Handloading for the Glock 42 - Part IV

[mstreddy]

Art, that's some bullet -- Let's call them Phillip! And those should be apropos for the Wharf Rat.
As far as Tater, I can understand loving a powder, I just love W231 and while it's not the best for everything, I do try to use it. I even considered it for 45 Colt, but I think that when I load that it will be with Unique or some thing else.
It's only been the scarcity of W231 that pushed me to WST (9mm, 40, 45 ACP, and 38 Spcl). And Promo -- I'm loving that one now, 9MM, 38 Spcl, 380, and even 32 ACP.

 

[mstreddy]

I should make the range on Wed evening. I'll continue G42 testing and will shoot some of the W231 loads through the Sig for Tater and Jell Dog. I'll make sure Gnarly Crust makes it for his debut.

 

[mstreddy]

Wlkjr - you may have answered this already -- what is Win231 load that is working in the G42?

 

[Potatohead]

Tater,
I'd say, time for the faster powders -- and when you are testing load up at least 5-10 rounds of each increment. That way you can test it well. As you found, 2 rounds leaves some room for doubt as to what was happening.

Sho nuff a good tip there. I learned my lesson well. For some reason It bothers me to use a bunch of bullets and brass for testing, especially since Ive been loading the expensive stuff lately. No more shortcuts now, though.



AoG, that's a wicked bullet, where would a man like Tater be able to find a box of those? (I havent had time to read much along the lines of new posts today-if you already covered that.

 

[wlkjr]

Wlkjr - you may have answered this already -- what is Win231 load that is working in the G42?

3.1 grains of W231 with an Xtreme 100 gr. RNFP or 2.9 grains with a 105 gr. Bayou Hi-tek coated bullet

 

[mstreddy]

Tater,

It bothers me to use a bunch of bullets and brass for testing, especially since Ive been loading the expensive stuff

Not trying to beat you about the head and shoulders -- not much anyway -- but think of this - brass is reusable, particularly the Starline. Next thought - if you don't use a few for testing -- you will lose them anyway as you "MAY" experience problems and that bullet will be lost anyway once you pull the trigger.
But in any case - pun intended here - a bullet puller becomes your friend when you need it.

And remember -- we're your friends here - and friends don't let friends shoot crappy rounds.

 

[mstreddy]

Wlkjr - - thanks. I had tried the W231 @ 3.1 in the LCP and found it snappy, so I settled at 2.9, but while it works great in every other 380 I've shot them in - the Glock laughs at their puny weakness!

Interesting that the 2.9 with the 105gr bullet is working well. What OALs are you using for both?

The W231 loads I used were all with Berry's 100gr RN and they were at .976-.977. I am now using the Xtremes with Promo seated at .955. I may have to try seating deeper with W231.

 

[wlkjr]

Wlkjr - - thanks. I had tried the W231 @ 3.1 in the LCP and found it snappy, so I settled at 2.9, but while it works great in every other 380 I've shot them in - the Glock laughs at their puny weakness!

Interesting that the 2.9 with the 105gr bullet is working well. What OALs are you using for both?

The W231 loads I used were all with Berry's 100gr RN and they were at .976-.977. I am now using the Xtremes with Promo seated at .955. I may have to try seating deeper with W231.

OAL for the Bayou is .966 and if I'm not mistaken, is .976 for the Xtreme. I'm out of town so don't have that info with me. I load on a Dillon 650 and do not adjust seating depth between the different bullets and they work fine.

 

[Potatohead]

Tater,

Not trying to beat you about the head and shoulders -- not much anyway -- but think of this - brass is reusable, particularly the Starline. Next thought - if you don't use a few for testing -- you will lose them anyway as you "MAY" experience problems and that bullet will be lost anyway once you pull the trigger.
But in any case - pun intended here - a bullet puller becomes your friend when you need it.

And remember -- we're your friends here - and friends don't let friends shoot crappy rounds.

Good points,all. And you're right. Some kind of mental block or something Im dealing with

Seriously though, for my lack of testing, now Im going to have to pull bullets and I really really hate using pulled bullets. It's like theyve lost their virginity now or something.

 

[mstreddy]

Tater,
Unless you are crimping them so much you have created a cannelure, use the pulled bullets -- in a word -- getoverit!
I've bought, loaded, and shot plenty of pulled bullets via RMR. I have pulled many bullets - my mistakes, and others - I recently bought out someones reloading gear -- all of it and it included many loaded rounds - documented, but I wasn't thrilled with the QC - so I pulled many, many, many rounds. Talk about a workout!

Or, another option -- if they are just too light to cycle the action -- then you can shoot them and practice your tap & rack or malfunction drills. Shooting the Sig in single shot mode will give you many hours of joy at the range just to shoot 50 rounds, and build up your muscles. And you can really work on reacquiring the sight picture/alignment practice and your breathing -- see, no downsides.

