Hp 38 load recipes 45 acp

Range report results are in: New starline brass, cci 300 primers, RMR 230gr fmj, 5.4gr hp38, COAL 1.261-1.2635, crimp measurement .470 at case mouth, temp 60 degrees F.

Hk usp 4.4in barrel 5.4gr hp38: avg fps: 774fps, SD 17, ES 60, hi vel: 809, lo vel: 743

5.4gr hp38, Sig sauer 1911 emperor scorpion 5in barrel
Avg fps: 776, SD 13, ES 48, hi vel: 803, lo vel: 755

5.5gr hp38 same specs:
Usp 45 4.4in barrel: avg vel: 795, SD 14, ES 43, hi vel: 822, lo vel: 779.

Sig sauer 1911, 5in barrel: 5.5gr load, avg vel: 784, SD 17, ES 53, hi vel: 811, lo vel: 758.

Winchester factory white box: 230gr
Hk usp: avg vel: 843fps, SD 10, ES 22, hi vel: 851, lo vel: 829
Sig sauer 1911: avg vel: 845fps, SD 7, ES 19. Hi vel: 862, lo vel: 843.

Ejection was about the same distance between the 5.4gr and 5.5gr loads, I couldn't tell a difference at all, some of the cases landed on the bench 2 feet from the gun with the usp, most were 4 to 5 feet at 4 o'clock, the 1911 threw cases 6 to 10ft, 4 to 5 o'clock . Every round cycled perfectly, accuracy was as good as I can shoot with combat style three dot sights. The difference in ejection I was seeing before between the factory ammo and my hand loads is obvious now after seeing the velocities WWB was putting out. Sooting/scorching on the cases at
5.4 and 5.5gr was minimal (less than WWB). Absolutely no pressue signs detected, could see increasing to the lyman manual max load of 5.8gr if I wanted, but I don't think there would be any benefit to that except wasting powder and getting more recoil ( there was significantly more felt recoil with WWB than my hand loads). My bench rest was one of those cheap calwell pistol rests ( I need some sand bags I think) so accuracy could have been better than i shot. Any other info not included anyone wishes to know? Thoughts on this data? Any tips to make this ammo more consistent?
 
20230603_172959.jpg 20230603_175300.jpg dead center group was 1911 5.5gr, the group printing to the left was the usp at 5.5gr, either the sights are off on the usp or my grip on the pistol was off switching between two hand guns. I have more rounds on the 1911. These groups were at 50ft. From a crappy caldwell rest. Ten round groups.
 

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I'm not sure why you are putting your shooting down, those targets look just fine.

I'm glad to hear you also like the 5.5gr load like I do.

It's been my opinion for a long time now W231 was made for the .38 Special and 45 Auto.
That's why Hodgdon named their powder HP-38. (Hodgdon Powder 38)
 
Thanks but not my best groups, I was surprised to see the velocity on the factory ammo though. How do I reduce my extreme spread to match the factory ammo? My extreme spread was nearly double or more... I'd like to be more consistent with my loads. Should I crimp more,? Reduce coal by a bit? What is the most important factor in making the best shot to shot velocities? Should I even worry about it?
 
Big-bore-bob said:
Thanks but not my best groups, I was surprised to see the velocity on the factory ammo though. How do I reduce my extreme spread to match the factory ammo? My extreme spread was nearly double or more... I'd like to be more consistent with my loads. Should I crimp more,? Reduce coal by a bit? What is the most important factor in making the best shot to shot velocities? Should I even worry about it?
Click to expand...
How was accuracy between the WWB and the 5.5gr load?

In handgun I rarely worry about SD or ES unless I see keyholing or I’m stretching the max range out for hunting. If your primary goal is paper punching and the WWB is outperforming your loads, you can always check things like neck tension and taper crimp but remember you’re past recommended max for a deeper seating so you will need to drop back to start for the new seating depth and work up to find the best accuracy.
Don’t worry about playing numbers games. You’re either trying to find a factory duplication load or you’re trying to find your most accurate load; don’t chase the rabbit of trying to duplicate factory results with non factory components.
 
Anyone else have hard carbon fouling from hp38? I noticed quite a bit in the first inch of barrel while cleaning the usp after a 200 round range trip. Took me forever to scrub it out, there's still a little bit of carbon streaking but I gave up trying to scrub it all out.
 
Big-bore-bob said:
Anyone else have hard carbon fouling from hp38? I noticed quite a bit in the first inch of barrel while cleaning the usp after a 200 round range trip. Took me forever to scrub it out, there's still a little bit of carbon streaking but I gave up trying to scrub it all out.
Click to expand...
With W231??? Nope. Never seen it.
I have seen something similar to what you describe with TiteGroup, Nitro 100 (pre-NF), and Solo 1000 but it is typically just some carbon scorching and cleans out pretty easily with a little Hoppe’s and a bronze brush. I’ve never had to scrub with W231/HP38.
 
My 1911 favorite load in 5.3 grains of HP-38 or Win. 231 under. 230 grain cast round nose bullet, runs perfect. accurate, miminal leading
 
Let me try that again....LOL
I have loaded the following:

Hornady FMJ-RN - 230 gr

Winn 244 @ 5.4 gives a std deviation of 6.3 and average 819 fps (extreme spreads 16)

Accurate #5 @ 7.7 gives std deviation of 9.8 and average 782 fps (extreme spreads 27)

Accurate #5 @ 8 gr gives std deviation of 10.69 and average 800 fps (extreme spreads 27)

I started using Winn 244 when I used up my HP-38 and it appears to be cleaner.

Just my readings from a Rock Island Commander style 4" barrel. I just got a new Springfield in 5" so I will chrono thru this and see what the difference is.
 
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