It was hot out there today

A while ago I bought some more RMR 124gr TCFP matchwinner bullets for my 357sig loads, but I also wanted to start using them in 9mm. This while ago was in May and the National Forest was closed for shooting due to the fire danger. This is Phoenix. We had some rain lately and the NF was open again for shooting, which meant I could go out and test some loads again.

This morning I went out with loads I created back in May to do some testing. Well it was over 100 today so I knew I could not spend that much time out there. When I reached my favorite spot, I started unpacking and realized I left my rest at home. This meant I had to use my range bag as a rest. It was not not the best alternative, but it is what I had.

With the rest at home I decided to just test my 9mm loads, and then just do some drills with the balance of my time.

Following are the results from the testing today. Even with using the bag as a rest, I think the groupings were not that bad. I should be able to get a better grouping with my rest, but at least it identified the best load, and underscores again my previous findings that my 9mm loads using PowerPistol always does well with a load around 5.6gr.

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: FC
COL: 1.065"
RMR, 124gr, FMJFN, PowerPistol, 5.1gr, CCI500
Average: 990
ES: 25
SD: 10.9
Force: 270
PF: 122
Velocities: 983, 982, 996, 1007, 984
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.4"
Test Date: 08/06/2018

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: FC
COL: 1.065"
RMR, 124gr, FMJFN, PowerPistol, 5.2gr, CCI500
Average: 1008
ES: 21
SD: 7.8
Force: 280
PF: 124
Velocities: 1004, 1008, 998, 1011, 1019
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.23"
Test Date: 08/06/2018

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: FC
COL: 1.065"
RMR, 124gr, FMJFN, PowerPistol, 5.3gr, CCI500
Average: 1028
ES: 21
SD: 8.7
Force: 291
PF: 127
Velocities: 1038, 1025, 1036, 1017, 1025
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.25"
Test Date: 08/06/2018

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: FC
COL: 1.065"
RMR, 124gr, FMJFN, PowerPistol, 5.4gr, CCI500
Average: 1038
ES: 15
SD: 5.9
Force: 297
PF: 128
Velocities: 1032, 1040, 1034, 1040, 1047
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.24"
Test Date: 08/06/2018

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: FC
COL: 1.065"
RMR, 124gr, FMJFN, PowerPistol, 5.5gr, CCI500
Average: 1060
ES: 55
SD: 23.2
Force: 309
PF: 131
Velocities: 1044, 1048, 1045, 1064, 1099
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.92"
Test Date: 08/06/2018


9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: FC
COL: 1.065"
RMR, 124gr, FMJFN, PowerPistol, 5.6gr, CCI500
Average: 1058
ES: 34
SD: 12.8
Force: 308
PF: 131
Velocities: 1045, 1061, 1053, 1079, 1054
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.65"
Test Date: 08/06/2018

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: FC
COL: 1.065"
RMR, 124gr, FMJFN, PowerPistol, 5.7gr, CCI500
Average: 1069
ES: 19
SD: 8.3
Force: 315
PF: 132
Velocities: 1060, 1077, 1079, 1070, 1063
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.89"
Test Date: 08/06/2018

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: FC
COL: 1.065"
RMR, 124gr, FMJFN, PowerPistol, 5.8gr, CCI500
Average: 1077
ES: 34
SD: 13.9
Force: 319
PF: 133
Velocities: 1072, 1082, 1099, 1065, 1067
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.11"
Test Date: 08/06/2018

Dudedog said:

Glad you had time to get some rounds in, nice shooting, and nice write up as always

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Dudedog, you always have something nice to say. Thanks!

I actually read my post again and just realized it was probably not one of my better efforts trying to write something coherent. I have been working in the garage over the weekend in this heat, and I think the heat finally got to me today. It is probably tome to start looking for a cooler place to call home.

The PowerPistol 5.6gr load always performs well for me. With the jacketed bullet it probably just hits that sweet spot with good accuracy and just enough velocity to make minor, even with a 3.9" barrel.

Walkalong said:

Sure was.

Good shooting as usual. I have never tried Power Pistol.

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Thanks Walkalong! Is that 98 in the shade? Well at least you had some shade. My shooting today was out in the sun. I knew it was going to be a hot one today, but since I haven't been out shooting for nearly 4 months now, I just had to get out and go shoot. It felt great even in the heat.

kidneyboy said:

Almost made it to 75 here in SE WI today. Indoor range is 20 minutes in one direction and the outdoor range is 20 minutes in a different direction.However we are looking to spend a month in Arizona this winter....

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Pick any time from October to May and the weather should be great. I should probably try and get away from Phoenix before all the snowbirds start arriving.

Dudedog said:

It was only around 100 where I am at today (nice day) but in the winter it rarely gets below freezing, so
while it is -30 (or colder) in some places in the winter most of winter I can shoot with a light jacket (some days no jacket, just a sweatshirt)
Property prices where I am while not cheap are reasonable. (of course the State is nuts and I need to retire and move someplace else, but that's a different issue)

TANSTAAFL

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What is TANSTAAFL?

Around 100 is still nice. It just seems when when it gets over 110 that even shooting is not as much fun as it should be. It should be easy to move from CA to another state, especially with the cost of housing in CA.

PWC said:

114 degrees here in Phoenix

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Yes, it has been hot lately. Wednesday we are expecting some rain, so things should improve.

Skgreen said:

"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch"

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Thanks! I was looking at it and looking at it and thought it was some misspelling of where I am originally from, the Transvaal. At least now I have learned something.

JimKirk said:

It has been so hot and the humidity so high here that unless you are out just after daybreak ...it gets unbearable after just a short time ... being a lazy ...I just can't motivated to drag all my equipment out ...

Before too long the weather will get better and drag my sorry end out and start shooting again.

Great shooting too !!! Good report also !!!

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Thanks JimKirK!

That was also my problem. I could not get up early enough and had to face the heat out there. It is not that bad if you just run some drills and move around. But sitting stationary at a table trying to evaluate a load, it gets hot quickly.

I had some 357sig loads ready for evaluation also, but decided to leave those for another time. The loads are also using the RMR 124gr TC matchwinner bullets with some CFE Pistol.

I also have some re-evaluation I want to do with my V-Crown bullets and BE-86, but this time using the scope. I will probably buy some SIF V-Crown factory bullets and test them at the same time to see how they compare. Should be interesting.

Toprudder said:

Power Pistol was the very first powder I ever loaded, in 9mm and 40. Still one of my favorites. My 9mm pet load is 5.3-5.5gn with plated 115gn bullets - a very soft shooting load for my wife. A hotter load of 6.1gn with RMR 115 FMJ is my load for the 16" carbine - very accurate.

Temps down here in NC have been getting to mid 90s, but very humid. Dewpoint is often in the low 70s. I much prefer shooting early morning if I am going to the outdoor range.

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PowerPistol is also one of the first powders I used. Initially I did not see good accuracy, but it was was more me than PowerPistol. After a while when my reloading process was a bit more refined, I went back to PowerPistol and started seeing some great results. Now it is one of my more reliable powders, especially in 9mm if I want to see good accuracy.

On my to-do list is working up some loads again with PowerPistol in 357sig. This should be interesting.

Mn Fats said:

Hey, I always appreciate field data like this. Thanks vaalpens for taking the time. Posts like these remind me why I love THR.

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Thanks for the nice words, and yes, THR is great. It was not much of a test since I normally test more than one bullet/powder load range. I just felt bad having not posted any test data for about 4 months, so I had to at least post some data, even though it was minimal.