And as to the virgin brass and bullets -- well, I could add something but this is the Highroad after all...

 

[Potatohead]

then you can shoot them and practice your tap & rack or malfunction drills.

Thats a good idea..

And as to the virgin brass and bullets -- well, I could add something but this is the Highroad after all...

I know, I had a few funny ones for that but I didnt want Walkalong hittin me with a warning..I always feel like Im back in school in the principal's office when I get warned.

 

[Artofgolf]

.... No more shortcuts now, though.

I knew you would come around....

AoG, that's a wicked bullet, where would a man like Tater be able to find a box of those?

I just placed an order from Lehigh Defense LLC ~ http://www.lehighdefense.com
for each of the 9mm Luger XP (115g) and 380 Auto XP (95g) finished ammo out of curiosity.
Shipped today with a FedEx $5 special they are currently offering in the lower 48.

I also submitted an inquiry about components - hope they respond with useful info & availability

 

[Potatohead]

Nice, thanks.

 

[Mad Chemist]

So they are available now? I checked two days ago and they were out of stock.

 

[jell-dog]

I knew you would come around....

I just placed an order from Lehigh Defense LLC ~ http://www.lehighdefense.com
for each of the 9mm Luger XP (115g) and 380 Auto XP (95g) finished ammo out of curiosity.
Shipped today with a FedEx $5 special they are currently offering in the lower 48.

I also submitted an inquiry about components - hope they respond with useful info & availability

AG
I recieved reply about the XP's component availability today, they said they are planning on releasing the components "soon".
jell-dog

 

[Artofgolf]

So they are available now? I checked two days ago and they were out of stock.

My order shipped today & will be here tomorrow (I'm close to Quakertown, PA)

You will probably have to check the site from time-to-time; I don't have any experience with Lehigh Defense and how they run their web sales operation.

I recieved reply about the XP's component availability today, they said they are planning on releasing the components "soon".

Good to know, jell-dog

 

[Potatohead]

Quakertown? What model horse and buggy you got?

 

[Artofgolf]

Quakertown? What model horse and buggy you got?

Now, now Tater, don't dis dem Amish! Fine folks who figured out a way to pay no taxes to Uncle Sammy; I'd say they're very savvy. Even if they tool-around town in horse-drawn carriages

Back on topic: Received the Lehigh Defense ammo today
(click on image to expand)

I really like the nose profile of these cartridges. Jell-Dog mentioned in a previous post that Lehigh Defense has plans to make the bullets available in the future.

Checked the COAL of the whole box (20) of 380 Auto ($26.70); most were 0.950, although there was a variance from 0.945" to 0.957" from shortest to longest. This is why I prefer to roll-my-own.

The 9mm Luger box of 20 ($30.50) had much better QC, with the COAL very consistently in-line for manufactured ammo. The majority were 1.10", with the low-end coming-in @ 1.099" and the longest was 1.105".

"Top Brass" was used for the 9mm product (never heard of it); it looked to be an inferior quality to some of the better brass from Lapua & Starline that I've seen before. They used Starline brass for the 380 ACP.

I'll try a few at the range when I get a chance & will post pics If we can get some of the bullets, a potent load with BE-86 might be what the Wharf Rat needs for BG's.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I've used Top Brass before. It was good quality. It ain't Lapua, but you ain't shooting a precision rifle either.

I want to know what powder is in those .380 rds. Are you going to pull one of them? Come on you know you want to pull one of them.

 

[Artofgolf]

I've used Top Brass before. It was good quality. It ain't Lapua, but you ain't shooting a precision rifle either.

Glad to hear someone has a good opinion of the 9mm brass used for the XP's.
I'd never heard of it before........

I'll pull one of each

 

[wlkjr]

It's just brass. All I need is a host for my primer, powder, and bullet. Most any will do what I need.

 

[Artofgolf]

Lehigh Defense

......I'll pull one of each

Here's the LD info & pix

Charge was 6.2g of the pewter-silvery powder in the 380 Auto XP round. Bullet length: 0.49"
Charge was 7.2g of the ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 9mm Luger round. Bullet length: 0.63"

(click on image to expand)

Powder was very fine cut. I can't accurately identify it

(click on image to expand)

Hope this is helpful fellas

 

[wlkjr]

Must be a slow powder at that weight.

 

[Potatohead]

don't dis dem Amish! Fine folks who figured out a way to pay no taxes to Uncle Sammy

Fine point indeed.

 

[Artofgolf]

....Powder was very fine cut. I can't accurately identify it

I went fishing around on the LD website and they had load data for their factory load of the Controlled Fracturing 9mm Luger SD ammo that's for sale.
The powder might be Accurate #5, but I'm not sure. We need a powder-guru to hang the hairy-eyeball on that pic