Xtreme plated bullets. Are they REALLY able to handle velocities over 1000 FPS. Should I just step up and buy FMJ instead of the cheap stuff. A local reloader that uses primarily Montana Gold states that the bullet is the culprit. I don't have the make up of the loads that I shot..but I'm sure that they were all generating velocities in the 1000-1100 fps range. Could that bullet have been the issue with my accuracy woes? I know that there are other variables..but they were all produced an a Dillon 550B...all using CCI SP primers...all charges were within SAFE middle range..and most all were using Xtreme plated 124g RN bullets and a few with 124g flat nose Xtreme plated bullets. They ALL sucked in consistancy.

If any of you have a miracle load that I can test in my gun, please feel free to share it..and I'll try it! Powder, charge, primer, bullet and OCL.

Thanks in advance for your replies...and thanks for listening to me rant! :mad:
 
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From my experience different guns like different things. It is best to experiment with each gun you own to find the best for that. Some like lower gr bullets, some heavier. I have yet to start reloading so I dont have advice in that aspect of your problem.
 
Sorry about your bad day at the range. When I shot Rainiers, I got good results from 231. I gave up on plated bullets when I realized I could buy jacketed for the same price or less. Montana Gold does make good bullets.

Wicked made a good point. What was the size of the CCI Blazers you shot? I'd guess they were 115gr.
 
Maybe you are experiencing bullet setback.. case mouth tension. Maybe the bullets are crap, kinda not round etc.. does that batch shoot well out of other pistols? Are you using a "factory crimp" die?
 
Xtreme plated bullets. Are they REALLY able to handle velocities over 1000 FPS. Should I just step up and buy FMJ instead of the cheap stuff. A local reloader that uses primarily Montana Gold states that the bullet is the culprit.
Click to expand...

If i recall correctly those blazers that gave good accuracy use a speer PLATED bullet. Give some consideration to what Wicked said about the weight of the bullets and profile as well.
 
J_McLeod said:
Sorry about your bad day at the range. When I shot Rainiers, I got good results from 231. I gave up on plated bullets when I realized I could buy jacketed for the same price or less. Montana Gold does make good bullets.

Wicked made a good point. What was the size of the CCI Blazers you shot? I'd guess they were 115gr.
Click to expand...
They were 115g!!
 
Certaindeaf said:
Maybe you are experiencing bullet setback.. case mouth tension. Maybe the bullets are crap, kinda not round etc.. does that batch shoot well out of other pistols? Are you using a "factory crimp" die?
Click to expand...
I use a Lee factory crimp die. Yes..they suck out of my CZ75 SP-01 as well. Not as bad however. I had blamed it on the CZ..until the Sig...then I finally blamed on me...then I shot 9 shots with cheap factory ammo..and it was now time to blame the ammo. I did lighten up the crimp on my die..thinking it was overcrimped...but it would be a guess at this point.
 
I just bought 500 rounds of Hornandy 115g FMJ RN projectiles. I was hoping to get SOME sort of success out of those..then I'll start piddling around with 124's. I just want to get SOME sort of accuracy first..then I can start buying in quantity.
 
I had some Xtreme plated .40's that didn't shoot worth a dam. Tried them in multiple guns including a carbine. No more for me.
 
I do have a CZ 75 that I had some issues with accuracy..and I kind of blamed it on the gun. It just CAN'T be me!!! ;)

If I get a general all around decent load, then I can experiment with variations. However,,it sure would be nice to have a load that at least groups..in SOME sort of fashion! I spoke with a local reloader in our area that taught me how to reload almost three years ago and his general all round load is 124g Montana Gold FMJRN over tite group. I didn't ask for the charge, but he does load a lot for the guys in competition, so I'm sure it's formulated on meeting power factors.
 
Like I said, kinda, was make sure no bullet setback is happening and then pull a loaded round and make sure the FCD is not swaging the bullet down all crazy like.
 
Well I am glad you posted this. I was just getting ready to order a couple of thousand of Xtreme's plated bullets in a couple of differant calibers. Now I am thinking I may only order a few and see how they work out with my gear.

As a side note. I have had good luck with GoldenWest 9mm bullets and they are just about the same price as the plated (in some cases cheaper) and they are FMJ.

