New to reloading. Looking for opinions.

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chop

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I shoot a Sig p229 40 S&W and a Kimber Ultra Carry II. Factory ammunition that is cheap(ish) to shoot a lot seems to be garbage. I've decided to make my own. I am using:
  • Starline Brass
  • Hornady Round Nose 230gr
  • Unique/231/Power Pistol Powder
  • CCI Large Primers
  • Lee Dies
  • Hornady LnL Single Stage Press

My load is as follows:
  • 5.9 Gr Unique
  • OAL 1.26
  • .470 Crimp

I have made 200 rounds so far. I am getting average 781 FPS off the first 100. My accuracy seemed ok, but my groups were not as tight as I would like. What am I doing wrong/right? What can I do to help improve the accuracy of my hand loads?
 
Cant help with the .45, but shoot a lot of the 180 XTP's from my XD.
All loads @ 1.120
6.6 Gr power pistol for a max load works good for me
Gives 1030 FPS.
W231 for lighter loads 4.5 - 5.0 grains 5.0 gives me 922 FPS

Hope this helps

JIM
 
What is your spread and standard deviation for your shots? Is there a lot of variation to perhaps explain it?
 
Hornady makes a 230 g LEAD bullet. If that's what you have, lose the Factory crimp die. I suggest a Hornady crimp die, if you can find one. Redding is probably more money than you really need to spend here, but it's a nother option.

Are you getting any leading?

Or maybe the bullet is FMJ?
 
First of all, I don't think Hornady makes a round nose 40 cal/10mm bullet. If you are using the 180g FMJ flat point bullet, 781 fps seems awfully slow for 5.9g Unique. I shoot a 180g Lee cast lead bullet and get 890 with 5.0g Unique and in the 1030's with 6.0g Unique. That's with a M&P 40 4.25" barrel, not the 3.9" barrel in the Sig.
 
Identify the factory load that produces the best group, then duplicate the ballistics and components in your handload.
 
Have you tried different amounts of powder? You need to find the load that your particular pistol likes. If the load you listed was for .45, that speed does seem pretty low for that amount of Unique.
 
Did you work up to the load you are shooting beginning with the starting load and working up or did you just jump in at your 5.9 gr load? With a semi-auto pistol, you've got two things you have to load for, proper action of the pistol and accuracy. Once you find the load spread in which the pistol cycles properly, find the load within that spread that shoots with the best accuracy.

I'm confused at the "My accuracy seemed ok, but my groups were not as tight as I would like." To me, one goes with the other. If I've got big groups, how can my accuracy be good?
 
I'm confused at the "My accuracy seemed ok, but my groups were not as tight as I would like." To me, one goes with the other. If I've got big groups, how can my accuracy be good?

I would think they're going where he wants them to, just not tightly. POI=POA.
 
Did you notice a difference in the noise and kick of these loads compared to what you have been using? They could be considerably hotter and subconsciously this is causing you to be off your game a bit. May I suggest: Think about this and practice. Try some lighter charges. Try a lighter bullet.

As long as you are putting your loads together consistently, they should repeat pretty well.
 
I don't do any loading for 45 acp, but I do a bunch for the .40 and for numerous pistols, XD and XDM included. I mostly run 155's or 165's JHP's and FMJ's with a mid range and up Longshot charges. Now I don't know what it is you desire to duplicate, but you did mention something to the effect of complaints about the factory performance, thus encouraging you to take up reloading.

Those loads I run anything but soft target loads, but they are dead accurate. I'm sure that Longshot performs well with heavier bullets as well. Also take note that FMJ's don't always produce the best accuracy.

GS
 
What type of bullet is known for best accuracy? and where does JHP stand on that list IYO?
 
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