45 for IPSC Production

[SHusky57]

I've got a G21SF I'm using in IPSC production class.
I'm using IPSC to improve my skills, but placing high is nice too .

I'm going to start reloading and I'm wondering if there will be a significant recoil reduction using <185 gr bullets opposed to 230 gr bullets.

What is a good load?
I thought about getting a G19 for IPSC but the whole point of IPSC (for me) is to practice with my gear.

 

[Jim Watson]

Most of the hotshots say that felt recoil is less with a slow heavy bullet in an uncompensated gun, assuming the same power factor.

 

[Owen]

well, you do get to download your ammo to 125 power factor in production, so you can shoot some pretty poofy loads. With 230's you could be shooting them around 550 fps, and still make PF. I'd look at some NRA Bullseye type loads, to see what you turn up, although it may be hard to get the gun to run with such light loads.

 

[ForneyRider]

Nosler book has a Clays load for 550fps in 230gr 45ACP.

 

[Robert]

I use a 230gr lead RN bullet on top of 4.5 grains of Bulls Eye Powder with a mag primer for my IPSC load. There are better powders out there. I had a guy give me 10 or 15 rounds of .45 loaded with Vihtavuori N320 that were very nice. But since I have lots of the Bulls Eye left I will shoot it up and then switch to the N320. I forget the exact load the N320 was, I think it was 4.5 or 4.7 grains.

 

[Hoser]

Bad idea. If you want to shoot minor, shoot a 9 or a 40. Much cheaper to shoot and it takes minimal tweaking to get a 9 or a 40 to run at minor.

 

[Owen]

He wasn't asking if he should shoot .45 in Production, just what .45 bullet he should be shooting for minimal recoil.

 

[David E]

I echo everyone saying a 230 grain bullet loaded to minor power factor is the way to go.

I've shot Production with a minor loaded .40 and it was almost like cheating.

 

[LCTitan]

Intresting concept with shooting the 21SF in production. Most would shoot this gun in L10. Remember whatever load you come up with will still need to cycle the gun with a low power load. With a heavier bullet you usually get more of a push rather than a snap on recoil.

 

[Hoser]

He wasn't asking if he should shoot .45 in Production, just what .45 bullet he should be shooting for minimal recoil.

I got that part in the first post...

That does not mean I dont think that there are better options out there.

 

[ants]

SHusky57

Reloading is not as easy as it seems. You don't just load a bullet and the right charge of powder, and it's accurate in every pistol. You will find that it takes much diligence to learn your craft first, and as much diligence to find an accurate load for your particular pistol.

You will also find that a bullet at 550fps as mentioned above is not very accurate in most 45acp pistols. Undoubtedly you will be somewhere in the mid range to get an accurate load that cycles well, and is easy to shoot.

Your pistol will tell you what it likes. 155, 185, 200, 230 grain. Once you learn to reload, try them all (at various velocities with several different powders). Your pistol will tell you what it likes.

Fabulous idea, Husky, to use IPSC to develop skill with the pistol you like to shoot. That SF model has some nice features. Have fun with it.

 

[Jim Watson]

I agree that a 230 at 550 may not be the best load, although it has worked fairly well for me on the roomy IDPA and IPSC targets. Bruce Gray told the story of a fast moving target dodging his low velocity bullets when he did that experiment. A 200 at 650 seems better balanced and I am looking at going up to 700 so I can use a little stronger recoil spring for better feeding. That will not be far off the old Winchester Super Match load, before they gave in and went to the 185 gr jacketed SWC as used by Remington and Federal.

Factory match of a 185 at 750 seems to do well in most guns, saving a lot of experimentation. A G21 will likely require that load to be made up with a hollowpoint or maybe the Berry's hollowbase bullet, Europeans do not see the point of a semiwadcutter and a lot of their guns won't feed them.

The main problem he will run into with .45 Minor in a Glock is spring balance. Shooting a 1911, I can load powderpuff ammunition and install the lightest mainspring that will pop the primer and the lightest recoil spring that will strip the next round out of the magazine. There is more interaction of recoil spring, striker spring, and trigger spring in a Glock, and preparing one for light loads takes care and knowhow.

I think the OP would be well advised to work his loads down from factory equivalent until he found the lightest that would function his gun with standard springs. If it gave power factor 150 instead of 125.1, so be it. That is what I did lo these 30 years ago when I first got into competitive pistol shooting, PPC with a Gold Cup.
As I think of it more, he might be best advised to use a standard reload just slightly under factory, if his intent really is to exercise a duty or defense weapon.

 

[appaws]

I just got back from my practice range where I was testing out a new USPSA production loads for my XD-45.

I was shooting a 230gr Oregon Trail LRN over 3.0 gr of Clays. Loaded to 1.2 OAL. 620-630 fps, gun worked great...that's about a 140-145 power factor.

I think these type of super softy loads are probably going to be accurate enough at USPSA distances. I have no idea how low I can go with these. 550fps would make minor power factor....that could be around 2.5gr of Clays or maybe a hair more. 3.0 is the lowest I have gone so far.

 

[SHusky57]

I've made a batch of different loads with the power factor around 160-180 so I am still in major.

One thing I have noticed after just a little testing is a 230 grain FMJ going 800ish fps (PF - 184) a LOT LESS recoil than a 185 gr FMJ going 950ish fps (PF - 175).

 

[ants]

appaws: Light Clays load with 230g plated bullet:

I went down as low as 2.8 grains Clays once, but it introduced great variance in velocity.

It is very difficult for many powder measures to stay accurate at that light load. Most throws were from 2.7 up to 2.9 or 3.0 grains, which is a TEN PERCENT variance in powder charge, which puts velocity all over the map. Clays is especially sensitive to small variances in powder charge.

Nevertheless, it is pleasant to shoot. I used it for Steel Challenge and loved it as long as I aimed at the bottom of the plate. Check your point of impact with those very slow loads - it might tend to be higher because muzzle lift chucks the muzzle upward a little before the slower bullet leaves the bore.