Thanks
WB
 
My guess is that it isn't the bullet so much as it was probably your load. The thing about the blazer bullets you shot is that CCI/Speer had plenty of time to test and develop a load that works well. My guess is that you just found some load data and loaded it up to mid level specs. That doesn't always work out well. Also, a load that works well for one bullet may not always work out well for another.

I sell X-treme bullets. I have gotten thousands of emails from customers who really liked them and their accuracy. Some of those emails detailed load data and workups. The trend would suggest that low to mid range data only produces mediocre results. Most guys that have had good success use closer to max data. You don't have to worry about pushing them too fast through a 9mm. I have customers who shoot the 45, 44, and .357 at up to 2000 fps from lever carbines. They can handle it.

Lastly, if I were you I would get rid of that Lee factory crimp die. More guys have problems with that die than anything else. It really doesn't do anything any better that you can't do with just a regular die.

Other than that, wicked has a very valid question. Maybe your gun likes 115 grain bullets.
 
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suggest you go down to wally world and get a box of 124gn cheap stuff and run it through your gun. use the results as a baseline for future reloading efforts.

may save you some frustration down the road.

may want to save half the box for later comparison to your reloads.

fwiw,

murf
 
My EMP hates 115 Gr, but loves 124/125 Gr stuff. It shoots the X-Treme 124 Gr HP very well, as does my Colt 1911 .38 Super with a Storm Lake 9MM barrel in it.
 
murf said:
suggest you go down to wally world and get a box of 124gn cheap stuff and run it through your gun. use the results as a baseline for future reloading efforts.

may save you some frustration down the road.

may want to save half the box for later comparison to your reloads.

fwiw,

murf
Click to expand...
In post number one he said he did use some "cheapy" stuff..
 
Walkalong +1: My 9mms: Like 124/125gr bullets, plated or otherwise.
Those commercial loads, were fairly light loads. That may have been a factor in the improved groups with a new-to-you gun.

The Berry's 124gr HBRN-Thick Plating or 124gr HBFN-TP will both shoot very nice groups with 1045-1050 fps loads. These bullets can also be loaded up to 1400+fps. (See the bullet description on their website to verify the 38 Super speeds)

CZ 75B: 124 HBRN-TP, 4.1 grs n320, 1.135" 130PF Light recoil & accurate.
 
The only 124gr load my P226 ever liked was a Speer JSP with 5.7grs of Unique. It would sometimes put five shots into a dime at 15 yards.

I recommend you get some 147gr JHP and try again. P226s like 147s better than 124s. I've had alot of them. They all shoot the same.
 
chrt396, Sounds like you were at Dade Ciry R&G.

I use 124gr & 147gr X-treme but not in the powder combo's you listed. Some guns group better with the 147's.

Best way to find out if it's the gun or ammo is to meet up with another reloader with a 9mm and try some different loads along with some factory ammo.

also a +1 on the Berry HBRN, it costs a little more but is a better bullet IMO.
 
will both shoot very nice groups with 1045-1050 fps loads
Click to expand...
.

CZ 75B: 124 HBRN-TP, 4.1 grs n320, 1.135" 130PF Light recoil & accurate.
Click to expand...

The previously mentioned X-Treme 124 Gr HP loaded @ 1.060 over 3.9 Grs of N320 gives around 1050 from a 4 1/2" to 5" barrel, is soft shooting and very accurate.

The Berrys 124 Gr HBRN-TP is a very good bullet. I am shooting it at 1300+ in .38 Super, and it works greatl in 9MM as well.

This load appears safe in my guns. Check data, start low, and work up.
 
+1. If you want accuracy, I do believe the hollow base of Berry's HB-TP bullets that increases the bearing surface length helps with decreasing shot groups. They come in both 115 gr and 124 gr bullet weights.

I got around 1"-1.5" shot group with 3.8 gr of Bullseye/4.0 gr of Titegroup and 124 gr HBRN-TP with 1.135" OAL at 15 yards shot from Glock 22 with Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrel - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7266869#post7266869

I use X-Treme plated bullets and found the accuracy on par with Berry's/Rainier plated bullets with solid base. I had a P226 and my experience with 9mm semi-auto pistols is that lighter 115 gr bullets need to be pushed at near max load data for achieving optimal accuracy whereas heavier 124/125 gr bullets can achieve accuracy at mid-to-high range load data and still reliably cycle the slide. YMMV

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